After releasing details throughout 2016, the startup has officially launched its 1,000hp electric truck
US electric truck maker Nikola Motor Company has officially launched its Nikola One truck at an event over the weekend, while also unveiling a day-cab model.
The Nikola One, first unveiled in May, features a 6×6 drive with an output hitting 1,000hp (746kW) and 2,000 ft-lbs (2,712Nm) of torque and a 1,200-mile (1,931km) range.
Using a hydrogen-electric fuel cell as its fuel source, the vehicle offers nearly double the output of other trucks of its size while its only emission during use is water, the truck maker says.
Currently aimed at the US, Canada and Mexico, Nikola Motors says the trucks will be supplied and serviced through local distributor Ryder System Inc and be fuelled by a planned network of 364 Nikola hydrogen fuelling stations across the US and Canada.
Construction of the stations will begin in 2018 with late 2019 as the scheduled opening date.
“We are extremely excited to finally show off the Nikola One to the public for the first time,” Nikola Motors founder and CEO Trevor Milton says.
“There are many out there that wondered if we would deliver, but today we proudly show off the most advanced semi-truck ever built.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have one of the best brands in America, Ryder, as our trusted partner providing nationwide sales, service and warranty for Nikola Motor Company.”
Partnering with Fitzgerald to build the first 5,000 trucks, Nikola Motors plans on delivering the first vehicles in 2020. It says through a new US$1 billion manufacturing plant, to be announced in the first half of next year, it hopes to be able to produce 50,000 vehicles per year.
The company says it has already received nearly US$3 billion in future orders of its vehicles on the back of purchasing and leasing plans that offer customers up to one million miles of free fuel and warranty and scheduled maintenance spanning 72 months.
Also announced at the event was the day-cab model, named the Nikola Two, which has the same performances as the Nikola One.
“The only difference is it doesn’t have a sleeper,” Milton says, “so it will be a little less expensive, more manoeuvrable and it’s absolutely incredible.”
With rear-steering built in, the Nikola Two, like the Nikola One, also features panoramic visibility, collision-avoidance systems, a lower center of gravity, regenerative braking, 21-inch display and an integrated drivetrain.
To see the full launch event, watch the video below.