The new Nikola fuel-cell truck order is worth more than US$22 million
American port and warehouse container hauling company IMC has announced it is veering towards hydrogen instead of electric after placing an order for 50 fuel-cell trucks from manufacturer Nikola.
The 50 new trucks will be used in the company’s operations in the US, including in California, Arizona and Nevada, after results it says are “disappointing” from two years of testing battery-electric heavy vehicles.
IMC told The Commercial Appeal in Memphis that its previous electric trucks didn’t provide the productivity the company was looking for.
In California, rules mean all new drayage trucks registered this year onwards must be zero-emissions, with the new Nikola trucks forming part of meeting this regulation.
While IMC has still expressed caution about hydrogen fuel-cell trucks, the logistics company is now going to try the technology, and is hopeful that the longer range provided will result in an advantage.
The first 20 of these Nikola trucks are set to be delivered this quarter, with IMC now turning towards finding refuelling infrastructure in California to keep the trucks powered.
The order is worth more than US$22 million, or just on US$440,000 per truck.