Embattled Nikola Delivers First Tre BEV Truck

Nikola has been embattled and been in the news for all the wrong reasons through 2021 - its CEO was fired and then now is being investigated. It reportedly faked its first demo before its technology was primed. Then GM also backed out of the deal with it. Amidst all the chaos, Nikola has delivered its first electric truck to Total Transportation Services, a California-based port drainage company. The vehicles will be used at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Bay. 

It has finally achieved the state of production and the sales of all of its electric trucks have started despite it also working on hydrogen fuel cell-based trucks that it promises to launch by 2023. Total Transportation Services has a letter of intent for 100 trucks from Nikola out of which 30 will be electric trucks and 70 will be hydrogen-powered. At first, it will receive 2 battery-powered trucks and 2 hydrogen-powered trucks. 

30 electric Tre will be delivered by 2022 followed up by the fuel cell-based vehicles in 2023. 

Iveco Charts Future After CNH With Nikola Electric Truck Deal

"Based on satisfactory completion of the vehicle trials and subject to TTSI obtaining certain government funding, thirty BEVs are projected to follow later in 2022, and 70 FCEVs are anticipated to start in 2023," said the letter of intent. 

"Nikola committed to make its first Tre BEV deliveries in Q4 2021 and it is a big honor to celebrate this milestone with our partner, TTSI, and dignitaries who are committed to advancing zero-emission transportation solutions to reduce truck emissions in port operations. TTSI has significant sustainability goals, and we are pleased to help them achieve their vision with our zero-emission trucks," said Nikola's new CEO Mark Russell at the development. 

The Nikola Tre promises 563 km of range coming via 753 kWh batteries with a top speed of 121 kmph. The total system would have around 640 bhp, which while powerful will not be extremely fast as a truck a significantly heavier car. We are talking about a curb weight of 37,195 kg which is usually more than 10 times the weight of the average EV.