Photo: Nikola/Jason Roycht
The two Nikola Tre FCEV alpha prototypes made their first journey driving 350 miles (563 kilometers) on a tank of hydrogen, as autoevolution readers have known since January 28. What they were still waiting to learn was how far the production vehicles would be able to run. According to Jason Roycht, the answer is more than 500 miles (805 km).
The global head of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles at Nikola said that after being asked by a Twitter follower about the advantages of an FCEV truck. In fact, it seems Honza Sochor was asking about the Two: he mentions an FCEV truck “compared to the Tre,” probably unaware that the Tre has a fuel cell version.
According to Roycht, “FCEVs can offer longer range at lower weights than BEVs.” They also have a “quicker ‘re-charge’” advantage. The executive mentioned that the Tre FCEV – and the Two FCEV, when it is available – will be able to add around 75 miles/minute. In other words, it would take close to seven minutes to fill the hydrogen tanks and keep traveling.
In another discussion, the Nikola executive mentions that the truck can get 10 kilograms of hydrogen per minute and that these trucks can run around 7.5 miles/kg. That allows us to calculate how much hydrogen the truck will use to run more than 500 miles: about 70 kg of gas.
As usual, the big question is: where will these trucks get the hydrogen to keep traveling? Roycht has an answer for that as well. According to the executive, the company plans “to launch several public and private fueling stations across southern California.”
The initial locations “will be tied to our partners logistic needs.” Roycht said he cannot get into more details at this point but that Nikola is open “to add trucks to the mix.” In other words, Nikola can provide public or private hydrogen stations depending on their clients’ needs. We’ll share more details about that as soon as we have them.
According to Roycht, “FCEVs can offer longer range at lower weights than BEVs.” They also have a “quicker ‘re-charge’” advantage. The executive mentioned that the Tre FCEV – and the Two FCEV, when it is available – will be able to add around 75 miles/minute. In other words, it would take close to seven minutes to fill the hydrogen tanks and keep traveling.
In another discussion, the Nikola executive mentions that the truck can get 10 kilograms of hydrogen per minute and that these trucks can run around 7.5 miles/kg. That allows us to calculate how much hydrogen the truck will use to run more than 500 miles: about 70 kg of gas.
As usual, the big question is: where will these trucks get the hydrogen to keep traveling? Roycht has an answer for that as well. According to the executive, the company plans “to launch several public and private fueling stations across southern California.”
The initial locations “will be tied to our partners logistic needs.” Roycht said he cannot get into more details at this point but that Nikola is open “to add trucks to the mix.” In other words, Nikola can provide public or private hydrogen stations depending on their clients’ needs. We’ll share more details about that as soon as we have them.
Our FCEV will launch with range of 500+mi
— Jason Roycht (@JasonRoycht) February 18, 2022
In general FCEVs can offer:
- longer range at lower weights than BEVs
- quicker “re-charge” : ~75mi/min fueling std
HD Trucks have a wide use case. Some benefit BEV others FCEV.
Hauling a lowboy from AZ to TX - that’s a FCEV use case! https://t.co/RPHEJKWvan
We plan to launch several public and private fueling stations across southern CA. Initial locations will be tied to our partners logistic needs. Not yet ready to announce specifics but soon. If anyone wants to add trucks to the mix, DM me- I’ll see what we can do for a station ???? https://t.co/BAdlnGxFXQ
— Jason Roycht (@JasonRoycht) February 18, 2022
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