According to its CEO, Nikola has started producing an electric truck known as the Tre. The tiny print, however, discloses that it is actually an Iveco chassis coupled with a third-party electric engine. The new truck, which was built in Arizona, weighs around 37.2 tons when loaded and is intended for long-distance commercial deliveries. An advertised top speed of 120 km/h is made possible by a single electric motor mounted on the back axle.
Although an exact timing for 0-100 km/h acceleration has not been released, Nikola claims it will cut the average time of 25 seconds needed for diesel alternatives in half. A massive 753kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which is roughly 15 times larger than the one in a typical Tesla Model 3, provides the necessary voltage. However, because to the Tre's excessive weight, anonymous testing methodologies say that its range is only 560 km, as opposed to the 491 km of a standard Model 3 on Europe's WLTP test cycle.
Mark Russell, Nikola’s CEO said, “Next year, fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) are planned to be added to the manufacturing mix … We are focused on delivering vehicles.” Mr. Russell claims that a Nikola Tre powered by hydrogen fuel cells is also under development and will soon go into production.
Since its inception in 2014, Nikola has made a commitment to design and produce competitive pickup trucks, heavy-duty trucks, and SUVs in the USA. However, major fraud charges forced the company's CEO to resign last year, and General Motors, a backer of the startup, ended its partnership with it shortly thereafter.
Reportedly, the corporation made false claims regarding the progress of its vehicles and indicated that a prototype could move forwards on its own. Employees then acknowledged that a YouTube video of a Nikola truck travelling on a highway was actually of a rolling chassis being pushed downward.
The business reorganized to refocus its attention on less ambitious projects, like the Tre, as its reputation and market value were in ruins. The recently promised 2023 production date for the long-delayed Tesla Semi is used to position the new truck as a rival.
There are other manufacturers also making a move into the commercial electric trucks space namely include the Daimler eCascadia, Volvo FH Electric, and Fuso eCanter.
Daimler eCascadia
The Freightliner eCascadia battery electric Class 8 truck was unveiled at this year's ACT Expo following several years of co-development with fleets and more than 1 million total test miles.
Depending on the vehicle settings, it boasts a normal range of about 230 miles and is supported by Daimler Truck North America eConsulting services. Additionally, Sysco Corporation has placed orders and plans to deliver almost 800 battery-powered Freightliner eCascadia Class 8 tractors by 2026.
Volvo FH Electric
The Volvo FH Electric, a high-payload model designed for city-to-city transportation, has reportedly passed an independent energy efficiency test. It is one of Volvo Trucks' three anticipated new EV models.
the fully loaded vehicle with a three-motor (390 kW) configuration and a gross combined weight of 40 tons. It was put through its paces on a 343 km (213 miles) long route designed expressly for testing trucks from various manufacturers under a variety of circumstances. This route comprises a variety of freeways, hilly terrains, and narrower roads.
The truck was able to complete the journey with some energy left over, according to the results, travelling at an average speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). The overall range is estimated to be 345 km (214 miles). The fact that the energy usage was around 50% lower than it was for the diesel version of the same FH model is significant.
Mercedes-Benz eActros Long Haul
The 40-ton semi is made to have a range of around 500 km (311 miles) and a megawatt charging capacity. According to an announcement from Mercedes-Benz Trucks, the company will gradually bring out more battery-electric models in the current and upcoming years.
The business plans to begin series manufacturing of the eEconic model for municipal purposes in July, after the market debut of the Mercedes-Benz eActros vehicle in October 2021. Both types are connected to the German Wörth facility.
