Nikola Corp. has announced a new global hydrogen energy brand, HYLA, which will serve as the hydrogen production and distribution umbrella for the zero-emission truck company.
At Wednesday’s internal event, CEO Michael Lohscheller also unveiled the final production version of the Nikola Tre fuel cell electric vehicle, which will hit the market this year. Roescherer said the truck has a range of 500 miles and an estimated refueling time of less than 20 minutes.
To fuel Nikola’s hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks, the company and partners had to find a way to develop the hydrogen supply and infrastructure needed to support the demand, said president Carey Mendes. I was. That’s where HYLA comes in.
“We set out to build the world’s first class 8 hydrogen truck, but we knew that wasn’t enough,” said Mendes. “For that truck to be successful, we have to consider both the chicken and the egg.”
HYLA’s mission is to secure a supply of clean hydrogen and distribute it to customers at competitive prices, said Mendes. Nikola has integrated hydrogen fuel cell trucks and a complete hydrogen energy infrastructure with his supply chain under one roof, Lohscheller said.
Nikola aims to develop access to up to 300 tons of hydrogen per day by 2026. This will begin at a fuel depot in Arizona, he said.
Construction of the first phase of the Phoenix Hydrogen Hub in Buckeye, Arizona is expected to be completed in the second half of 2024. The hub will start with 30 tonnes of hydrogen in the first phase and will grow up to 150 tonnes per day in the future. phase.
The company also plans to install 60 hydrogen stations by 2026, with the first station to be in California.
Nikola said HYLA’s mobile fueling station for hydrogen fuel cell trucks is innovative and adds fueling options for consumers. We plan to launch additional hydrogen mobile fuel units in the first quarter of 2023.
Earlier this week, Nikola said it would work with green hydrogen-producing energy company Fortescue Future Industries to jointly develop a large-scale green hydrogen production facility in the United States.
Nikola will explore other opportunities to sell more of Fortescue’s green hydrogen projects in the future as part of its efforts to decarbonize the transportation sector.
“This (MoU) establishes a framework for future cooperation as strategic partners for the potential joint development of meaningful energy transition solutions, focusing today on the Phoenix Hydrogen Hub project led by Nikola.” Roescherer said in a statement. .
Nikola also announced Wednesday that Biagi Bros. Inc. will take delivery of 15 Nikola Tre hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks in Ontario, Calif., in the fourth quarter of 2023.
These trucks will contribute to Biagi Brothers’ transition to a zero-emission fleet.
Nikola’s fuel cell trucks are eligible for California’s Hybrid and Zero Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project Program. If approved, Tre FCEV purchasers may be eligible for various California-based incentives.
Tre FCEV buyers will be eligible for an additional $40,000 clean commercial vehicle tax credit from the federal government in 2023 following passage of last year’s Inflation Reduction Act.