Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/772176
30 commercial carrier journal | january 2017 M atthew Hurley, an own- er-operator leased to Nashville, Tenn.-based New Waverly Trans- portation, currently is strapped with a monthly truck payment of $1,000 and is spending $1,000 per week on fuel. He also is doling out $1,700 per month, on average, to maintain his aging diesel- powered tractor. He read an article earlier this year about Nikola Motor Co. and its founder, serial entrepreneur Trevor Milton, who has been developing an electric semi-truck. To see it in person, Hurley came to NMC's headquarters in Salt Lake City last month, where Milton unveiled a working prototype of Nikola One, a zero-emis- sions semi-truck that uses a fully electric drivetrain powered by high-density lithium batteries. "is is way over the top," Hurley said aſter the reveal. technology e truck's electricity is supplied on-the-go by a hydrogen fuel cell, giving it a range of more than 1,200 miles while delivering over 1,000 horsepower and 2,000 lb.-ſt. of torque. Wait a minute. A zero-emissions electric truck that runs on hydrogen, one of the most abundant and renewable energy resources? And with double the horsepower of a conventional diesel truck? "is is a real truck," said Milton. "is is not a pusher. My goal is to literally revolu- tionize the trucking industry." Sales, service and fuel During the Nikola One's unveiling, Milton announced a partnership with Ryder System to offer the vehicle to owner-operators and fleet owners through a full-service 72-month lease that will include unlimited nationwide hydrogen fueling. e monthly lease will be between $5,000 and $7,000 depending on options, he said. Ryder will serve as the exclusive distribution and maintenance provider for NMC, unlocking Ryder's North American network of more than 800 service locations to les- sors and owners of the Nikola One tractor. It will provide sales, service and warranty coverage for the trucks as NMC develops a support network. To supply the hydrogen, NMC is building a fuel network with 364 locations planned nationwide, Milton said. Construction will start in 2019, and the locations of the planned sites are available at NikolaMotor.com. NMC has partnered with Meritor to develop the frame and suspension and with Robert Fitzgerald to build its initial vehicles. Fitzgerald, whose company currently builds between 6,000 and 9,000 glider trucks a year, is contracted to build the first 5,000 Nikola One vehicles. NIKOLA ONE UNVEILED: The semi-truck uses a fully electric drivetrain powered by high-density lithium batteries. 'WAY OVER THE TOP': The zero- emissions Nikola One's electricity is supplied on-the-go by a hydrogen fuel cell. INFRASTRUCTURE, CUSTOMERS: Several companies have signed on to provide sales, support and development. High-tech truck unveiled Nikola Motor Co. touts zero-emissions electric-hybrid tractor Trevor Milton, founder of Nikola Motor Co., unveiled the Nikola One at the company's headquarters in Salt Lake City. Owner-operator Matthew Hurley looks forward to owning a Nikola One when the first production models will be ready in about three years.