Updated: It does exist!

"JRapp: now as good as new again" (jrapp) 12/02/2016 at 10:00 • Filed to: None

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Looks like it was’t vapour-ware so far after all. This is a fully functioning prototype.

Stairs, for liability reasons. And a sliding door, behind the drivers seat.

The under headlight grille is rather Audi R8ish.

Fancy cockpit. LCD screens galore. The big LCD is running some sort of a new shipment selection or routing software they talked about.

No passenger door.

Two huge beds, fridge, freezer, humongous sun roof, no closet for clothes? They’ll figure that out eventually.

Electric motors (the milled aluminium bits), one per wheel, and other one-off prototype bits. There’s still air-bags, so a compressor as well, and air brakes (disk) to back up the regenerative brakes.

Other shiny bits.

Bugged the Security Guards for a photo of me and my dad. They really hated taking pictures it seemed, but did it anyways.

Oh, and they fed us great BBQ (meat, meat, meat and meat, and cole slaw) and gave us endless alcohol - couple beers, several G&Ts, a rum an coke, all doubles.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/01/2016 at 22:58

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All those batteries are gonna severely hamper the max payload.

JRapp: now as good as new again > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 12/01/2016 at 23:49

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Let’s hope there’s weight savings elsewhere (engine, fuel tank, etc..). There are however a couple of i teresting design choises - the 5rh wheel is about a foot higher than normal, wide single tires in the back instead of the doubles, no wardrobe, front end looks very fragile and so on. I mean this is a prototype, so a lot of those things they will discover in testing...

Grindintosecond > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/02/2016 at 00:54

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Quite the interesting vehicle.

“The most important recent development is that the CNG range-extender on top of the 320 kWh battery, will now be swapped out in North America for a 800 V hydrogen fuel cell unit. The original CNG unit is now an choice for other markets with not-so-strong hydrogen infrastructures. Perhaps the CNG version will also be a US/Canadian option still if requested.”

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/02/2016 at 10:05

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I’m kind of confused about why it still needs to be so tall without a ginormous I6 in front of or underneath the cab.

jimz > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/02/2016 at 10:08

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Looks like it was’t vapour-ware so far after all. This is a fully functioning prototype

Did you see it functioning fully?

nerd_racing > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 12/02/2016 at 10:09

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Aerodynamics to match the trailer height?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/02/2016 at 10:10

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What I can’t believe is that it took so long for people to find the best fit for battery-powered electric vehicles.

JRapp: now as good as new again > jimz 12/02/2016 at 10:10

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All right all right. This is supposedly a fully functioning prototype, and no, we didn’t see it “fully” functioning.

JRapp: now as good as new again > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 12/02/2016 at 10:12

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Well, you need to make the trailer more aerodynamic, so the cab has to go up to the height of the trailer. And you need room for the batteries.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/02/2016 at 10:15

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A quote they seem to like is that “the lightbulb wasn’t invented by continuously improving the candle”. It took a completely fresh idea.

Amoore100 > Grindintosecond 12/02/2016 at 10:22

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Oh yeah because we totally have a fully functional hydrogen infrastructure in the US outside of California.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/02/2016 at 10:27

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Oh, so it’s fuel cell stack now, Wasn’t it going to be a hydrogen turbine generator? Not that the fuel cell stack is necessarily a *BAD* idea...

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/02/2016 at 10:30

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What I mean is that trucks and busses, especially city trucks but longhaulers too, make far more sense to run off batteries than cars do. They have much bigger engines, burn far more fuel and would benefit more from the immediate torque and have a far more (sticking with the city vehicles) fixed route where battery swapping could be used very effectively. Longhaulers wouldn’t have swapping stations so readily available, but since they wouldn’t be using the charge as fast they could get by with less.

TheRealBicycleBuck > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 12/02/2016 at 10:31

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As others have said, it must match the trailer height. Before anyone gets ideas about lowering the trailer heights, they need to consider the height of all the loading docks at every warehouse, store, factory, plant, etc. Even a few inches difference in height makes loading a pain in the ass. Dock ramps help, but the approach and departure angles of a forklift are nearly zero.

nerd_racing > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/02/2016 at 10:35

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There aren’t going to be many batteries on this. The electrics will be run with a liquid hydrogen powered turbine for the majority of their vehicles...

kanadanmajava1 > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/02/2016 at 10:40

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Is that independed suspension picture from the front or from the rear? My guess is that it’s the middle axle but I’m not sure. Usually heavy duty vehicle industry tries to stay away from those and go with live axles instead. At least that’s the case in Europe.

JRapp: now as good as new again > kanadanmajava1 12/02/2016 at 10:42

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Fully independant, also because 6 wheel electric drive with torque vectoring.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Amoore100 12/02/2016 at 10:44

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They’re also talking abour rolling our that infrastructure. Will be hearing more on that today.

kanadanmajava1 > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/02/2016 at 10:55

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It’s probably nice when it works but the suspension might have annoyingly big number of custom made parts. Heavy vehicle industry relies heavily on standardized parts so the maintenance might be a bit hard for that one.

shop-teacher > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/02/2016 at 11:25

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This thing is fascinating. If they pull it off, the implications are HUGE.

Amoore100 > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/02/2016 at 12:32

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Gotcha; I certainly support a hydrogen infrastructure but am still dubious of Nikola’s claims...why not just a gas turbine to make things easier?

RotaryLover > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/02/2016 at 12:54

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The question is...who will buy it?

JRapp: now as good as new again > RotaryLover 12/02/2016 at 14:33

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It’ll be distributed through Ryder. And there was plenty of owner operators, as well as large fleet reps there. Most of them put down a refundable down payment.

RotaryLover > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/02/2016 at 17:43

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That makes sense! As a diesel Mechanic...I don’t like where it’s going but hey...we’ll see.

JRapp: now as good as new again > RotaryLover 12/05/2016 at 14:52

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I don’t think your market will disappear in your lifetime. Assuming this takes off like a wildfire, it would still take many decades to phase out diesels.

RotaryLover > JRapp: now as good as new again 12/05/2016 at 17:16

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It’s not the market...it’s re-learning everything. If most companies gave decent training on how to work on these trucks and what to expect and bla bla bla, I wouldn’t bat an eye. Sadly, I know a few (if we don’t count dealerships) that will give the right in depth training that we need...

JRapp: now as good as new again > RotaryLover 12/05/2016 at 17:34

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Initially after the release, and keep in mind the mainstream commercial release is set to be 2020, Ryder will be the only ones who are certified(?) to repair these things, at least the warranty repairs paid for by Nikola. And presumably Nikola (and Meritor, and others involved) will work closely with Ryder to train their technicians. From there on though, I can see your concern. If these things do become more mainstream, and are to be serviced outside of Ryder, then absolutely, extensive training would be required.