An Electric Car by Any Other Name

"JRapp: now as good as new again" (jrapp)
05/26/2016 at 13:05 • Filed to: Nikola Motor Company, Nikola One, Nikola Zero

Following the electric car trends in the passenger car world, and borrowing the first name of the inventor whose surname has already been made famous by Elon Musk’s automotive ventures, Nikola Motor Company is attempting to do the same thing in the world of semi-trucks and off-road vehicles.

The company is planning to come out with two products - the Nikola One, which will be a 2,000 horsepower semi-truck, and a little thing called the Nikola Zero, an off-road electric 4x4. Neither vehicle exists yet. Not even in prototype form, but that doesn’t stop them from asking for money. It seems the company is already accepting deposits on these vehicles. The One, which will cost a total of $375,000 (not a terribly outrageous sum if you consider current regular semi-trucks can easily reach six digits) will require a $1,500 deposit, while the Zero, a more modest $750 for a vehicle that’s set to sell for $42,000. Supposedly the prototypes will be unveiled this fall.

Nikola One

What will set the Nikola One apart from rest of the electric vehicles is its preferred power source. Yes its six wheels will all be driven by electric motors powered by batteries, but the batteries will be charged by natural gas burning turbines as well as regenerative braking, with an option of diesel powered turbine available. This will supposedly give the Nikola One an effective 10-15 MPG and a similar 1200 mile range, compared to that of 4-6 MPG for traditional semi-trucks. With that, Nikola is also planning to roll out its own 50+ Natural Gas filling stations (fed by their own Natural Gas wells and liquefaction facilities) to supplement the already existing CNG stations. Nikola is also estimating that their One truck will weigh less than a traditional diesel truck, be able to maintain speeds better in inclines, as well as accelerate and stop faster than traditional diesel trucks.

And they are rolling all this out with a $5000/month lease program that will also include free CNG fuel for the first million miles (built into the price of the lease) for the first 5000 people that sign up. The lease will also include scheduled maintenance and unlimited miles. Compare that to the maintenance and fuel costs of a traditional diesel truck that can easily surpass $10,000/month.

Nikola Zero

The other model they are planning on rolling out is 520 horsepower, fully electric, off-road oriented 4x4, called a Nikola Zero. Besides plug-in power, it will also come with a solar panel on the roof to reduce drain from the batteries. This supposedly gives the Zero a 100-150 mile range. Beyond that, the Nikola Zero can be compared to a Polaris RZR 1000, albeit with more power, longer suspension travel, higher ground clearance, water-proofing, etc..

More info can be found !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Personal opinion time.

The Nikola Zero to me looks essentially like a lifted golf cart. Maybe with more power and better suspension travel, etc.. I can’t get excited about it, but that may be because I’m not much into off-road stuff in general.

The Nikola One however, assuming they actually deliver a product, could be interesting. It’s about time technologies familiar in the passenger car world move on to commercial vehicle realms as well.

Thoughts?

DISCUSSION (12)

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > JRapp: now as good as new again
05/26/2016 at 13:11

Am I the only one seeing a stretched Audi R8 truck?

But I do agree that it is about time the truck market gets onto the electrification bandwagon, too little is happening at the moment.

DutchieDC2R > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/26/2016 at 13:15

LOL those lights do remind me of an R8..hahaha...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/26/2016 at 13:19

Normally I tell people who say “doesn’t this look like this....” that they’re insane.

NOT THIS TIME

Damn did they lift the lights/front fender right off of an R8?

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
05/26/2016 at 13:22

I can quote you on saying I’m not insane, if anyone asks if I am, right? haha

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/26/2016 at 13:29

Sure can, just say some random dude on the internet named MontegoMan who has an odd collection of Mercury’s said you’re not insane.

I doubt that’ll prove much. lol

JRapp: now as good as new again > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/26/2016 at 13:29

Yea I can totally see that. The LED strips under the headlights, as well as the black grill part underneath without anything separating the grill and the headlight..

MUSASHI66 > JRapp: now as good as new again
05/26/2016 at 13:30

This would work well with an autopilot idea.

1. Create large distribution centers outside of major cities - many already exist

2. Make these trucks drive on auto pilot from a to b and eliminate thousands in driver costs.

3. Hire local drivers/companies to transport the goods from the distribution centers to businesses. Make them use electric powered trucks too

This is more or less the existing distribution system but with no drivers moving the goods from LA to NY for example.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > JRapp: now as good as new again
05/26/2016 at 13:41

I was expecting truck electrification to begin in the urban delivery market (vans and box trucks), but the turbine-hybrid idea (à la CX-75) is intriguing.

JRapp: now as good as new again > MUSASHI66
05/26/2016 at 14:37

With my dad earning his living as a trucker, I’m always wary of suggestions that would leave him out of a job, but he’ll be retired by the time this becomes a reality, so sure. I can see that as a step in that direction. Though that’s not terribly different from moving goods by rail.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
05/26/2016 at 14:40

Well, it’s already starting with buses and such. I know the shuttles Nike uses to transport people around its campuses in Beaverton are already on some kind of clean power, though I don’t know what exactly.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > JRapp: now as good as new again
05/26/2016 at 15:05

Yeah, we’ve got a couple of hybrid and hydrogen-powered buses here, but apparently they spend more time in the repair shop than on the road.

MUSASHI66 > JRapp: now as good as new again
05/26/2016 at 15:09

My dad drives trucks too, so I understand that. I do agree, it is very similar to rail. Somehow, rail does not seem to be the answer for a lot of stuff - just drive on I80 and you’ll see thousands of trucks going coast to coast. I think these electric trucks on Autopilot could replace a huge majority of existing long haul truckers.