August 8, 2018 Vol. 15 No. 16

Hydrogen, where’s it going? Good question, one that I’ve been asking — alongside countless others — for almost four decades. I first wrote about it back in 1980 in the context of fuel cells to power trucks, though scientists and inventors have been playing with it for a century. Using it as a motive fuel directly is feasible but it’s far more often conceived as an energy carrier, much like electricity. But after all this time, are we there yet?

Not really, though there’s feverish activity all over the place, and there are certainly hopeful signs at Nikola Motor Company, according to a press release this past Monday. Targeting US$200 million in investment funds, Nikola CEO Trevor Milton announced that more than $100 million has already been raised and funded this month.

“Nikola’s business model has been vetted, and the investment world is taking notice,” said Milton. “So far this year we have kicked off plans to build the largest hydrogen network in the world with NEL (see below), secured a massive 800-truck order commitment from Anheuser-Busch, developed the most energy-dense battery system on the market with almost 400 watt hours per liter, engineered a 240 kW fuel cell, kicked off electric vehicle stability controls and electric ABS with WABCO, designed a thermo-management and HVAC system with Mahle, finalized the most advanced class-8 independent suspension on the market with Meritor, relocated our company to Arizona to build our new 150,000-sq-ft headquarters, and now closed on $100 million.”

“To say we have come a long way in 2018 is an understatement,” said Nikola CFO Kim Brady.

Milton also added that the company will soon announce a 2019 event in Phoenix, where customers, suppliers, media, and industry insiders will be able to see all the latest Nikola products in action.

Give these guys credit, they’re really pioneering hydrogen-electric renewable technology. The zero-emission trucks — with a range of between 500 and 1200 miles and refill time within 20 minutes — will be part of fleets beginning in 2020 and in full production by 2021, the company says. It adds that it has nearly $11 billion in pre-order reservations.

By 2028, Nikola is planning on having more than 700 hydrogen stations across the U.S. and Canada. The first 14 stations will be up and running by 2021, we’re promised.

And Tesla? Don’t hold your breath.

THE NIKOLA DEAL WITH NEL is no small thing, and NEL is no small outfit. Based in Norway, it’s a global, dedicated hydrogen company, delivering ways to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen from renewable energy.

Since its foundation in 1927, NEL has been developing hydrogen plants, so Nikola has partnered with serious experience. Its capabilities cover the entire value chain from hydrogen production technologies to manufacturing of hydrogen fueling stations, providing all fuel-cell electric vehicles with what it claims to be “the same fast fueling and long range as conventional vehicles today.”