Nikola Motor has unveiled the company's first 18-wheeler trailer truck, which is fully powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The startup said that the truck has a range of 800 to 1,200 miles and can haul up to 80,000 lbs. of cargo.
The trailer truck was custom built by Nikola Motor and is a class 8 rig capable of hauling up to 80,000 lbs. cargo which means that it is more powerful than any diesel truck on the road.
Nikola Motor announced in May that the company's first class 8 semi-truck would be an all-electric vehicle. However, the company said in August that it would instead use hydrogen fuel cell. Dubbed as Nikola One, the trailer truck costs $375,000 each, which means that it is almost twice as expensive as most standard diesel-powered trailers.
To entice potential buyers, Nikola Motor will offer enough free hydrogen for each purchased Nikola One truck to cover one million miles. The company has said that owners can trade in their Nikola One truck for a new one every 72 months or once they have covered one million miles, whichever comes first.
The Nikola One is also available for lease as part of a program. Through this program, the truck will cost between $5,000 and $7,000 depending on the configuration and options added. By leasing the truck, Nikola Motor is offering a supply of hydrogen fuel with no mileage restrictions. A warranty and scheduled maintenance are also added throughout the 72-month leasing term.
Following the launch of the Nikola One, Nikola Motor said that the company has already accepted more than 7,000 reservations amounting to nearly $3 billion in future orders, according to Fortune.
In a statement acquired by Computer World, Nikola founder and chief executive officer Trevor Milton said, "Nikola is currently in discussions with several states to decide who to partner with in its effort to reduce America's dependence on fossil fuels, advance green energy and revolutionize the trucking industry."