Goodbye to Japan’s hydrogen engine: America unveils the most futuristic one ever seen

American auto enterprise Nikola Corporation tested a hydrogen-electric semi-truck called the Nikola One while it was setting up a hydrogen refueling network in the United States and Canada. The move was a significant show of confidence from the zero-emission engine specialist manufacturer, which has a number of hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) on the market with new offerings emerging regularly.

The Nikola One: a hydrogen-electric semi-truck to meet sustainability demands

The Nikola Corporation, which was aptly named after inventor Nikola Tesla, is driven by aims to revolutionize the transportation industry by delivering clean options to traditional fossil fuel-powered internal combustion drivetrains. The Nikola One hydrogen-powered, Class 8, electric semi-truck sleeper cab hit the roads for testing of its concept in 2016.

It was capable of hauling a gross weight of 80,000 pounds and its range was a decent 1,200 miles on a full-range charge (full electric charge and tank of hydrogen). The Nikola Corporation is in the process of creating a hydrogen network of refueling stations in the United States and Canada.

Nikola One hydrogen-electric hybrid stats

The Nikola One Class 8 semi-truck, powered by a hybrid hydrogen-electric powertrain, had a gross vehicle weight of 36 tons. The battery had a capacity of 250 kWh with a power total of 2,000 hp.

Torque output was 3,700 ft. lbs and the fuel cell was manufactured by Powercell. The torque output after gear reduction was 86,000 ft. lbs. The electric motor was set at 335 hp with dual gear reduction at each wheel in a 6x6 setup.

The Nikola One could reach 60 mph from a dead stop in 30 seconds and climb a gradient of 6% at maximum weight at 65 mph. The benefits of not using a diesel engine are a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 30% bigger, more aerodynamic cab, and a quieter and more comfortable drive experience. Every Nikola has an onboard smart computer that provides real-time data via a 21-inch monitor and 4G WiFi connectivity.

You can find more information on Nikola's development and testing of the One semi-truck here[1].

What happened to the Nikola One?

U.S. Xpress was involved in road testing of the Nikola One model. The hydrogen electric semi-trucks began testing with fleets in 2019 and full production was supposed to start in 2021 at a new Nikola facility in Buckeye, Arizona.

The One never actually reached production and as of December 2024, no unit had ever been delivered. Nikola had already received a large amount in pre-order reservations (which offered a 72-month or one million-mile lease program with unlimited hydrogen for owners). The One was followed up by a smaller model named Two that actually did enter production and is a popular current model on the roads.

The benefits of hydrogen powertrain vehicles

There are a number of benefits of hydrogen-powered vehicles over traditional fas and fuel systems:

• Zero emissions: Hydrogen fuel cell systems only emit water vapor, so they are environmentally friendly as they reduce carbon emissions.
• Quick refueling: It only takes three to five minutes to refuel a hydrogen vehicle, which is around the same time as gas or diesel vehicles.

  This is more convenient than electric vehicles, which take much longer to recharge.

• Range: Hydrogen vehicles have a typical range of 300 miles to 400 miles, which is longer than battery-electric models.

  This is also especially beneficial for the long-haul and heavy-duty transport sectors.

• Efficiency: Fuel cell systems make use of hydrogen more efficiently than electric systems.

While Nikola pursues hydrogen and electric systems, some manufacturers are coming out of left field with an unexpected fuel--liquid nitrogen[2].

The engines are still in the development phase, but early results are looking promising and we may soon have a brand-new vehicle fuel option.

References

1. ^ development and testing of the One semi-truck here (www.eldiario24.com)
2. ^ unexpected fuel--liquid nitrogen (www.eldiario24.com)