Nikola, the embattled US-based electric vehicle startup, has begun production of its Tre battery-electric semi-truck at its factory in Coolidge, Arizona. The announcement means that Nikola has beaten its rival Tesla to the punch, with the latter struggling to put its own electric heavy truck on the market.
Nikola says the battery-electric Tre model is best for shortened routes. The semi-truck has a range of 350 miles or about 563 kilometers on a single charge. The company is targeting to sell between 300 and 500 Tre units this year as it prepares to ramp up production for 2023.
A hydrogen fuel cell version of the Tre semi-truck will also follow in late 2023 with up to 500 miles (around 805 kilometers) of range. After that, a “next-generation” version of the Tre hydrogen truck will offer customers 900 miles (around 1,448 kilometers) of range in a single charge. This long-rage version could reportedly arrive by 2025.
The company previously cut ties with its founder, Trevor Milton, who last year was indicted in the US on federal fraud charges in relation to statements he made prior to Nikola’s initial public offering (IPO). Nikola appears to be moving forward without its founder, as it has settled all outstanding disputes related to Milton’s actions.
Despite its rocky past, Nikola has managed to leapfrog Tesla in the race to produce a battery-electric semi truck built for the future. Still, it could be exciting to see what Tesla has to offer when its own model launches sometime this year. Other competitors in the space include Volvo and Daimler Trucks, both of which are pursuing more sustainable strategies for their future models. More competition is better for consumers, as these companies will strive to beat each other to bring the best heavy-duty electric trucks out into the market as soon as possible.
