“My goal is to literally revolutionize the trucking industry,” said Trevor Milton, CEO and founder of Nikola Motor Company (NMC), moments after the Nikola One was unveiled in Salt Lake City on Dec. 1.
Nikola One is a working prototype of an electric semi-truck with 1,000-hp, a range of more than 1,200 miles, and zero tailpipe emissions except for water.
To travel this distance, the truck will use 2.3 Megawatts of power from lithium batteries recharged on the fly with regenerative braking and hydrogen fuel cells.
“This took a complete redesign from the ground up,” he said.
The company will likely develop three or four more prototypes before a production version rolls off the line in 2020.
Everything about the truck is tailored around the driver, he explained, from the mechanics to the creature comforts and information systems.
The truck has a smooth, quiet and safe ride with independent suspension and all-wheel drive. And the cab is 30 percent larger than current truck models with all the amenities of a “mini apartment,” he said.
