Without even a prototype, Nikola reports 7,000+ pre-orders for electric truck

By Bruce Brown Published June 13, 2016

nikola electric natural gas long haul truck one — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Many were shocked by the reported 400,000 reservations (later adjusted to 373,000) Tesla Motors received for its upcoming entry-level Tesla Model 3. Tesla, however, receives lots of press and has a growing network of company stores, service centers, and charging stations, and can expect such numbers.

The less famous Nikola Motor Company, meanwhile, which debuted in May, now says it has 7,000+ pre-orders worth $2.3 billion for its Nikola One electric truck, reports Electrek. Nikola, however, hasn’t yet shown a concept vehicle and the first prototype isn’t scheduled for display until December 2016.

Recommended Videos

So far all the company has shown are graphical renderings and feature lists for two vehicles. The Nikola One is the long-haul truck that has gotten the most attention. A UTV (Utility Task Vehicle) called the Nikola Zero is also on the Nikola website and was mentioned during the May launch, but no information is available about deposits made so far.

The Nikola One truck is slated to have a range of up to 1,200 miles, powered first by its 320kWh lithium battery pack and then fueling a turbine that recharges the battery pack via a 150-gallon natural-gas tank, referred to as a range extender. A key to the success of the Nikola One will be establishing a nationwide network of natural-gas refilling stations.

“Our technology is 10-15 years ahead of any other OEM in fuel efficiencies, MPG and emissions,” Nikola’s founder and CEO, Trevor Milton, said in a release this morning. “We are the only OEM to have a near zero emission truck and still outperform diesel trucks running at 80,000 pounds. To have over 7,000 reservations totaling more than 2.3 billion dollars, with five months remaining until our unveiling ceremony, is unprecedented.”

The reservation deposit amount is $1,500, which means that Nikola is presently holding at least $10.5 million in deposits, which the company says are refundable.

Nikola Motor is not connected to Tesla Motors, although both have announced ground-breaking electric vehicles and both are apparently named after inventor and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla.

Topics

Contributing Editor

Bruce Brown Contributing Editor As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…

Cars

Trade group says EV tax incentive helps U.S. industry compete versus China

ev group support tax incentive 201 seer credit eligibility

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), a trade group with members including the likes of Tesla, Waymo, Rivian, and Uber, is coming out in support of tax incentives for both the production and sale of electric vehicles (EVs).

Domestic manufacturers of EVs and their components, such as batteries, have received tax incentives that have driven job opportunities in states like Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia, the group says.

Cars

Ford boosts year-end discounts on 2024 Lightning, Mach-E Models

ford discounts lightning mach e 24 frd mch 51368 ao3a1676 edit 14a676

We’re officially into the traditional year-end sales period for automakers. That means big discounts are on the way, as both manufacturers and dealerships want to get rid of unsold inventory to make room for next year’s models.

This season, Ford has decided to boost incentives on its bestselling electric vehicles, the 2024 F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E models.

Cars

Eaton, Treehouse to boost home capacity for EV charging, energy storage

eaton treehouse ev charging news releases

Power-management firm Eaton likes to point out that when it launched in 1911, it invested in a new idea -- the very first gear-driven truck axle -- just at a time when both transportation and power management were on the cusp of dramatic change.
More than 113 years later, Eaton is again seeking to lead innovation in the current energy transition.
The power-management firm just signed a deal with Treehouse, an AI, software-enabled installation platform for electrification projects. The end goal: accelerating the electrification of homes for electric-vehicle (EV) charging, energy storage, or heat pumps, while seeking more efficiency and cost savings.
“At Eaton, we’re all-in on the energy transition and we’re making it happen at scale by delivering breakout technologies and industry collaborations needed to delight customers and make it more accessible and affordable,” says Paul Ryan, general manager of Connected Solutions and EV Charging at Eaton.
The partnership will ensure consumers are provided with accurate and fast pricing, as well as access to licensed electricians to deliver code-compliant installations, the companies say.
The collaboration also integrates into Eaton’s “Home as a Grid” approach, which supports the two-way flow of electricity, enabling homeowners to produce and consume renewable energy when they need it, Eaton says.
“For more than a century, power has flowed in one direction—from centralized power plants into homes,” the company says. “Today, there’s a new reality thanks to solar, electric-vehicle charging, energy storage, digitalization, and more.”
Projects to change homes and EVs into energy hubs have multiplied recently.
Last month, Nissan joined ChargeScape, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) venture that is already backed by BMW, Ford, and Honda. ChargeScape’s software wirelessly connects EVs to power grids and utility companies, enabling consumers to receive financial incentives for temporarily pausing charging during periods of high demand. Eventually, consumers should also be able to sell the energy stored in their EVs’ battery back to the power grid.
In August, GM announced that V2G technology will become standard in all its model year 2026 models. And Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hinted that Tesla could introduce V2G technology for its vehicles in 2025.