(Phoenix / USA) – The Nikola Corp. wants to establish a new brand under the name “Hyla”, which includes the company’s energy products for the production, distribution and delivery of hydrogen to fuel its “Nikola Tre” tractor. Nikola is “the only company” that combines a hydrogen fuel cell truck (FCEV) and the entire hydrogen energy infrastructure supply chain under one roof, said managing director Michael Lohscheller. He sees this as “a sustainable competitive advantage” for customers.
Cooperation partners participate
Nikola is developing systems with a production volume of up to 300 tons of hydrogen per day. Several partners have already supported the project, including the fuel cell manufacturer Plug Power Corp., the city of Terre Haute (Indiana) and Clinton County (Pennsylvania).
A hydrogen base will be built in Buckeye, Arizona in several phases to meet the needs of truck customers in the southwest. In the first phase, a production volume of 30 tons per day is planned; later it will be 150 tons. The first construction phase is expected to be completed in the second half of 2024.
Hydrogen is to be delivered by trailer to where customers need it. © Nikola Corp.
A total of 2026 Hyla hydrogen filling stations are to be built by 60. The first are planned for locations in the Californian cities of Colton and Ontario. There is also another location in California that serves the port of Long Beach.
In contrast, the mobile refueling system “Hyla Flexible Mobile Fueler” would be driven to FCEV customers to refuel heavy-duty trucks at 700 bar. The first of these refueling systems has already been released for operation. Nikola plans to put more such mobile stations into operation in the first quarter of 2023.
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Concept: Nikola wants to build 2026 Hyla hydrogen filling stations by 60. The first three announced stations are to be built in California. © Nikola Corp.
