Nikola cuts 10-year hydrogen deal with FirstElement Fuel

Nikola Corp. has entered a 10-year partnership with FirstElement Fuel to provide hydrogen for its push to sell fuel cell electric trucks in California.

FirstElement Fuel (FEF) is the leading hydrogen station operator in the Golden State. It is relatively new to heavy-duty truck refueling. It operates a fast-refueling station in Oakland. Thirty Hyundai Xcient fuel cell trucks participate in a pilot program at the Port of Oakland. The station received funding from the California Energy Commission...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nikola-cuts-10-year-hydrogen-deal-with-firstelement-fuel

Milton wants Nikola arbitration testimony to bolster probation plea

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As if a 50-page motion for probation was insufficient, convicted Nikola founder Trevor Milton is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/milton-wants-nikola-arbitration-testimony-to-bolster-probation-plea

Torc tackles beyond-the-truck autonomous issues

How will the “personas” of dispatchers, maintenance technicians and roadside assistance change as autonomous trucks arrive? Torc Robotics is working with major fleets to find out.

Torc differs from its major competitors in preparing to launch fully integrated autonomous Freightliner Cascadias into commerce.

The independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck moves deliberately. Aurora Innovation and Kodiak Robotics target late 2024 for their first commercial routes with driverless trucks. Torc is looking...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/torc-tackles-beyond-the-truck-autonomous-issues

Volvo Group wins bid for bankrupt Proterra battery assets

Swedish truck maker Volvo Group will pay $210 million for the battery-making and charging assets of bankrupt Proterra Inc.

Volvo Battery Solutions was selected as the winning bidder for the business and assets of Proterra Powered, one of two auctions for the electric bus, battery and energy company that filed for bankruptcy protection in August. 

“We entered into the Chapter 11 process with a mission to maximize the potential of each of our product lines. Today, we have taken an important step...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/volvo-group-wins-bid-for-bankrupt-proterra-battery-assets

Whatever became of those splashy electrification startups?

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As third-quarter earnings roll in, it is a good time to check the state of electrification startups....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/whatever-became-of-those-splashy-electrification-startups

Nikola will replace batteries in fire-prone electric trucks

Nikola Corp. is telling customers it will replace the battery packs in its electric trucks, a worst-case scenario following several fires. Nikola is bringing all the trucks back to its Arizona plant but won’t say where or when it will get pack replacements.

In most recalls, the supplier of the part or component involved bears at least some of the cost of the campaign. In Nikola’s case, it owned its since-liquidated former supplier, Romeo Power Inc. It is therefore on the hook for the full cost...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nikola-will-replace-batteries-in-fire-prone-electric-trucks

Volvo’s fuel cell truck advances but battery-electric is biggest push

HALLERED, Sweden — The plume of white smoke from Volvo’s fuel cell truck matched the white clouds in the Scandinavian sky. Stand too close and you feel the descending mist of water vapor.

The hydrogen tanks sweat just droplets at first. Then comes the release of about a liter of water, approximately the amount the 100-kilowatt fuel cell produces per kilometer traveled.

On a spin around the track at Volvo’s high-security proving ground about an hour east of its Gothenburg headquarters in southern...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/volvos-fuel-cell-truck-advances-but-battery-electric-is-biggest-push

Nikola asks customers to return electric trucks at risk of fires

Nikola Corp. is asking dealers and customers to return battery-electric trucks under recall for possible battery fires to its Coolidge, Arizona plant despite the company still working on a fix.

“We’re bringing them back to Coolidge for repairs to be made instead of in the field,” spokesman Dan Passe told FreightWaves in an email Saturday.

“We are able to keep a very close eye on all non-used vehicles (either from inventory or customers who are not running them daily) if they are on site in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nikola-asks-customers-to-return-electric-trucks-at-risk-of-fires

3rd Nikola battery-electric truck catches fire

A third Nikola battery-electric truck caught on fire in Arizona, but the company said the recalled trucks are still safe to drive with precautions including parking outside and away from structures and leaving the main battery disconnect switch in the “on” position until the truck is repaired.

The fire on Monday at Arizona Lithium in Tempe started in the battery pack where fires in June and August also originated. No injuries have been reported in any of the fires.

Nikola recalled 209 Tre battery...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/3rd-nikola-battery-electric-truck-catches-fire

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