As Arizona-based Nikola Motors (NKLA) continues to find additional funding to keep the lights on beyond Q1 of this year, the manufacturer is shifting focus towards some positive news regarding its updated battery-electric Class 8 semi, called the BEV 2.0. Why?
Because the zero-emission BEV 2.0 has just surpassed the 1 million end fleets and dealer in-service miles.
This latest announcement is not to be confused with last September's confirmation that all previous Nikola BEVs had driven 1.5 million in-service miles.
"Nikola is thrilled to see our end fleets and dealers making deliveries in our battery-electric trucks," said Nikola Chief Operating Officer Mary Chan. "One million end fleets and dealer miles in our updated BEVs are one million zero-emission miles. Nikola BEVs, on the road and in our customers’ hands, continue to help us reach our zero-emission goals.”
The BEV 2.0, unveiled last May at the 2024 ACT Expo, was the result of a series of critical updates including new batteries, improved software, app adjustments, and enhanced features following a recall due to a fire risk.
[Related: Nikola's CEO and software chief provide exclusive walkthrough of improved BEV 2.0]
To date, a total of 94 BEV 2.0s have been released to 19 different fleets, which have driven a combined 1,016,929 in-service miles, to be precise.
Aside from its battery-electric Class 8 semi, Nikola has positioned itself to be the hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) Class 8 semi market leader. With the impending bankruptcy of rival Hyzon Motors, Nikola's main North American market FCEV competitor is now the Hyundai XCIENT.
[Related: Hyundai Motor Group rolls out hydrogen trucks at Georgia plant]
However, FCEV technology has not advanced as quickly as battery-electric for both commercial and passenger vehicles for a number of reasons, among them cost, safety, and environmental impact. Despite the vehicles themselves being zero tailpipe emissions, the hydrogen fuel is only considered green friendly when produced through a process called electrolysis which uses renewable energy sources like solar or wind.
