Nikola receive order for 2,500 battery-electric waste trucks from Republic Services; fully integrated chassis and body from Nikola
11 August 2020
Nikola Corporation announced a minimum order of 2,500 electric refuse trucks from Republic Services, expandable up to 5,000. This order is to begin full production deliveries in 2023 with on-road testing likely to begin in early 2022. The refuse trucks are anticipated to carry up to an industry-leading 720 kWh of energy storage.
Nikola specializes in heavy-duty, zero-emission Class 8 trucks. The refuse market is one of the most stable markets in the industry and provides long-term shareholder value. The Nikola Tre powertrain is ideal for the refuse market as it shares and uses the same batteries, controls, inverters and e-axle. By sharing the Tre platform, we can drive the cost down for both programs by using the same parts.
You couldn’t pick a better partner than Republic Services, a leader in long-term environmental sustainability and customer service. Republic Services will help us ensure the Nikola Tre meets customer and fleet lifecycle demands and we are excited to have them participate in the design process.
—Nikola Founder and Executive Chairman Trevor Milton
Nikola Refuse platform.
Republic Services is the second-largest recycling and solid waste provider in the US and is recognized as an industry leader in providing environmentally responsible, sustainable solutions to its customers.
This is a game changer. Refuse truck customers have always ordered chassis from truck OEMs and bodies from other suppliers. Nikola has fully integrated the chassis and body, covering both with a single factory warranty. Trucks will include both automated side loaders and front-end loaders—all of which will be zero-emission.Nikola CEO, Mark Russell
The powertrain software will be limited to 1,000 HP and is expected to outperform current diesel and natural gas competitors. The new platform can give refuse trucks nearly three-times the HP of natural gas and diesel options, giving operators the ability to go up hills with full loads without issue.
The electric platform is expected to offer up to 150 miles of range and 1,200 cans on a single charge. On-road testing likely to begin in early 2022, with full production shortly after. The zero-emissions vehicles are expected to be integrated into Republic Services’ fleet beginning in 2023.
No hydrogen fuel cells needed. Even Nikola, a company that started out developing a fuel cell powered over-the-road class 8 tractor and later announced that they would also develop a battery only class 8 tractor for local delivery has figured out that battery electric would work for refuse trucks. The refuse trucks are mostly start-stop operations which allow much of the energy used in accelerating the truck to be recovered decelerating.
Posted by: sd | 11 August 2020 at 09:31 AM
They have to make something, ten years and nothing so far.
Posted by: SJC_1 | 11 August 2020 at 10:25 AM
SJC
I agree that they have been mostly hype so far. They received a major tax break to move to Arizona and were moving out of the same building in Salt Lake City that my company was moving into (I am mostly retired but was one of the founders and engineers and am still a part owner). I took a mostly self guided tour of their prototype. They had a lot more of "Other Peoples Money" than we ever had but we were building a product (high tech ag equipment) that has been well received but in a much smaller market. Anyway, I do not believe that I would invest in Nikola but I do wish them well.
Posted by: sd | 12 August 2020 at 08:10 AM
Nikola has the correct vision: Battery Electric + Fuel Cell when applications require long-range and extended operations. Nikola has shown undestanding of the market and is receiving larger orders. Nikola stock could become the next Tesla stock.
By contrast, Tesla has shown lack of understanding of the Renewable Energy picture by going against H2-FC and against PHEV.
Posted by: Roger Pham | 12 August 2020 at 12:07 PM