Nikola Launches Mobile Fueler for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks

Nikola says it has developed a hydrogen mobile fueler capable of direct fueling hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, as it prepares to roll out its own Tre FCEV later this year.

"Nikola has spent the greater part of two years developing a flexible mobile fueling solution which cools and compresses hydrogen to rapidly fill 700 bar FCEV heavy-duty trucks," said Nikola President and CEO Michael Lohscheller in an announcement. "Coupled with Nikola's hydrogen tube trailer, with a capacity of 960 kg, Nikola's mobile fueler can refuel customer trucks back-to-back. This will deliver flexible hydrogen fueling solutions for our customers starting in 2023 and will complement Nikola's permanent hydrogen fueling stations which are being developed.”

The first mobile fueler has completed commissioning and testing and has been released for market operation. Nikola has additional hydrogen mobile fuelers being commissioned in the first quarter of this year.

Nikola’s mobile fueler program includes its own mobile fuelers as well as a number of third-party mobile fuelers, which will provide Nikola's customers with a variety of flexible fueling options. 

"Nikola’s mobile fueler program will be an integral part of Nikola's flexible customer service in its early years by delivering hydrogen to its FCEV customers at locations which meet their needs," said Carey Mendes, Nikola president of energy. "Along with Nikola's portfolio of hydrogen supply and permanent heavy-duty stations, these flexible mobile fuelers will ensure that our customers have complete coverage for their fueling needs."

Nikola Tre FCEV

With a range of up to 500 miles, the Nikola Tre FCEV is expected to have among the longest ranges of all commercially available zero tailpipe emission Class 8 tractors while realizing weight savings when compared to Class 8 BEVs with similar range, according to Nikola.

Nikola recently announced that it has received a California Air Resources Board (CARB) Zero-Emission Powertrain Executive Order that is a requirement for the Nikola Tre FCEV to be eligible for CARB's Hybrid and Zero Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) program.

Upon final HVIP approval, purchasers of the Nikola Tre FCEV in 2023 may be able to qualify for California's state-based incentive valued at $240,000 per truck; $270,000 per truck for drayage fleets; or up to $288,000 per truck for drayage fleets with 10 trucks or less located within a disadvantaged community area. Eligible non-drayage fleets may secure up to 30 HVIP vouchers and drayage fleets may secure up to 50 vouchers.

In addition to the funding provided by HVIP, purchasers of Nikola's Tre FCEVs will also qualify for an additional $40,000 clean commercial vehicle tax credit in 2023 from the federal government due to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Updated 1/26/2023 to add photo from 1/25/2023 event unveiling the mobile fueler.