What’s Happening: Nikola Corporation, a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions, has chosen PlusDrive, a next-generation safety system developed by Plus, for the Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and the hydrogen electric vehicle in the US. The first factory-installed Nikola Tre BEVs and hydrogen electric vehicles that will incorporate enhanced driver assistance features powered by PlusDrive will be available by the end of 2024.
Why It Matters: The collaboration between Nikola and Plus is significant as it will introduce enhanced driver assistance features that go beyond basic driver assistance capabilities, such as lane keeping and automatic emergency brakes. PlusDrive will offer unmatched safety, fuel efficiency, and driver comfort features, elevating the role of the professional driver to a pilot who supervises the system to drive on the highway. With PlusDrive, the Nikola Tre BEVs and hydrogen electric vehicles will come with best-in-class incident detection capabilities and advanced sensors that will assist drivers to safely interact with other drivers and provide additional protection for liability mitigation.
Key Points:
- Nikola Corporation has chosen PlusDrive for its next-generation safety system for its Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicle and hydrogen-electric vehicle in the US.
- The collaboration between Nikola and PlusDrive will introduce enhanced driver assistance features that will offer unmatched safety, fuel efficiency, and driver comfort features.
- PlusDrive’s advanced sensor suite will assist drivers to safely interact with other drivers and provide additional protection for liability mitigation.
- Multiple fleets, including PGT Trucking and Christenson Transportation, have agreed to pilot the initial Nikola PlusDrive-enabled trucks, which will be available in late 2023.
Bottom Line: The integration of PlusDrive into Nikola’s vehicles will offer enhanced driver assistance features and elevated safety, fuel efficiency, and driver comfort features. As one of the first OEMs to offer 100% electric steering paired with the ZF EBS braking system, the base technology in all Nikola vehicles, combined with Nikola’s own internally developed vehicle controls, over-the-air updates, and vehicle security, can enable the integration of these advanced sensors and the realization of the PlusDrive safety system from Plus.
