What’s Happening
Nikola Corporation and WattEV announced the sale and delivery of 14 Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) financed by a long-term lease between Mitsubishi HC Capital America and WattEV. WattEV is constructing public charging depots for commercial BEVs and offering electric trucks as a service (TaaS) to comply with California’s zero-emission mandates. The first depot, located at the Port of Long Beach, will open in May 2023 and provide daily charging for Nikola trucks.
Why It Matters
This collaboration supports the transition to zero-emission vehicles by addressing infrastructure challenges and providing commercial truck charging solutions. WattEV’s charging depots are anticipated to play a significant role in industry adoption and offer customers immediate zero-emission solutions.
Key Points
- Nikola and WattEV’s partnership aims to reduce charging times and improve energy efficiency for electric trucks.
- WattEV has successfully run a pilot test with Nikola battery-electric trucks for the past six months.
- Transition from the current CCS to the faster MCS charging system will be a game changer, allowing for fleet expansion.
- The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) is expected to become the worldwide standard for fast-charging commercial vehicles, with charging sessions taking less than 30 minutes.
- Nikola Tre BEV is eligible for the HVIP program, which offers incentives of $120,000 per truck and up to $150,000 for drayage fleets.
Bottom Line
Nikola and WattEV’s collaboration addresses the need for charging infrastructure to support the growing number of electric trucks in California. Their partnership aims to reduce charging times, improve energy efficiency, and facilitate the transition to zero-emission vehicles. With the first charging depot opening in May 2023, this collaboration will likely play a significant role in industry adoption and offer customers immediate zero-emission solutions.
