Electric truck startup Nikola intends to manufacture and sell both battery electric as well as fuel cell electric heavy duty trucks. They have signed a Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU) with General Motors for the global supply of fuel cell power plants for their Class 7/8 Semi trailer trucks.
General Motors has developed the Hydrotec fuel cell system which can be used to power heavy duty commercial vehicles. The company also manufactures the Ultium battery system which may also see duty in the Nikola trucks.
As per the MoU, General Motors will engineer its Hydrotec fuel cell system to the specifications mutually agreed upon by both companies. Nikola will also discuss the appropriate scope of services required from GM for the integrating the fuel cell system into Nikola’s vehicles.
Doug Parks, GM executive vice president of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain says, ” This supply agreement recognizes our leading fuel cell technology expertise and development. Providing our Hydrotec fuel cell systems to the heavy-duty class of commercial vehicles is an important part of our growth strategy and reinforces our commitment toward an all-electric, zero-emissions future.”
It is expected that Nikola would pay upfront to GM for investment in the capacity for manufacturing the fuel cells. This system would be engineered by GM at their Michigan technical facility.
The Transport Journal 