"Supply-chain shortages are slowing the rollout of Nikola's hydrogen-powered big rigs.
Steve Girsky, Nikola's chief executive, says a shortage of pressurized fuel tanks and electric batteries is delaying production of the newest zero-emission technology for truckers.
The hangups are hitting as demand for zero-emission big rigs grows, especially in California, where new emissions regulations and generous grants are making the Class 8, heavy-duty trucks more attractive.
"Right now, California has got tailwinds," Girsky said. "We could have sold a lot more than 35 trucks in the fourth quarter if we didn't have supply-chain issues. I think we could sell a lot more than 30 to 35 in the first quarter if we didn't have supply-chain issues."
Nikola is leading a pack of truck makers, including Kenworth and Hyundai Motor, developing hydrogen fuel-cell big rigs. The clean-energy trucks refuel faster than battery-electric trucks and can travel two or three times as far between refueling, but they also are far more expensive to buy than diesel big rigs.
Girsky said that because the technology is so new, suppliers are hitting snarls as they shift from prototypes to full commercial production.
Nikola began delivering its first hydrogen-powered trucks at the end of last year and expects to deliver up to 350 of the big rigs this year.
Company executives said it cost about $679,000 per vehicle to build the trucks in the fourth quarter, in part because supplier delays meant parts had to be flown in from Europe. They said the average selling price of $351,000 per vehicle in the same period was dragged down because of legacy deals [1].
Nikola officials say they expect selling prices will rise this year and per-truck production costs will fall as parts deliveries improve, allowing the truck maker to use cheaper ocean shipping.
Girsky said the rigs are in highest demand in California, where regulators have introduced some of the toughest rules against diesel-fueled trucks in the country. He said sales in other parts of the country are slower because of a lack of a hydrogen-refueling infrastructure.
Nikola is opening its own hydrogen refueling stations to support demand for its trucks, but for now it is limiting the stations to California.
It opened its first refueling station in Ontario, Calif., in February and expects eight more stations to open in the state by the end of June.
Girsky said the fueling stations are also running into supply-chain delays as the makers of a new generation of mobile fuelers "face teething pains also."
A shortage of places to refuel and recharge zero-emission trucks is a major hurdle for carriers investing in the vehicles. The Biden administration is trying to guide and speed up investments in the infrastructure and recently launched a strategy laying out where and when refueling stations will be needed over the next 15 years.
The availability and cost of fuel is also a major impediment for hydrogen trucks. The Biden administration is awarding $7 billion in grants for seven regional hubs to boost production and lower the cost of clean hydrogen, which is currently several times more expensive than diesel.
Jim Gillis, president of the Pacific region for Collierville, Tenn.-based carrier IMC Logistics, received his first 10 hydrogen-powered Nikola trucks in February and expects to take 10 more before the end of March.
Gillis said he is pleased with the quick refueling time and long range of the trucks but has concerns that if grants and subsidies recede and costs go up, "are you really building something that is long-term worthwhile?"
Others in the trucking industry share the concern that investing in any one technology, such as hydrogen or battery-electric, could prove a costly mistake if a particular technology or company falls out of favor or goes out of business." [2]
2. Nikola Hits Supply Roadblocks In Rollout of Hydrogen Trucks
Berger, Paul. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 21 Mar 2024: B.1.
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