Nikola is not a household name for automotive consumers ... yet. The company was founded in 2014 and is currently based in Phoenix, AZ. Utilizing the first name of that pioneering and maverick engineer, Tesla, it has so far focused on electric and hydrogen powered semi-trucks as well as off-highway vehicles and watercraft. That’s why we were pleasantly surprised when we heard that they just released a concept pick up truck with impressive credentials.
High on Hydrogen
The Badger is an electric pick up truck that can operate as a full-electric vehicle or with augmented power from a hydrogen fuel cell. The handsome and rugged concept is aiming to enter a suddenly-crowded field where the Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, Hummer electric pickup truck, and Ford F-150 electric truck have just recently created a new and exciting genre. However, the Badger’s ace-in-the-hole is its ability to use hydrogen to achieve its performance goals.
600 Miles to Glory
Nikola has revealed that it intends to produce 2 versions of the Badger, namely battery-electric only or a battery/hydrogen cell version. In the latter guise, the Badger employs hydrogen from a fuel cell and converts it into electricity. However, it can operate on battery power as well, and the ranges are impressive: 300 miles for the battery-electric version and no less than 600 for the hydrogen cell model. The company claims 906 peak horsepower output and a monstrous 980 ft.-lbs. of torque, resulting in a 0-60 mph time of 2.9 seconds.
Long Path to Production
No official production date has been released, and there are far too many variables that can affect any of the claims made by the company. Nikola needs to have a wide network of hydrogen provisions in place before it can go forward with its semi-trucks or with the Badger.
Also, the announcement that the truck will be built in conjunction with another OEM "utilizing their certified parts and manufacturing facilities" doesn’t exactly fill one with confidence for an imminent project. We do like their business model, however, and feel that some day we may see something akin to what they have promised. We also wonder if anyone has bought the rights to Mr. Tesla’s middle name yet.
NEXT: Tesla Competitor Nikola Lands Massive EV Truck Order
Sources: InsideEVs, CNET