WeTheMarket
21 hours ago
As a follow up to my previous post (reproduced below) on the recall of 72 Nikola battery-electric trucks due to instrument panel issues, does anyone else find it odd that this issue only affects the BEV trucks, and is the second recall for BEV trucks, while no issues and recalls so far for the hydrogen FCEV trucks? On the positive side, thank goodness for that, but why the big difference in quality between the two trucks?
Instrument panel issues prompt recall for Nikola battery-electric trucks
Julian Buckley, Editor, Power Progress International / KHL Content Studio
18 November 2024
https://www.powerprogress.com/news/screen-issues-prompt-recall-for-nikola-battery-electric-trucks/8040282.article
Truck OEM Nikola has issued a recall for its battery-electric Tre trucks related to defective instrument panels which could fail.
The screen failure is considered a safety hazard, as drivers would not be able to see essential information such as speed and available range.
The recall covering 72 examples of the battery-electric trucks from the 2022 and ’23 model year was called by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Instrument panels will be replaced at no charge to the customer.
Nikola started series production of its battery-electric trucks before it introduced its hydrogen fuel cell models. They are now only avaialble to customer order.
Model recalls for defective screens follows a recall in August 2023 for all (209 units) of the brand’s battery-electric trucks due to a fire risk. The issue was traced back to a coolant leak in the battery packs.
The vehicles are being returned to customers fitted with packs billed as ‘BEV 2.0’.
WeTheMarket
2 days ago
DNU, I believe the video is related to the following previous post by TheKRA
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 2:52:13 PM ET
Post# 12087
I just saw the latest post on X.. Sorry I can’t post the link right now since I’m working off my phone, but, obvious takeaways are this validates relationship with Walmart, and, it sounds like they left these two trucks with them. Fantastic news.
WeTheMarket
3 days ago
Nikola leader talks future of hydrogen-powered trucks in US
Brinley Hineman
Tue, November 19, 2024
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nikola-leader-talks-future-hydrogen-223919719.html
Nikola Corp. (NYSE: NKLA) leader Ryan Clayton said the rising demand for hydrogen could require as many as 50 fueling stations in the next three years to meet the need.
Speaking with FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller at FreightWaves’ F3: Future of Freight Festival, Clayton discussed the future of hydrogen in trucking. Nikola, which is working to build solutions for a zero-emission world, offers both hydrogen and electric Class 8 trucks. The company also developed HYLA to distribute hydrogen.
“That’s going to take a tremendous push, not just from Nikola or HYLA,” the Nikola global head of sales said. “It’s going to take an ecosystem coming together, which we’re seeing.”
Nikola sees its trucks being used in government fleets, ports and drayage.
“I live in Georgia,” Clayton said. “When you’re looking at the Port of Savannah and you see all those trucks lined up and sitting, or to go to LA, you have to ask yourself, from the congestion standpoint … what can we do to make this better? And that’s where we see this really, and that’s where it has been really taking off.”
Fuller brought up the maintenance aspect of the growing field, pointing to the shortage of diesel mechanics. Clayton said Nikola offers software integration that makes the technology easy to use for drivers.
The company developed a program called “Train the Trainer” to teach and develop technicians capable of supporting zero-emission trucks. Nikola offers “360 connectivity” that allows drivers and fleet managers to access live truck monitoring to assess the vehicle’s performance.
“It’s a white-glove service,” Clayton said. “We also have a dedicated support team — a Geek Squad, so to speak.”
Manufacturing
Nikola trucks are manufactured in Coolidge, Arizona. The company’s fuel cell production is growing each quarter, Clayton said.
The plant was built to produce 30,000 trucks each year. Clayton said the company will gradually scale up the operation to reach that manufacturing goal.
He said the company was considering “all alternatives” for sourcing products ahead of possible tariffs under the incoming Trump administration.
The company has a team committed to finding North American source products. Sixty percent of the products used in the company’s trucks are built, manufactured and produced in North America, but the company wants to reach 80%, Clayton said.
He hinted at changes coming next year for the company, including “a lot of big names.”
“This isn’t the end,” he said. “This is just the beginning for us.”
WeTheMarket
7 days ago
Trump has a new energy czar
By ARIANNA SKIBELL
11/15/2024
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/power-switch/2024/11/15/trump-has-a-new-energy-czar-00189877
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum speaks to reporters in Atlanta. | Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Doug Burgum is now at the center of American energy and climate policy.
In addition to tapping the North Dakota governor as Interior Department chief, President-elect Donald Trump today picked him to fill a new energy czar position. That could give the wealthy former software executive sweeping influence over federal agencies to advance Trump’s energy agenda, writes Heather Richards.
Trump said in a statement that the proposed National Energy Council that Burgum will helm “will consist of all Departments and Agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation, of ALL forms of American Energy.”
Burgum takes on the roles at a time when the technology industry’s voracious energy demand for AI-driven data centers could further strain the electric grid and upend U.S. climate goals.
Burgum was elected North Dakota governor in 2016 and made oil and natural gas production a priority. If confirmed by the Senate, Burgum — who had a short-lived campaign for president this year — would oversee a sprawling department of roughly 70,000 employees that manages the nation’s public lands and its vast energy resources, write Heather, Mike Soraghan and Shelby Webb.
While North Dakota ranks third in the nation for production of crude oil, it does not include much federal land or minerals. Less than 4 percent of the state is federally managed. Burgum’s affinity for fossil fuels and lack of conservation experience has enraged environmentalists.
Kierán Suckling, executive director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said Burgum will “sacrifice our public lands and endangered wildlife on the altar of the fossil fuel industry’s profits.”
Still, Burgum’s energy views differ somewhat from Trump’s stance that climate change is a “hoax.” While he largely avoids the topic of what is primarily driving climate change (answer: human activity), Burgum has pledged to make North Dakota carbon-neutral by decade’s end. His strategy for achieving that goal is using carbon capture and storage technology, which the Biden administration is also betting on to meet its climate targets.
Under Burgum’s leadership, the Environmental Protection Agency granted North Dakota the primary responsibility for overseeing specialized underground wells in which to inject carbon dioxide — the first state to win that right. And North Dakota is the endpoint for an $8 billion carbon pipeline project to transport CO2 from Midwest ethanol plants.
Plus, Burgum has also advocated hydrogen energy. In contrast, Trump has slammed hydrogen-powered cars as prone to exploding.
For a deeper dive into Burgum’s record on energy, working with Tribal communities and conservation, check out this story by Heather, Scott Streater, Jennifer Yachnin and Hannah Northey (at the following link https://www.eenews.net/articles/four-things-to-know-about-trumps-interior-secretary-pick/).
WeTheMarket
7 days ago
Friday Fallback Story: H2Rescue Hydrogen Truck Sets World Record, Traveling 2,900 Kilometers on a Single Fill in Real-World Conditions
November 15, 2024
https://fuelcellsworks.com/2024/11/14/fallback-friday/friday-fallback-story-h2rescue-hydrogen-truck-sets-world-record-traveling-2-900-kilometers-on-a-single-fill-in-real-world-conditions
Accelera demonstrates the future of clean hydrogen technology with record breaking journey
In a groundbreaking achievement for the future of hydrogen-powered solutions, Accelera™ by Cummins has set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the longest distance traveled by a hydrogen fuel cell electric (FCEV) heavy-duty truck without refueling. Accelera’s zero-emissions H2Rescue truck, a Kenworth T370 prototype designed for emergency response missions, completed an 1,806-mile journey on a single fill on Oct. 25, showcasing the potential of hydrogen technology for zero-emissions transportation and on-site portable power.
Accelera sets Guinness World Record for longest journey by hydrogen-powered truck - Truck News
The carbon-free journey
The truck completed its record-setting journey in central California and was closely monitored and validated by an adjudicator from Guinness World Records who confirmed the truck’s hydrogen tank was sealed before the journey began.
Powered by an Accelera fuel cell engine and a 250kW traction motor, the truck carried 175 kilograms of onboard hydrogen and consumed 168 kilograms of hydrogen while navigating rush hour traffic, between 50 to 55 mph, on public roads, operating in temperatures varying from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Over the 1,800-mile trip, the hydrogen-filled truck emitted zero pounds of carbon dioxide, a stark contrast to the 664 pounds a standard internal combustion engine vehicle would have produced over the same distance.
A demonstration vehicle like the H2Rescue prototype truck showcases the capabilities of using zero-emissions hydrogen, rather than diesel, for power. Hydrogen as a power source:
- Supports long-range applications with heavy-duty work cycles, like heavy-duty trucks, dump trucks, buses and rail systems
- Generates little to no noise
- Provides zero-emissions power, with water and steam as the only byproducts, making it a key solution for reducing transportation pollution
Partnering for progress
Annually, a fuel cell-powered truck of this size can displace approximately 1,825 gallons of fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 2.5 metric tons. This Class 7 heavy-duty demonstration vehicle, weighing approximately 33,000 pounds, is the result of an innovative collaboration between Accelera, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
“This world record is a triumph for interagency collaboration and proof that hydrogen is a viable alternative fuel for vehicles,” said Nicholas Josefik, Industrial Engineer at the U.S Army Engineer Research and Development Center. “By using hydrogen, we can improve our Nation’s energy security and reliability.”
The H2Rescue demonstration truck offers several benefits for disaster relief sites and can power 20 to 25 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailers, support shelters or homes for up to 72 hours without refueling.
“H2Rescue's successful completion of this record-setting evaluation demonstrates the strength of interagency collaboration and public private partnerships,” said Eric Wasiloff, Project Manager with the U.S. Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center. “We look forward to transitioning lessons learned throughout this project to future fuel cell systems and joint efforts.”
Advancing hydrogen technology
Hydrogen fuel cell technology is gaining traction in the heavy-duty and medium-duty trucking industries due to its long driving range, fast refueling times and zero emissions. As the transportation sector moves away from fossil fuels, Accelera’s fuel cell engines provide the power needed for long-haul routes while significantly reducing environmental impact.
This record-setting achievement underscores the potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology in revolutionizing the transportation industry and paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future.
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TheKRA
15 hours ago
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