Nikola Motor Company Selects Nel ASA To Build 16-Station Hydrogen Refueling Network

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The somewhat controversial firm Nikola Motor Company — controversial because of the apparent flipflop from planning to offer an all-electric truck to offering a hydrogen fuel cell one, after numerous deposits were taken, amongst other reasons — has selected Nel ASA as the builder of its planned 16-station hydrogen refueling network.

The 16-station hydrogen refueling network is reportedly intended to span 2,000 miles of the US, and to support the rollout and operation of the firm’s planned Class 8 hydrogen-fuel-cell electric truck. Nikola Motor Company has reportedly already issued purchase orders for the first 2 stations of the network, with the other 14 to follow.

Nikola’s chief operating officer, Scott Perry, commented on the decision: “We have thousands of trucks that have been reserved and need to be delivered. The stations are the first step to completing that process. Nel has delivered over 3,500 hydrogen solutions in over 80 countries since 1927. We are confident they can deliver.”

Green Car Congress provides more: “Nel ASA will provide engineering, electrolysis, and fueling equipment. Nikola will provide the balance of plant, construction, dispensers, and other station equipment. The hydrogen stations will initially produce up to 8 tons daily, but can also be expanded up to 32 tons per day.

“Each Nikola truck is anticipated to consume around 50–75 kgs per day. Each Nikola truck will store between 2-3 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy. Each station will have around 4,000 kgs of backup storage for redundancy. Each station is anticipated to produce hydrogen at 700 bar (10,000 psi) and 350 bar (5,000 psi).”

The company is reportedly planning to allow hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles from any manufacturer to refill at its stations — the refueling stations won’t be limited to servicing Nikola Motor trucks only, in other words.

The company is planning to utilize renewable energy generated electricity to produce the hydrogen wherever possible, and is “exploring” partnership possibilities in Europe, reportedly.


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James Ayre

James Ayre's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy.

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