Nikola Corp., which previously developed fuel-cell electric (FCEV) Class 8 trucks fueled by hydrogen, announced its working on the first FCEV pickup truck, the Nikola Badger. The company also plans to offer battery electric powertrains.
The range for the FCEV was stated as 600 miles while the BEV would be 300. The Badger will make its first public appearance at Nikola World 2020, which will be held in Phoenix in the fall. The vehicle could arrive on the market as early as 2021.
“Nikola has billions worth of technology in our semi-truck program, so why not build it into a pickup truck?” said Trevor Milton, CEO, Nikola Corporation. “I have been working on this pickup program for years and believe the market is now ready for something that can handle a full day’s worth of work without running out of energy. This electric truck can be used for work, weekend getaways, towing, off-roading or to hit the ski slopes without performance loss. No other electric pickup can operate in these temperatures and conditions.”
The truck will have a 4x4 independent wheel drivetrain and is 19.3 feet long, 6 feet high, and 7 foot wide with a 5.1-ft wide bed. It will be able to drive on grades up to 40%. Even while pulling a fully loaded trailer (for a combined vehicle weight of 18,000 lbs.) the tenacious Badger can launch from a standstill up 30% grades without a motor stall. The towing capacity is rated at 8,000 lbs.
The truck, to be manufactured through an OEM partnership, was “designed to take down the Ford Raptor,” Nikola CEO Trevor Milton tweeted shortly after the announcement.
The initial specifications certainly indicate that in a tug-of-war, the Badger would likely prevail, boasting 906 HP and 980 ft.lb. of torque (with 455 continuous HP). The Ford F-150 Raptor, which a CNBC reviewer called “the meanest, baddest looking truck on sale,” features 450 HP and 510 ft.-lb. of torque. The Badger would win on the track as well, with a 0-60 mph of 2.9 seconds versus the Raptor’s 5.1-second span.
Milton also tweeted the price is "estimated $60k - $90k for well optioned depending on drivetrain."
The Raptor starts at $53,000. And with its internal combustion engine, Ford's formidable F-150 build can fill up at any gas station, while charging stations are much less prevalent and hydrogen fueling infrastructure is still in very early stages. Nikola plans on closing the gap by building 700 hydrogen stations in North America, with the initial location to be named in the coming months.
On first look, the Badger seems to stack up well against last year’s most talked about new electric pickup, the Tesla Cybertruck, which has a slightly less towing capacity (7,500+ lb.) and half the initial acceleration (0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds).
The Badger also has a more streamlined look than the polygonal Mad Maxian Cybertruck.The standard Cybertruck model will cost less than $40,000.
“The Nikola Badger is a game changer,” said Nikola president Mark Russell. “The program will help drive down the cost of the fuel-cell components on our semi-truck while accelerating the hydrogen station rollout. Giving customers the option to order a fuel-cell or battery electric version will ensure we drive the cost down for everyone across our lineup.”
Nikola Badger Estimated Specifications*:
- 600 miles on blended FCEV / BEV
- 300 miles on BEV alone
- Operates on blended FCEV / BEV or BEV only by touch of a button
- 906 HP peak
- 455 HP continuous
- 980 ft. lbs. of torque
- 160 kWh, flooded module - lithium-ion battery
- 120 kW fuel cell
- Advanced Supercapacitor Launch Assist that blends with lithium ion and fuel-cell
- -20F operating environments without major performance or SOC losses
- Towing capacity of over 8,000 pounds
- Operating targets without motor stalls up to 50% grade
- 15 kW power export outlet
- Compatible with industry standard charging for BEV mode
- Five seats
- Truck dimensions: 5900 mm long x 1850 mm tall x 2160 mm wide a 1560 mm bed width
*Specs may vary according to FCEV or BEV-only mode, temperature, elevation, tires, wheels, software packages, production requirements, hardware and/or regulations.
