When the company was formed in 2014, it focused on using hydrogen fuel cells to power semi trucks. It now plans to offer customers various options, and has pushed into the more mainstream automotive market with the addition of a zero-emissions pickup, the Badger.
“This GM deal means they don’t have to build a plant, they don’t need to build a platform, they don’t need to build the batteries or fuel cells. They just hand over the body and interior design to GM and say 'You build this thing,'" said Sam Abuelsamid, principal automotive analyst at Navigant Research.
First developed nearly 150 years ago, fuel cells take oxygen from the air and hydrogen gas, combining them in a device called a stack. That creates a supply of electricity and water vapor. Fuel cells helped power the Apollo moon mission capsules and have numerous uses, including back-up energy for cellphone towers.
Separately, GM has partnered with South Korea’s LG Chem to develop a new, high-performance line of batteries, the Ultium cells that are due to go into production at a new plant near Lordstown, Ohio. It will use those for “20 or more” battery-electric vehicles due out by 2023, the companies said. The Ultium cells are intended to deliver more power, charge more rapidly, and come down substantially in cost compared to the batteries the automaker uses today.
Fantastic! We recently had NikolaMotor's founder nikolatrevor on our podcast, TheFounderHour to share his story + why he started Nikola and where they're headed. Listen to it here:
What does the PPP loan have to do with this strategic partnership? Nothing! Weak headline trying to drag nikolamotor an innovative startup through the mud.
Then we can drive to the food pantry in our electric truck because it’s more important to give money to corporations than to unemployed citizens. Imagine how many families that money could have helped.
That is what the world needs now. New trucks.
Can we stop trying to make money on the back of Nikola Tesla?