E.ON and US startup Nikola want to form a joint venture this year to provide hydrogen and related refueling infrastructure for H2 heavy trucks in Europe. The partnership aims to offer customers an “integrated mobility solution to advance the use of hydrogen.” For this, a final agreement with specific conditions has yet to be concluded.
The planned joint venture is primarily aimed at heavy trucks. Nikola’s message refers to class 8, i.e. vehicles over 33,000 pounds or 14.97 tons. The goal is to “make hydrogen available across the country at fixed and mobile filling stations to enable unlimited green mobility.” In doing so, E.ON wants to promote the benefits of hydrogen over diesel based on total operating costs.
Both companies assume that pure battery and hydrogen vehicles will coexist in the commercial vehicle sector, which is a “realistic scenario”. The partners see an all-electric drive for trucks with shorter distances and predictable charging times as a feasible solution. According to E.ON and Nikola, fuel cell vehicles should provide longer range for long-distance trucks without a “significant increase” in weight.
“Our goal at E.ON is to accelerate the energy transition in Germany and Europe. To do this, we also need innovative client solutions,” says E.ON’s Patrick Lammers. “Our partnership with Nikola and the planned joint venture is a great example of this. We can share our hydrogen know-how and help save many millions of tons of CO2.”
Michael Lochsheller, President of Nikola Corporation: “Nikola has a deep understanding of transportation needs and will continue to develop cost effective, fully sustainable solutions including our zero emission trucks and hydrogen infrastructure for our customers. This joint venture is a critical element in the transformation of the transport sector and is in line with E.ON’s expertise in energy networks and customer solutions to lead the European transport sector.”
Nikola and E.ON want to present their first joint projects this year.
Source: Ecomento
