Nikola Motor Company, which has designed a hydrogen fuel cell range-extended Class 8 tractor, recently announced the cancellation and refund of deposits for its upcoming truck. The move was made in order to secure a new contract from beer maker Anheuser-Busch, which ordered the first 800 of Nikola’s HFC range-extended semi-trucks. The trucks will begin integrating into the beer maker’s fleet in 2020.
Through this agreement Anheuser-Busch aims to convert its entire long-haul dedicated fleet to renewable powered trucks by 2025. Nikola’s technology will enable the brewer to achieve this milestone across its long-haul loads, while also helping to improve road safety through the trucks’ advanced surround viewing system.
The partnership with Nikola will contribute to Anheuser-Busch’s recently announced 2025 Sustainability Goals, which include reducing CO2 emissions by 25% across its value chain. Once fully implemented, the carbon reductions gained from these 800 trucks will reduce the brewer’s carbon emissions from logistics by more than 18%—equivalent to taking more than 13 thousand passenger vehicles off the road annually.
In 2006, the brewer joined the US Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport program; since 2008, it has reduced its total energy use in US breweries by more than 30%.
Aaron is an automotive journalist living in Wyoming, USA. His background includes technology, mechanics, commercial vehicles, and new vehicle evaluations. Aaron is a member of several automotive media groups and writes for many well-known publications.