Nikola is giving us a glimpse of its brand new battery-electric Tre semi-truck taking on the cold during winter testing. The automaker has released a short video of a prototype hauling a trailer with a full load:
This of course isn’t the first time we’ve seen a Nikola Tre prototype as the automaker’s most recent episode of the Driving Change showcased two prototypes at testing at its site in Arizona. The trucks seen in the video were both built at the IVECO plant in Ulm, Germany: ”In Episode 3 of Driving Change: Yes, It Can Do That, the Tre team gears up with further commissioning before sending the first of several prototypes onward to its proving grounds. With more validation testing on the horizon, our test driver takes the opportunity to “open it up.”
There will be a total of 14 Alpha prototypes that will undergo purpose-specific test programs.
The Tre showcased in the new teaser from Nikola was charged at up to 170 kW. The charging power is expected to gradually increase in the further tests, up to 350 kW. Not only are we able to see the EV accelerate as well as slow down, we are also able to hear the sound tied to its electric powertrain.
The electric semi competition seems to be heating up with names like Tesla and Nikola on the verge of production. The electric vehicle era seems to be upon us as we watch old and new manufacturers lay out their plans for electrification.
To date, expected specs for the Nikola Tre are as follows:
-Up to 400 km (249 miles) of range in an undisclosed test cycle
-Up to 720 kWh modular battery system
-System output of 480 kW continuous power output and 1,800 Nm peak torque
-Will be available in 2 and 3-axle rigid versions
-GVW ranging from 18 to 26 tonnes for urban distribution and municipality missions