Published 1/31/2023

Nikola introduces hydrogen energy brand HYLA

HYLA brand highlights integrated H2 solutions, 60 hydrogen stations installed by 2026 and access to 300 metric tons of H2 per day.

Hydrogen Storage

Edited by: Grace Nehls

Senior Managing Editor, CompositesWorld

Nikola Corp. (Phoenix, Ariz., U.S.) a heavy-duty commercial battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and energy solutions manufacturer, has created a new global brand, HYLA, to encompass the company’s energy products for producing, distributing and dispensing hydrogen to fuel its zero-emissions trucks.

“The HYLA brand represents Nikola’s hydrogen-focused energy business by supporting our fuel cell electric vehicles and those of other OEMs,” Carey Mendes, president, Nikola Energy, says. “Hydrogen energy is the catalyst for the HYLA brand and serves as a forward-looking solution for our customers to help them achieve their sustainability goals and dramatically reduce the overall carbon emissions in the transportation sector.”

According to Nikola CEO and President Michael Lohscheller, the company is successfully integrating the hydrogen fuel cell truck and the full hydrogen energy infrastructure supply chain under one roof. This is emphasized through the unveiling of Nikola’s Tres fuel cell truck and flexible mobile fueling trailer.

The Nikola Tres FCEV

With a range of up to 500 miles, the Nikola Tre FCEV is expected to have among the longest ranges of all commercially available zero tailpipe emission Class 8 tractors while realizing weight savings when compared to battery-electric Class 8 trucks with similar range. Nikola says the Tre FCEV is well-suited for a variety of applications ranging from drayage and intermodal to metro-regional truckload and less than truckload to certain specialized hauling use cases.

With an estimated fueling time of less than 20 minutes at Nikola fueling stations based on expected technology improvements, transitioning from diesel to hydrogen is anticipated to be a seamless experience.

Under the HYLA brand, Nikola is developing access of up to 300 metric tons per day (TPD) of hydrogen. This supply is expected to be supported by the previously announced projects referenced below, which are being developed with Nikola partners:

City of Buckeye, AZ Production Hub: Phased development of up to 150 metric TPD;
Terre Haute, Indiana Wabash Valley Resources: 50 metric TPD;
Crossfield, Alberta TC Energy: 60 metric TPD;
Clinton County, Pennsylvania KeyState: 100 metric TPD.
Plug Power: Multi-region offtake agreement of up to 125 metric TPD;

Located in Buckeye, Ariz., U.S., the Phoenix Hydrogen Hub (PHH) is expected to be built in phases to scale with the demand created from Nikola’s zero-emission trucks in the Southwest region, starting with 30 metric tons in the first phase, and up to 150 metric TPD of hydrogen in future phases. Construction of the first phase is anticipated to be completed in the second half of 2024, once final investment decisions and customary regulatory approvals are finalized.

With the intent to have 60 hydrogen stations in place by 2026, the first three announced HYLA hydrogen stations will be in California in Colton, Ontario, and a location servicing the Port of Long Beach.

HYLA hydrogen stations, mobile fueler

With the intent to have 60 hydrogen stations in place by 2026 under HYLA, the first announced hydrogen stations will be in California in Colton, Ontario, and a location servicing the Port of Long Beach. California is a launch market for Nikola and these stations intend to support key customers to help advance the state’s efforts to decarbonize the transport sector.

Moreover, HYLA will highlight a flexible mobile fueler solution, an integral part of Nikola’s flexible customer service in its early years by distributing hydrogen to its FCEV customers at locations which meet their needs. The mobile fueler cools and compresses hydrogen to rapidly fill 700-bar FCEV heavy-duty trucks. Coupled with a hydrogen tube trailer with a capacity of 960 kilograms, the mobile fueler can reportedly refuel customer trucks back to back.

The mobile fueler program includes its own mobile fuelers as well as a number of third party mobile fuelers, which will provide Nikola customers with a variety of flexible fueling options.

The first mobile fueler has completed commissioning and testing and has been released for market operation. Nikola has additional hydrogen mobile fuelers being commissioned in Q1 2023.