HYLA, the new brand of energy products from Nikola Motor Corporation, produces, distributes and distributes hydrogen to fuel its zero-emission trucks. Five sites in the US have been earmarked to develop up to 300 metric tons of hydrogen per day. Nikola’s long-term strategy has been to bring its hydrogen infrastructure solutions to market to complement its electric trucks, preferably fuel cells, but batteries are also available. Now the company has its own name, HYLA.
Nikola made the announcement in front of about 300 representatives from fleets, authorities, suppliers, energy providers and the media at an event at its headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. HYLA aims to capture up to 300 metric tons per day (TPD) of hydrogen across five projects that Nikola operates with partners. So far, these are only in the US.
The Phoenix Hydrogen Hub (PHH) in Buckeye, Arizona, not far from Nikola’s headquarters, will be the most notable site, with an eventual capacity of 150 metric tons per day. Nikola wrote that PHH will be built “in phases based on the demand generated by Nikola’s zero-emission trucks in the Southwest.” The first 30-tonne phase is expected to be completed in the second half of 2024, Nikola said. However, the final investment decision is still subject to regulatory approval.
For the remaining four sites, Nikola has not provided further details. Locations include Terre Haute, Indiana with Wabash Valley Resources (50 metric-TPD), Clinton County, Pennsylvania (100 metric-TPD) and Alberta, CA with TC Energy (60 metric-TPD) Rosefield. Under a “multi-territory offtake agreement,” Plug Power will be responsible for supplying up to 125 metric-TPD, Nikola said.
Hydrogen produced at these five sites will be sold at 60 HYLA filling stations by 2026. The first hydrogen fueling stations will be built in California, specifically in Ontario and Colton. Both towns are in the Los Angeles/San Bernardino metropolitan area. HYLA will also operate another station near the Port of Long Beach. These three locations should generate good supply around important container ports and the industrial areas there.
In addition, HYLA launched a mobile refueling facility. Especially in the early days (less penetration of FCEV trucks), it aims to be “an integral part of Nikola’s flexible customer service” by offering the H2 when needed. The mobile refueling system cools and compresses the hydrogen to rapidly refuel FCEV heavy trucks at 700 bar – rather than the 350 bar used by European commercial vehicles. Combined with a hydrogen tank on another trailer with a capacity of 960 kg, several customer trucks will be able to refuel “back to back”.
“Nikola is the only company that has managed to bring together a revolutionary new product, a hydrogen fuel cell truck, and a complete hydrogen infrastructure supply chain under one roof,” said Nikola CEO and President Michael Lohscheller. “Our Nikola Tre Fuel The unveiling of the battery truck and flexible mobile refueling trailer demonstrates a real and sustainable competitive advantage for our customers and is important proof that we are on track to accomplish the goals we have set.”
“The HYLA brand represents Nikola’s hydrogen-focused energy business by supporting our fuel cell electric vehicles and other OEM vehicles,” said Carey Mendes, President of Nikola Energy. “Hydrogen energy is the catalyst for the HYLA brand and our Forward-looking solutions for customers that help them achieve their sustainability goals and significantly reduce the overall carbon footprint of the transport sector.”
Nikola is currently not specifying whether HYLA will also be coming to Europe. While touted as a global brand, all announced projects are related to the United States. In Europe, the company is reportedly working with E.ON to develop an ecosystem for the H2 truck. By 2027, E.On Hydrogen expects it to be able to supply “green” hydrogen to up to 5,000 Nikola Tre FCEVs with a range of up to 800 km.
Nikola also announced that Biagi Bros. plans to put 15 of its Nikola Tre FCEV hydrogen-fueled heavy-duty trucks into service in Ontario, California, in the fourth quarter of this year. The logistics company has successfully tested fuel cell trucks since January 2022. “After logging more than 12,000 miles, we are very pleased with the truck’s performance and specification, and we are ready to move on to formally building our zero-emissions fleet later this year,” said Andrea Biagi, President of Biagi Bros.
