Bosch supplies many components for new Nikola tractors, including the electronically controlled Servotwin steering system. (Photo: Brian Street/Freight Waves)
One of the key topics raised by Nikola Motor Co. founder and CEO Trevor Milton during the two-day public unveiling of Nikola’s zero-emissions future at Nikola World 2019 was the amount of cooperation the company has received from suppliers. Milton, in essence, admitted that he was smart enough to know that there were smarter people in the world than him, and he wanted to take advantage of that experience.
To do this, connect with some of the leading companies in the trucking industry, such as Ryder (NYSE:R), Meritor (NYSE:MTOR) and Bosch, to gain insights and leverage their expertise in building components for Nikola trucks. . He also reached out to other suppliers, perhaps not as well known, but equally accomplished in their respective fields.
The ultimate goal was to create a new kind of company with a new type of truck that everyone could be proud of and that customers would want to buy. Speaking with some of the suppliers at Nikola World 2019, it appears that this has been accomplished.
“We came away from those discussions with real challenges,” Jason Ruecht, vice president of commercial vehicles at Bosch, explained about working with Nikola. “They didn’t have any legacy…but they started with a vision.
“It was a healthy boost,” he added. “You lit a fire under us.”
Ruecht said that working with Nikola had gone well and that Bosch itself had learned a lot in the process and as a result had some ideas for the future on how to leverage the technologies used in Nikola trucks. He also believes the timing is right for Milton to push hydrogen electric truck models.
“There are declining costs for renewable energy, and you have companies like Anheuser-Busch (looking to reduce vehicle emissions),” he said. “Cutting-edge companies, and companies that want to reduce their emissions, are ideal customers for Nikola.”
Nikola sought to partner with best-in-class companies and fill the experience gap that Nikola did not have in some areas. For example, Milton told members of the media that the company is willing to partner with others around the world to develop its technology and allow other manufacturers to integrate it into their vehicles.
“We have hired the best people to be our partners,” Milton said.
Bosch has installed a number of technologies on Nikola trucks, including digital mirrors that replace traditional mirrors. The digital mirrors have cameras that show the vehicle’s surroundings on in-cab displays. Bosch worked with Mekra on the Digital Vision system, which won the 2019 Innovation Award at CES. In addition to standard view views, the Digital Trailer Swing feature seamlessly changes the view of the mirror system as the truck and trailer turn. This provides the driver with better visibility than ever when maneuvering tight turns and reversing with the trailer.
Bosch also supplies the electronically controlled steering system called Servotwin, a core technology for advanced safety systems, and the so-called Perfectly Keyless digital key. The devices in the truck communicate with the smartphone via Bluetooth to allow the driver to lock, unlock or start the vehicle. The digital key can be shared with other drivers as needed, and restrictions can be placed on it as well, so someone can only open the door but not start the car, or can only access it for a certain number of days, which increases security.
For the new fuel cell laboratory, which will be able to test fuel cells from a single cell to an entire assembly in a climate-controlled environment, Nikola has partnered with AVL Test Systems.
AVL will provide electrical and fuel cell testing equipment for the facility.
“At AVL, we’re all about developing clean, efficient propulsion technology,” said Kyle Kimmel, president of AVL Test Systems. “Nicola has some really unique ideas, and it’s exciting to help bring this vision to life.”
AVL’s advanced test equipment includes a heavy-duty chassis dynamometer, fuel cell system test pedestal, fuel cell durability test pedestal, and high-voltage battery test enclosure. It will be run using the AVL Laboratory Management Suite, a suite of software that serves as the backbone for the entire laboratory.
Meritor, a household name in the trucking industry with a long history of providing quality components and services, has equipped trucks with regenerative braking systems, allowing electric motors to receive power boosts as the system recovers energy typically wasted during braking events and transfers that energy to the batteries.
Mahle supplied the thermal management system, HVAC system, as well as the compressor, remote cooling sensor and exhaust system.
Wabco offers its own electronic braking system, which is very popular in Europe but not commonly used in the United States. The system can stop the truck much faster than standard air disc brakes as the electronic signal is sent almost instantaneously to which brake pedal is depressed.
Pratt & Miller Mobility is a name that many may not know but it may be the most important Nikola Two truck supplier. The Detroit-based company assembled the car. It specializes in prototypes and low-volume assemblies. Once Nikola begins mass production of the car at its Arizona plant (which is currently under construction), Pratt will hand over duties, but with the car going through extensive testing and potential changes, Pratt remains an important partner.
Ryder System, Inc. provides Nikola sales and maintenance support. Thompson Machinery, a Caterpillar dealer, will provide maintenance services in Tennessee and Mississippi.
Ryder has extensive experience working with electric vehicles and continues to build its fleet of electric vehicles through partnerships with Chanje, Workhorse and Daimler, as well as a distribution agreement with Nikola Motor Company. As a company, Ryder has more than 200 million miles of electric and natural gas vehicle experience to date.
Other suppliers include TE Connectivity, which supplied the truck with high-voltage and high-current connection cables as well as several sensors, and through its sister company Q Cells, 174 Power Global will supply the solar panels that will adorn the tops of Nikola’s hydrogen stations. .
