Nikola opens the first HYLA hydrogen station in Southern California. Will this appease the current debate about FCEV prices?
The Ontario station, which opened for operation last month, will be capable of fueling up to 40 Nikola hydrogen fuel cell electric Class 8 trucks daily. This station is integral to Nikola’s strategic initiative to develop up to nine refueling solutions set to be completed by mid-2024. However, there's huge debate about the price of Nikola FCEVs, reportedly much lower than production costs.
Nikola celebrated the official opening of the first HYLA hydrogen station in Southern California. The celebration welcomed fleet customers, dealers from Nikola’s sales and service network, government officials, industry press and members of the Nikola leadership and engineering teams, each playing an integral role in the realization of this achievement.
The inauguration of the first HYLA hydrogen station
At the event, participants had the opportunity to take part in truck and hydrogen refueling demonstrations, facility and equipment tours and technology Q&A sessions with Nikola engineers focusing on hydrogen safety and the HYLA ecosystem, as well as to take rides in the Nikola hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks.
The Ontario station, which opened for operation last month, will be capable of fueling up to 40 Nikola hydrogen fuel cell electric Class 8 trucks daily. This station is integral to Nikola’s strategic initiative to develop up to nine refueling solutions set to be completed by mid-2024, with 14 total refueling solutions to be operational by the end of the year.
The rumors about fuel cell truck price
Such a significant event happens at the same time of quite a big debate started from some articles published by a few hydrogen-related web platforms. The news is that Nikola is apparently selling its hydrogen fuel cell trucks at a higher cost compared to production costs. According to Hydrogen Insight, for instance, Nikola FCEVs are making losses, as sold for about half the amount it costs to make them.
More into details, Hydrogen Insight states that “the average selling price for Nikola’s Tre FCEV fuel-cell electric trucks in the fourth quarter of last year was $351,000, but they cost $679,000 each to produce during the same period, according to Nikola”. This is partly due to significant component shortages that are currently affecting the whole supply chain, as the hydrogen technology is very young and then not fully prepared to face serial production. Then, Nikola would be forced to turn to European suppliers, resulting in increased costs.
