Electric heavyweight

摘要

While getting under the skin of today's trucks is meat and drink for our readers, tomorrow's high-tech trucks matter, too - even those that have yet to appear on a road anywhere. The Nikola One (named after electrical engineer Nikola Tesla), from the US, is one such. An all-new 'from the ground-up' design of long-haul tractor, this near-zero emission range-extender hybrid was launched in May. Novel it is, and it is also backed by a highly original pre-order agreement - the first 5,000 reserved receive free fuel (CNG - compressed natural gas) for 1,000,000 miles. That, says Nikola Motor Company (NMC), will offset the purchase price hike ($350,000-$415,000, depending on options) and give operators "an immediate return on investment". And judging by the response to its offer and the truck, NMC appears to be on to something.