Trucking news and briefs for June 24, 2024:
Nikola second-generation battery-electric walk-through from ACT Expo
At this year's ACT Expo in Las Vegas, Nikola reps walked through the company's second-gen version of its Tre battery-electric Class 8 with Jay Traugott of Clean Trucking, among Overdrive sister publications. Run through the video above to hear from relatively new company CEO Steve Girsky as well as Ryan May, head of software and controls, about various improvements made to the cabover.Nikola noted the 2.0 Tre BEV now features significant software commonality with both the battery and operating systems found in its hydrogen fuel cell counterpart. This should allow customers to get software updates over the air.
Following several years of financial hardship and no small number of controversies, last month, under the Nikola HYLA brand, a new hydrogen refueling station opened near the Port of Long Beach. The plan is to open 14 sites by the end of this year, each equipped with HYLA modular fuelers and FirstElement Fuel stations as well as additional partner sites.
[Related: FirstElement Fuels opens first commercial hydrogen refueling station in the country]
Nikola continues efforts to secure a hydrogen supply chain as well as to expand the HYLA infrastructure, with demand expected to increase over the coming years. The company established a 10-year agreement with FirstElement Fuels, the largest hydrogen refueling provider in California with an 80% market share, to refuel Nikola Tre hydrogen trucks.
The first HYLA hydrogen station in Ontario, California -- available only to Nikola Tre customers -- began operations in April.
[Related: With CARB deadlines looming, dray operations learn from battery-electric implementation]
New online service bookings from Ohio Peterbilt, with calendar submissions ongoing
A new online booking module allows customers of the Ohio Peterbilt dealer group to book a service appointment with any of the group's 10 locations throughout the state.
Ohio Peterbilt noted it hoped the scheduling tool could eliminate hassle for owners and operators making appointments for service. In announcing the new tool, the dealer group also re-emphasized its ongoing entry period for customers to secure a spot in the group's well-known annual calendar featuring their trucks in operation.
Through September 9, 2024, Ohio Peterbilt will continue to accept entries for the 2025 calendar, featuring winning photo entries to appear through the year with a full-page feature. Submissions can be made via this link to the entry form. Horizontal landscape-oriented photos are appreciated, with a special emphasis on scenic backgrounds and/or on-the-job work. Aside from bragging rights, 12 winning entrants will receive a Peterbilt-branded jacket and one "Grand Prize Cover Winner" a selected prize value up to $500, courtesy of the dealer group, the company said.
Catch previous calendar winners for samples of photos.
W&W Transport, Inc., was the overall winner for 2024 with this picture, and gifted a $500 Visa card.
