Nikola Kicks Off Hydrogen Truck Tests With Pre-Super Bowl Beer Runs For Anheuser-Busch

Electric truckmaker Nikola Corp., which recently started delivering its first battery-powered semis, is showing off its longer-range hydrogen-fueled models by hauling beer for Anheuser-Busch around Los Angeles ahead of this weekends’ Super Bowl LVI . 

The Phoenix-based company, along with BYD Motors, is making zero-emission deliveries of Bud Light NEXT, a new carb-free beer the brewing giant is promoting prior to the championship game. A Nikola Tre fuel cell big rig will load up with the beer at Anheuser-Busch’s Van Nuys brewery and transport it to a distribution center in Carson, California. From there battery-powered BYD 8TT model trucks will haul the beer to bars and stores around Los Angeles. 

Anheuser-Busch is the biggest potential buyer of Nikola trucks, reserving hundreds of hydrogen-powered models since 2018 as part of efforts to convert its entire fleet to zero-emission models. Commercial production of Nikola hydrogen trucks hasn’t begun, though Anheuser-Busch is testing two in the Los Angeles area–taking advantage of incentives from California for zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles. 

“We continuously strive to lead our industry by delivering our products in the most sustainable way possible–including by investing in the cutting-edge technology of our logistics partners,” said John Rogers, who oversees sustainability and procurement operations for Anheuser-Busch. The beermaker said deliveries with hydrogen and electric trucks are part of a push to cut its U.S. carbon emissions by 25% by 2025. 

Nikola is ramping up production of battery-powered Tre trucks at an assembly line in Ulm, Germany, where it partners with European commercial vehicle maker Iveco, and at its own new factory in Coolidge, Arizona. That facility will also start making the hydrogen-powered Tres around the end of this year. Battery models are designed for trucking runs of less than 300 miles, while the hydrogen fuel cell trucks have 500 miles of range per fueling. 

Nikola is also trying to move past a rocky couple of years triggered by fraud accusations against departed founder Trevor Milton, which brought an extensive SEC investigation. The company agreed to pay a $125 million fine to resolve the matter. Milton, who resigned as Nikola’s executive chairman in September 2020, has been indicted by the Justice Department, charged with lying about the company’s technology and market readiness. 

“Our long-term partnership with Anheuser-Busch in support of their leading commitment to sustainability has been an incredible honor for Nikola,” CEO Mark Russell said in a statement. 

Anheuser-Busch said it also has 25 electric BYD trucks in its California fleet and is adding another 20. China-based BYD, a major manufacturer of electric vehicles and batteries in that market, builds buses and trucks for the U.S. market at its Lancaster, California, plant, about an hour north of Los Angeles. 

Nikola is to release its 2021 financial results on Feb. 24. The company’s shares fell about 2% to $7.93 on Thursday in Nasdaq trading.