Phoenix company picks up $1M to test fuel cell in its electric military vehicle
Oct 15, 2019, 1:30 PM
(Instagram Photo)
(Instagram Photo)
PHOENIX – A Phoenix motor-and-vehicle designing company has signed on for $1 million to test a fuel cell for the all-electric vehicle it has built for military use, it has been announced.
Nikola Motor Company’s Powersports division said in an online press release last week the project for the Reckless vehicle, designed for off-highway driving, was scheduled to last 32 weeks.
The Department of Defense is also involved.
“This is truly a groundbreaking effort in our quest to have a zero-emission future,” Andrew Christian, vice president of defense for Nikola Powersports, said in a statement last week.
Nikola will work with Michigan-based Pratt and Miller Engineering on the $4.35 million venture to “to integrate hydrogen fuel cell technology in an electric off-road vehicle,” Christian said.
Greetings from Washington, DC! We're thrilled to be at the #AUSA2019 event this year with the #NikolaReckless! Stop by booth #744 to learn more about this one-of-a-kind military-grade OHV that is quite literally one of the most powerful vehicles in the military space. @AUSAorg pic.twitter.com/cXv36mliTA
— Nikola Motor Company (@nikolamotor) October 14, 2019
The off-highway vehicle was built to be operated remotely and has an on-board drone and weapons station.
Earlier this year, Nikola closed on a deal for over 2,5000 acres in Coolidge to build a new manufacturing plant. The plant was expected to open by 2023 and create about 2,000 jobs by 2024.
