Future of Trucking - Automation concern

Even electric trucks aren't happening in ten years, the infrastructure isn't there, and we all know more power plants aren't going to be built anytime soon.

 

A race to the bottom? It’s economics. I have my own authority, and I am doing great actually, and so are many other people running one truck or a fleet of trucks. Yes, there will always be losers. It’s a sad fact.

If there is an accident or breakdown? Simple. We handle it how we have always handled the ones we already have today. You are thinking like a driver. It cannot be done. Nothing can ever be done if you think like a driver.

 

The Nikolai one is hydrogen generator charging batteries to run the truck, something like 100 gallons gets you 1000miles, it’s coming.


Nikola Corp | Nikola World Landing

 

@LondRanger

I think electric trucks are much more likely to happen sooner than driverless, but only some fleets will benefit from this tech. UPS, FedEx, or anyone who has lots of terminals throughout the US can easily install these power charging stations in their terminals. They probably have lots of routes where their drivers go from terminal to terminal. On a different note, their batteries should be able to be swapped in a few minutes with fully charged ones, so they won’t have to wait hours at the charging station.

Electric vehicles are one of the few technologies that hold a lot of promise in the trucking industry because we already have fully electric vehicles on public roads (Nissan Leaf and Tesla, for example). These fully electric vehicles have been selling to the public since 2010, or sooner in other countries.

 

You are correct terminals would benefit best from electric and driverless imo but nikola one truck is hydrogen electric so making it a direct competitor to diesel for now, should be out in a few years.

I think electric will be needed to test 2039- years on the road before driver less happens.

 

That's the only way I see them working, there's simply not enough power production to charge all the trucks on the road today once a day.

 

It could be possible but there was talk of $5-8k monthly lease programs with these trucks which includes free hydrogen and all services.

Could either cause diesel prices to go down or up, I’m guessing down since the industry needs to survive, and possibly rates to go up because people need to be able to afford 8K a month payments.

In turn causing mega fleets to either adapt or go away into the sunset.

I see California adopting this type of truck that can enter the state soon which will really cause rates to go up in and out of it, and the Middle of America rates to go down fast.

Just my guess

 

I don't know how they would handle refueling for hydrogen fueled though, it's even more volatile than gas isn't it? Why would Cali rates going up cause Midwest rates to go down?

 

That Nikola One is just too practical to pass up on. That’s why @snowman_w900 put a deposit down. With the large dealer network, hydrogen pumps nationwide, and parts availability like no other, it’s the smart choice.

 

Guys who can’t afford the Nikola one will be forced to work States that aren’t as tough as California further pushing rates for these states down.

California on the other hand will have a opposite effect as these trucks are not cheap, you are looking at 400-500k trucks, and if California requires all new trucks sold in california to be Electric or hydrogen/electric hybrid then you would see rates rise as these new trucks are required.

Think of it L/P for even more payments.

If current 150k truck has a $1300 weekly payment a 500k truck will be most likely twice as much is not more.

The industry is going towards more lease then own outright as I think these trucks are going to be available for lease only.

Remember the numbers are not concrete as the guy behind it wasn’t set on it.

But do look at it as a 500k truck that’s only available for lease only.