Nikola EV trucks’ hands-free driving system coming next year

Nikola Motor Enterprise Two truck

Source: Nikola Motor Organization

Nikola will start off giving an superior driver-support system on its electrical weighty trucks starting up late up coming yr, the business mentioned Wednesday.

The system, manufactured by In addition and referred to as PlusDrive, is very similar to the arms-totally free highway driving devices available by automakers including Tesla, General Motors and Ford Motor – when a human driver ought to be present and attentive, the method can take care of most freeway driving tasks on its individual, in addition to helping the human driver in non-highway conditions together with backing up to loading docks.  

Nikola CEO Michael Lohscheller stated in a launch that the electrical steering and braking devices previously utilised in the company’s vehicles will simplify the integration of Plus’ program, which contains radar, cameras and lidar sensors to detect obstacles around the truck.

Moreover by now offers the PlusDrive method to Italian hefty-truck maker Iveco, a longtime Nikola lover. Iveco started testing its possess PlusDrive-enabled vehicles before this month.

Nikola stated that quite a few of its fleet consumers, which include PGT Trucking and Christenson Transportation, have agreed to exam prototype PlusDrive-enabled Nikola semitrucks. The company expects to commence providing PlusDrive on its frequent output battery-electrical and gasoline cell vehicles by the conclude of 2024.

Nikola is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter and complete-year benefits in advance of the U.S. marketplaces open up on Thursday.