Global green firm Nikola Corp. announced on February 22 that it partnered with autonomous trucking firm Plus for its next-gen safety system, PlusDrive. Nikola plans to use the newly-developed system for its US hydrogen-electric vehicle and all-electric Nikola Tre.
How can the PlusDrive enhance Nikola’s EV offerings?
Per the press release, the first Nikola Tre BEVs and hydrogen EVs with advanced driver assistance capabilities enabled by PlusDrive will be on the market by the end of 2024.
The PlusDrive system is expected to improve the safety, driver comfort, and fuel efficiency of Nikola’s electric vehicles in the US. Apart from the basic automatic emergency brakes and lane keeping, PlusDrive also offers the following capabilities:
· staying centered in the lane
· stop-and-go traffic
· lane changes
· nudging
· merges
The exciting features would not stop there as the company will also consistently release over-the-air without any truck downtime.
However, it must be noted that the driver must still be prepared to take over the steering wheel when necessary.
“The enhanced driver assistance features are yet another differentiator of Nikola’s premium driver experience for our customers. We are one of the first OEMs to offer 100% electric steering paired with the ZF EBS braking system.
This base technology in all our vehicles, combined with Nikola’s own internally developed vehicle controls, over-the-air updates, and vehicle security, can enable the integration of these advanced sensors and the realization of the PlusDrive safety system from Plus.”
Michael Lohscheller, Nikola Corp. President and CEO
Addional key features
The Nikola Tre BEVs and hydrogen EVs can actively recognize obstacles and other cars in blind areas through the PlusDrive. Motorcyclists and pedestrians will continue to be marked to alert drivers about their approach.
Most essentially, PlusDrive will function even amid any traffic conditions, such as loading docks, charging/fueling, and inspections, among others.
“We are proud to support a zero-emission future and provide the underlying safety system behind Nikola’s enhanced driver assistance features. The proven commercial readiness of our highly automated solution PlusDrive accelerates the deployment for our partners and sets a new bar for safety and sustainability for the trucking industry.”
David Liu, Plus CEO
Nikola plans to show off the PlusDrive-powered Nikola Tre BEV at TMC’s Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. The event will start from February 27 through March 1, 2023.
