EDITORIAL: Hydrogen is hitting some headwinds

Nikola announced on February 19 that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and had begun pursuing “value-maximizing sale transactions” for its operations. Also a maker of battery-electric heavy-duty trucks, the company began back in 2015 with an emphasis on hydrogen fuel cell technology for long-haul transport and began serial production of the Tre FCEV in 2023.

The company also aspired to establish an extensive hydrogen fueling network through its HYLA brand. In its filing, Nikola stated that it intended to continue certain service and support operations for trucks currently in the field, including certain HYLA fueling operations, through the end of March 2025. The company would need one or more partners to support such activities beyond that point.