- Nikola has opened reservations for its upcoming Badger electric or hydrogen fuel-cell pickup.
- The automotive startup also announced that the Badger will be unveiled on December 4 at its annual Nikola World event.
- Deposit holders will secure spots at the event and be entered to win a free truck.
Nikola is finally taking deposits for its Badger pickup. The company announced that reservation holders could place deposits on their vehicles starting now and that the vehicle will be shown off at Nikola World from December 3 to 5, with the unveiling of the Badger occurring on December 4.
Unlike the rest of the electric trucks coming to market, the Badger will be available as both a batter- electric vehicle that starts at $60,000 and as a hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle pickup with an EV battery pack that starts at $80,000. Nikola claims the ranges will be 300 and 600 miles respectively.
Building the actual Badger will have Nikola teaming up with a mystery automaker that it will be announced at Nikola World. Production is expected to begin in early 2022, so deposit holders have a while to wait before their fuel-cell or electric truck is sitting in their driveways.
This kind of long wait time for vehicles from automotive startups is common. But to sweeten the pot, Nikola says that it will not only reduce the price of the final vehicle based on how much of a deposit you place but will also match that amount. In other words, if someone places a $5000 deposit on a Badger, the pickup’s final price will have a $10,000 discount. Depositors are also entered into a drawing for a free Badger.
Currently, Nikola is offering three deposit tiers: the $5000 Honey package comes with two VIP tickets to Nikola World and 25 entries into the giveaway. The $1000 Predator package secures the person paying the deposit two tickets to the event and five entries to win a free one. And finally, the $250 Instinct package comes with a single ticket to Nikola World and a single entry to win the pickup.
In addition to the 906 horsepower and 980 lb-ft of torque, Nikola says, the truck will have unusual features including waterproof displays and a hidden fridge. According to CEO Trevor Melvin, it will also have a water fountain fed by the fuel-cell powerplant. Fuel-cell vehicles produce water as their only byproduct. This is probably better than just spilling it on to the ground, but it seems like a lot of engineering and cost when a cup that collects the liquid would probably be just as ecological.