Nikola Tesla versus Thomas Edison: take two
The rivalry between Tesla’s Musk and Nikola’s Milton is something we have written about before. We alluded to the notable lack of fondness between the two billionaires when we attended and reported on the world launch of the Nikola Tre recently.
Given the very public relationship between the two, lots of other journalists have written about their dislike of each other. Some have even likened it to the relationship between Nikola Tesla (after whom both Tesla and Nikola are named) and Thomas Edison. After all, much like Musk and Milton, the two inventors from the 1880s were undoubtedly geniuses who despised each other. Their battle some 140 years ago – termed the "War of Currents" – raged around over whose electrical system would power the world: Tesla's alternating-current (AC) system or Edison's rival direct-current (DC) electric power.
Fast forward to 2020 and we have another two geniuses in their own right. And yet another battle is going on. At the heart of this battle is hydrogen (H2). Musk famously refers to “fuel cells” as “fool cells”. He’s a fan of pure electric propulsion. Milton, on the other hand, says that both hydrogen and pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have a role to play going forward. Both men are real showmen, who love the limelight and court controversy. It’s like Nikola Tesla versus Thomas Edison: take two …
Badger breaks cover
Well, now the Nikola Badger has broken cover and – surprise, surprise – it employs BOTH technologies. “We designed it to work on either BEV or H2 – and it’s the first of its kind. This allows you to use H2 when needed for massive hill pulls or trailers, but run on cheaper BEV when you don't (which is usually most of the time). It's an awesome platform no one has ever built,” proclaims Milton.
The Nikola CEO and co-founder is at pains not to compare the Badger to the Cybertruck. In fact, he has stated that his electric and hydrogen pickup truck will “take down the Ford Raptor”. However, given the ongoing rivalry as well as the showmanship of the two billionaires, lots of people are comparing the two trucks. So, how do they stack up?
In all honesty, it’s hard to fairly compare the two vehicles – because lots of the details are still so sketchy. But there are a couple of facts to hand (we’re going to ignore aspects such as design, because it’s subjective, and stick to the cold hard facts for now).
The Cybertruck is purely electric and it will come with one, two or three electric motors. We don’t know the exact output of the engine(s) yet; some people have speculated that the maximum could be in the range of 800 hp (597 kW). The Badger will be able to generate “over 906 hp and 980 ft. lbs. of torque”, according to Milton. So, in theory, the Badger wins this round.
When we look at the performance of the two vehicles, we have a dead heat. Both companies are claiming a zero to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) time of approximately 2.9 seconds. (With the Cybertruck, this figure pertains to the top-of-the-line variant with three motors.)
Range is yet another important issue. Here, Musk is promising up to 500 miles (804 km) while Milton is offering 300 miles (482 km) in BEV mode – for those that do not have access to hydrogen. For those who do, the range grows to 600 miles (966 km). While the 600-mile range is indeed impressive, this could be a moot point. Hydrogen is still not readily available throughout the United States (US), which is where both trucks will launch. In fairness though, Nikola has repeatedly stated that it aims for the establishment of 700 hydrogen fuel stations in the US.
Finally, there is the towing capacity, and the Cybertruck – with three electric motors and 14 000 pounds or 6,36 tonnes of capacity – is the outright winner here. The Badger will have a towing capacity of “over 8,000 pounds”.
And, the grand entrance?
So, there you have it: a very brief comparison between the two vehicles. Now onto the million-dollar questions. When will these trucks be launched and what will they cost?
Well, we’ve all seen the Cybertruck, so that box is ticked. According to Musk, production will start in late 2021. It will cost between $39 900 and $69 900 (about R620 000 to R1 million).
The Badger will make its first appearance at Nikola World 2020 in September this year. It is estimated to cost $60 000 to $90 000 (roughly R932 000 to R1,4 million). Full production, according to Milton, begins next year.
Which billionaire will be first to market? Which truck will be the greater success? We cannot wait to see …
Recommended next:
Nikola and Iveco pull a truck out of a hat
