The American developer of hydrogen trucks Nikola accused the manufacturer of electric cars Tesla in copying the design of their wagons.
The American developer of hydrogen trucks Nikola Motors Company filed a lawsuit against Tesla, which is accused of using patent drawings to create a design for the electric semi. The company Nikola estimates the damage of two billion dollars, reports The Verge.
“Tesla” was accused of copying the design of the truck, as representatives of Nikola see in the car a number of almost identical features, including the shape of the front wings, windshield, and doors. In addition, in Nicola argue that cars even have the same coefficient of drag. At the same time in Tesla already called the accusation “completely unfounded”.
The company Nicola was founded in 2014. In early 2018, it became known that the company is ashamed of the firm Bosch is developing two hydrogen cars called One and Two, which will appear in 2021. In this case, the Model One will begin testing in 2019 on public roads.
Nikola One is equipped with a power plant on fuel cells in which electricity is generated as a result of a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. In the motion of the wagon is driven by several electric motors with a total capacity of 1000 horsepower. A set of batteries with a capacity of 320 kWh will provide a range of 800 to 1600 kilometers.
As for the electric truck Tesla Semi, its prototype was introduced last fall, and the production car should appear in 2019. According to preliminary data, the new product will be equipped with four units, the return of which is not yet specified. Without cargo, the wagon can accelerate from a place to 100 km / h in five seconds, and with a trailer weighing 40 tons – in 20 seconds.
