Iveco and Nikola Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hamburg Port Authority during the inauguration of their joint-venture manufacturing facility in Ulm, Germany.

The agreement states their joint intent to partner in two phases encompassing up to 25 Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicles for delivery to the Port throughout 2022.

The first phase involves testing of the Nikola Tre BEVs at the port for transport and logistics operations together with high-performance charging solutions.

A more definitive second phase in the project partnership plans to see the full integration of the BEV vehicles in port operations, installation of charging infrastructure and on-site service support including major suppliers. The vehicles provided for these two phases will be the US version of the Nikola Tre with special permissions for in-port operation.

“Hamburg is pursuing targets to become more climate friendly within the context of the EU’s long-term strategy to become carbon neutral within 2050,” said Jens Meier, chief executive officer of the Hamburg Port Authority.

“The focus of the port is to become a first mover in applying technical innovations as pilot cases. We see a great fit between our requirements and the trucks that are now being built here in Ulm to achieve our targets.”

Designed to be a high-performance, zero-emission long-haul transport solution, the Nikola Tre aims to drive change for the sector. Based on the Iveco S-WAY truck platform with an electric axle co-designed and produced by FPT Industrial, it will feature Nikola’s electric and fuel cell technology, together with key components provided by Bosch.