Nikola Unveils the Badger Electric Pickup
Nikola, which has yet to sell a truck, saw its market valuation surged to $31 billion — higher than Fiat Chrysler and Ford — in its first week of public trading.
Nikola Motor Company, the startup automaker better known for its plans for a hydrogen-electric semi, has announced the product launch of the Nikola Badger electric pickup, according to a statement by Nikola on June 10.
The Badger will be available as a battery-electric (BEV) or fuel cell-electric (FCEV) model. Customers who initially bought the BEV model can later upgrade to the FCEV, as hydrogen infrastructure advances, according to Nikola.
The Badger will have an estimated range of 300 miles as a BEV and 600 miles as an FCEV. It is estimated to deliver 980 ft. lbs. of torque with 906 peak HP and 455 continuous HP. Towing capacity is slated to be 8,000 lbs.
The Badger will be built in conjunction “with another OEM utilizing their certified parts and manufacturing facilities,” the statement said.
The Badger will be outfitted with a 15-kilowatt power outlet for tools, lights, and compressors, which will deliver enough power to assist a construction site for about 12 hours without a generator.
The Badger’s performance won’t suffer from payload or grade, according to Nikola. With a fully loaded trailer and combined vehicle weight of 18,000 lbs., Nikola estimates the Badger will be able to launch from a standstill on a 30% grade without motor stall.
“Nikola has billions worth of technology in our semi-truck program, so why not build it into a pickup truck?” said Trevor Milton, CEO, Nikola Corporation. “I have been working on this pickup program for years and believe the market is now ready for something that can handle a full day’s worth of work without running out of energy.”
In a bit of showmanship usually seen by Elon Musk, Milton contracted Heavy D, a reality TV star from the “Diesel Brothers,” to design, build, and test the Badger in real world environments.
Preorders for the Nikola Badger begin June 29. The truck will make its first appearance at Nikola World 2020 in Phoenix in November.
Nikola severed ties with Ryder last week. Since debuting as a public company last week, Nikola’s market valuation has surged to $31 billion, higher than Fiat Chrysler and Ford. The company has yet to sell a truck.
More Fleet Forward

NETS Crash-Cost Data and CoolSys’ 80% Loss Reduction Take Center Stage at FFC
NETS will present findings from its latest Cost of Crashes research, then CoolSys safety leader and author Shawn Martinez will explain how the company built a safer driving culture across 3,500 employees.
Read More →
Is Your Grey Fleet Creating an Unmanaged Safety Risk?
NCR Atleos Fleet Manager Jose Rocha will join Cardata and SambaSafety experts at Fleet Forward Conference to examine how fleets can extend safety oversight to every employee who drives for business.
Read More →
Agentic AI Session at FFC Will Help Fleets Turn Data Into TCO Action
Mike Albert Fleet Solutions and Motorq will show how agentic AI can uncover maintenance, fuel, and utilization savings buried across disconnected fleet data.
Read More →
Voting Opens for 2026 Fleet Hall of Fame
See the nominations for the 2026 Hall of Fame and select your choice for this year's class!
Read More →
7 Fleet Professionals Named Finalists for the 2026 Fleet Visionary Award
Meet the 2026 nominees for the Fleet Visionary Award.
Read More →
9 Fleet Leaders Nominated for the 2026 Fleet Manager of the Year Award
Meet the nine finalists for the 2026 Fleet Manager of the Year Award.
Read More →
Fleet Forward Conference to Debut First Registration-Based Analysis of Largest Commercial Fleets
The session will deliver an exclusive first look at registration data covering more than 1.5 million commercial vehicles, offering one of the industry's most detailed views of the private fleet market.
Read More →
Registration Opens for 2026 Fleet Forward Conference
Held on the East Coast for the first time, the Washington, D.C.-area event features expert-led education, a new IIHS Crash Test Experience, and collocation with the NAFA’s Fleet Safety Symposium.
Read More →
Earley, Mossing Named to NAFA's 2026 Class of Fellows
The honor recognizes five outstanding professionals whose leadership, service and contributions have made a significant impact on NAFA and the fleet management profession.
Read More →
