Nikola Positioned To Accelerate Hydrogen Economy

Competitive electricity price paves the way for hydrogen production in Arizona

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Jan 12, 2021, 16:15 ET

PHOENIX, Jan. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nikola Corporation (NASDAQ: NKLA) has secured an innovative electric rate schedule with Arizona Public Service Company ("APS") that makes possible the accelerated development of hydrogen-based fueling solutions for the transportation industry. Nikola is a company dedicated to the advancement of innovative zero-emissions truck solutions and the energy infrastructure required to make this feasible. By facilitating low-cost production of hydrogen, the Arizona Corporation Commission's ("ACC") approval of this rate schedule paves the way for the curtailment of greenhouse gases in the transportation sector, while also providing benefits to key constituents via novel grid-balancing solutions.

Today's unanimous approval of this agreement by the ACC provides Nikola with a competitive electric rate specifically designed for the production, processing, and dispensing of hydrogen. This will support, among other things, enabling a zero-emission heavy-duty freight corridor along the I-10 freeway between Los Angeles and Phoenix.

APS's competitive electric rate will help lead the creation of the hydrogen economy in Arizona. Nikola estimates that under the rate structure it will be able to deliver hydrogen at market leading prices and within the ranges required for Nikola to offer competitive lease rates for its trucks customers.

The agreement reflects value that results from the curtailment flexibility that Nikola's hydrogen production facilities are expected to provide to the electrical grid. These facilities will be configured to respond to the needs of the grid, for example by reducing Nikola's energy consumption from the electric grid during heatwaves. This agreement will encourage Nikola to deploy capital within the state, increase electric load relating to hydrogen production, and further develop and employ a highly skilled and well-educated workforce.

Nikola CEO, Mark Russell, celebrated today's critical milestone stating: "Nikola values the joint efforts of APS and the ACC to enable competitive electrolytic hydrogen production. The approval of this special rate for hydrogen production is critical for advancing the future of zero-emissions transportation and building a hydrogen economy."

Nikola President of Energy and Commercial, Pablo Koziner, added, "Through this agreement, Nikola is assured a reliable and competitively priced source of electricity that will allow us to commence the development of hydrogen production facilities to serve the fueling needs of our truck customers. The agreement sets an important precedent in showcasing that innovative operational solutions can be developed for the economic production of hydrogen that maximize benefits to all stakeholders."

The approval of this agreement marks an important milestone. Going forward, Nikola will work with APS to finalize site selection and interconnection requirements to establish its first hydrogen production facility in Arizona.

"For decades, hydrogen has been a promising, but elusive, source of clean energy for both the transportation and power sectors. We simply haven't done enough to bring hydrogen to the mainstream," stated Chairwoman Lea Márquez Peterson. "As we begin to enter a new energy economy, however, I want to ensure that we take all steps necessary to promote Arizona's gradual and innovative move towards decarbonization. By supporting this application, we are doing exactly that. Let's make our great state the nation's epicenter of hydrogen production, processing, and fueling, and let's have Arizona serve as a model to other states about clean energy innovation."

ABOUT NIKOLA CORPORATION:
Nikola Corporation is a designer and manufacturer of zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen station infrastructure, Nikola is driven to revolutionize the economic and environmental impact of commerce as we know it today. Founded in 2015, Nikola Corporation is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.nikolamotor.com or Twitter @nikolamotor.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding potential benefits related to the secured electric rate schedule and the company's ability to accelerate its development of hydrogen based fueling stations that can be configured to respond to the needs of the grid, as well as, help create a hydrogen economy; the ability to create a zero-emission freight corridor between Phoenix and Los Angeles; the company's ability to produce market leading low-cost hydrogen and also allow for competitive truck lease rates; the duration of the competitively priced electric rate and its impact on the company's hydrogen production cost and plans; expectations regarding its hydrogen business, and related business model and strategy; and market opportunities related to the company's hydrogen plans. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Nikola's management and are not predictions of actual performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to general economic, financial, legal, regulatory, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; the potential effects of COVID-19; the outcome of legal proceedings to which Nikola is, or may become a party; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the recently completed business combination; the conversion of pre-orders into binding orders; risks related to the rollout of Nikola's business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on Nikola's future business; the availability of capital; and the other risks detailed from time to time in Nikola's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 and other documents Nikola files with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and Nikola specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Nicole Rose
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480-660-6893

Colleen Robar
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313-207-5960

SOURCE Nikola Corporation