July 2 (Reuters) - Nikola ( NKLA ) said deliveries of

its hydrogen-fuel cell trucks rose 80% in the second quarter

from the previous three months, surpassing the startup's

expectations and signaling strong demand for the big rigs amid

its pivot from battery-powered vehicles.

Shares of the company rose nearly 4% in premarket trading on

Tuesday. The stock has lost over 70% of its value so far this

year.

The company delivered 72 Class 8 Nikola ( NKLA ) hydrogen fuel cell

trucks to wholesalers in the quarter ended June 30, compared

with 40 in the previous quarter, and above its sales forecast of

between 50 and 60 trucks.