With the Trump Administration fully in power and Federal electric vehicle incentives apparently on the chopping block, many fleet buyers are second-guessing the push to electrify their fleets. To help ease their minds, Harbinger is launching the IRA Risk-Free Guarantee, promising to cover the cost of anticipated IRA credits if the rebate goes away.

The‬‭ Inflation Reduction Act‬‭ (IRA) 45W Commercial Clean Vehicle‬ Credit‬‭ offers up to $40,000 per medium-duty commercial EV. Originally proposaed as part of President Biden’s Green New Deal package, the incentive‬‭ was put in place to help modernize commercial fleets by overcoming obstacles like the higher up-front costs of EVs.

In the case of a Harbinger S524 Class 5 chassis with a 140 kWh battery capacity with an MSRP of $103,200, the company will offer an IRA Risk-Free Guarantee credit of $12,900 at the time of purchase, bringing initial cost down to $90,300. This matches the typical selling price of an equivalent Freightliner MT-45 diesel medium-duty chassis.

“We created (the IRA Risk-Free Guarantee) program to eliminate the financial uncertainty for customers who are interested in EV adoption, but are concerned about the future of the IRA tax credit,” said John Harris, Co-founder and CEO of Harbinger. “For electric vehicles to go mainstream, they must be cost-competitive with diesel vehicles. While the IRA tax credit helps bridge that gap, we remain committed to price parity with diesel, even if the credit disappears. Our vertically integrated approach enables us to keep costs low, shields us from tariff volatility, and ensures long-term‭ price stability for our customers.”

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Harbinger‬‭ recently revealed a book of business consisting of 4,690 binding orders. Those orders are valued at approximately $500 million, and fueled a $100 million Series B raise.

Electrek’s Take

One of the most frequent criticisms of electric vehicle incentives is that they encourage manufacturers and dealers to artificially inflate the price of their vehicles. In their heads, I imagine the scenario goes something like this:

• you looked at a used Nissan LEAF on a dealer’s lot priced at $14,995
• a new bill passes and the state issues a $2500 used EV rebate
• you decide to go back to the dealer and buy the car
• once you arrive, you find that the price is now $16,995

While it’s commendable that Harbinger is taking action and sacrificing some of its profits to keep the business growing and the overall cause of fleet electrification moving forward, one has to wonder how they can “suddenly” afford to offer these massive discounts in lieu of government incentives – and how many other EV brands could probably afford to do the same.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Harbinger.

Whoever is left at Nikola after the fledgling truck-maker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month is probably having a worse week than you – the company issued a recall with the NHTSA for 95 of its hydrogen fuel cell-powered semi trucks.

Nikola filed for Chapter 11 protections just a few weeks after we predicted the company would go “belly up,” reporting that the company was planning to halt production of its hydrogen fuel cell-powered semi trucks while, at the same time, Nikola’s stock had sunk to a 52-week low following a formal NHTSA complaint claiming the fuel cell shuts down unpredictably.

That complaint seems to have led to the posthumous recall of 95 (out of about 200) Nikola-built electric semi trucks.

The latest HFCEV recall is on top of the 2023 battery recall that impacted nearly all of Nikola’s deployed BEV fleet. Clean Trucking is citing a January 31, 2025 report from the NHTSA revealing that, as of the end of 2024, Nikola had yet to complete repairs for 98 of its affected BEVs. The ultimate fate of those vehicles remains unclear.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Electrek’s Take

I’ve received a few messages complaining that I “haven’t covered” the Nikola bankruptcy – which is bananas, since I reported that it was coming five weeks before it happened and there was no “new” information presented in the interim (he said, defensively).

Still, it’s worth looking back on Nikola’s headlong dive into the empty swimming pool of hydrogen, and remind ourselves that even its most enthusiastic early adopters were suffering.

“The truck costs five to ten times that of a standard Class 8 drayage [truck],” explained William Hall, Managing Member and Founder of Coyote Container. “On top of that, you pay five to ten times the Federal Excise Tax (FET) and local sales tax, [which comes to] roughly 22%. If you add the 10% reserve not covered by any voucher program, you are at 32%. Thirty-two percent of $500,000 is $160,000 for the trucker to somehow pay [out of pocket].”

After several failures that left his Nikola trucks stranded on the side of the road, the first such incident happening with just 900 miles on the truck’s odometer, a NHTSA complaint was filed. It’s not clear if it was Hall’s complaint, but the complaint seems to address his concerns, below.

NHTSA ID Nu. 11621826

Optionally, you could just read Hall’s summary of the Nikola situation, in his own words: “I have dealt with more tow trucks in the last 10 months than in my entire 62 years on this Earth.”

The company issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) on October 29th, just 13 days after the official NHTSA complaint was filed.

Spring is just around the corner and the EV deals are heating up. Right now, several electric models are available to lease for under $300 a month, making it a great time to make the switch (or upgrade). Here are the cheapest EVs you can lease this March.

Cheapest EVs you can lease this March

After a record year with over 1.3 million EVs sold in the US in 2024, the trend is expected to continue in 2025 with around 15 new models arriving.

January marked the tenth straight month with over 100,000 EVs sold in the US. The top five selling models, the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Volkswagen ID.4, Tesla Cybertruck, and Honda Prologue, accounted for over 50% of total sales in the month.

Outside of the Cybertruck, all of them can also be leased for under $300 a month. With the average monthly lease payment for an electric car $175 less per month than the average loan, it’s no wonder buyers are choosing to lease.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

According to the Xperian’s Q4 market report, the Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Honda Prologue, Hyundai IONIQ 5, and Chevrolet Equinox were among the most leased EVs, all of which are under $300 a month right now.

Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis

Kia and Hyundai continue to offer some of the most affordable, efficient electric vehicles on the market. The Niro EV is one of the cheapest EVs you can lease this month at just $129 per month.

Meanwhile, the new 2025 IONIQ 5 (now with more range and a Tesla NACS charging port) and IONIQ 6 are arriving with big discounts. Even the luxury 2025 Genesis GV60 can be leased for under $300 a month this March.

Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX

Honda’s electric SUV continues to take the US market by storm. In the second half of 2024, the Prologue was the second best-selling electric SUV behind the Tesla Model Y. With an ultra-low lease rate of just $239 per month, the Prologue is even more affordable than a Civic this month.

Acura’s luxury electric SUV can be leased for as low as $299 for 24 months. With only $2,999 due at signing, the ZDX is cheaper than the Genesis GV60 thanks to generous discounts. In some states, ZDX discounts reach as high as $28,000, also making it more affordable than a Civic to lease this month.

Chevy Blazer and Equinox EVs

Chevy’s new electric SUVs are quickly rolling out. The electric Equinox was among the top five best-selling EVs in the final three months of 2024. Both can be leased for under $300 a month this March. The Blazer EV is still slightly more expensive with $3,879. The Blazer deal also includes a $1,000 trade-in bonus.

Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E

Although F-150 Lightning sales are down this year, the Mustang Mach-E remains a top-selling electric SUV behind Tesla’s Model Y, Honda’s Prologue, and the Hyundai IONIQ 5.

Ford is sweetening the deal with a free Level 2 home charger for any EV purchase or lease through its “Power Promise” along with a host of other benefits.

Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra

Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra sales are starting to pick up. With an effective cost of only $287 per month, the Solterra may be the better option this month with standard AWD.

Tesla Model Y, Model 3 still among cheapest EVs in March

Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3 are still the best-selling EVs in the US and at under $300 a month, some of the cheapest you can lease this March.

Some of these rates may vary by region. The $239 per month Honda Prologue lease deal is offered in California and other ZEV states. Acura’s $299 ZDX promo is only available in CA, NY, OR, and other select states.

In other parts of the country, the Prologue is still listed at just $269 per month for 36 months. With $3,199 due at signing, the effective cost is still just $358 per month. However, a $1,000 conquest or loyalty offer can lower monthly payments to around $330.

With the Trump administration looking to end federal EV incentives, including the $7,500 tax credit, many of these savings could disappear soon. Automakers can offer such low lease prices right now largely because the tax credit is factored in.