Nikola hydrogen semi seems belly-up as production halt rumors swirl
Cash-strapped hydrogen truck maker Nikola is facing tough times — and its most recent round of layoffs has halted production of its controversial hydrogen fuel cell semi trucks as the company faces down bankruptcy (again).
Last week, we received a tip from someone claiming to be a Nikola insider saying that the company was planning to halt production of its hydrogen fuel cell-powered semi trucks. That tip was followed quickly by news that Nikola’s stock had sunk to a 52-week low, and a formal NHTSA complaint claiming the fuel cell shuts down unpredictably.
A TSB was issued by the truck maker that seemed to address the issues outlined, and the assumption was that the unconfirmed tip was related to the TSB.
For the uninitiated, a TSB is a technical service bulletin. Not quite a recall, a TSB is typically issued for what the manufacturer considers non-safety-related problems, and serves as a diagnostic tool for mechanics in the field when faced with known issues and common complaints.
Nikola’s TSB is included, below:
Now, however, it seems that the production shutdown at Nikola might be something more permanent.
A salesperson at a Nikola dealer who asked not be named told me he was instructed not to accept purchase orders on the hydrogen fuel cell trucks for the foreseeable future. Additionally, we reached out to Nikola last week with three relatively simple questions. Those being:
- We received a tip from someone claiming to be a Nikola employee saying that Nikola was going to halt production of the hydrogen trucks. Is that true? If it is, is that a permanent stop or a temporary issue to address the NHTSA complaint/display recall?
- Is the TSB mentioned here https://electrek.co/2024/12/06/hydrogen-early-adopter-faces-big-problems-amid-nikola-challenges/ related to the breakdowns/are you confident that will improve the situation?
- At least one early Nikola customer told us they had to buy all new chargers because their original charging solution wouldn’t “wake” the trucks. Is that resolved/what chargers work best with Nikola trucks?
- I also have a salesperson at a Nikola dealer saying he’s been told not to take POs on the hydrogen trucks until further notice. Curious if you have a comment on that, also?
After a few days of waiting and asking for updates, we received the following non-response from Nikola’s comms team: At this time, we are unable to comment. I will let you know if that changes.
It doesn’t take days to say “no”
“Yeah, this takes a minute to verify,” said Fred Lambert, Electrek editor-in-chief, when we talked about this story. “If they’re not responding, they won’t, or they’re trying to massage the truth.”
I whole-heartedly agree with Fred. It would take a handful of seconds to say, “We’re still building trucks, let me get back to you on the rest,” but the refusal to comment, the delay, coupled with the company’s latest SEC filing that included the depressing language (below), doesn’t do much to instill confidence in Nikola’s future prospects.
Further, the doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern has and continues to adversely affect our ability to obtain new financing on reasonable terms or at all. If we cannot raise additional capital when we need it, we may have to significantly reduce our spending, delay, scale back or cancel some or all of our planned business activities or operations, sell assets, or substantially change our corporate structure, and we may not have sufficient resources to conduct our business as planned or at all. For example, in October and December 2024, we reduced our workforce in order to better align our staffing with our current needs. However, these reductions in force may result in unintended consequences and costs, such as loss of institutional knowledge, decreased morale, an adverse impact on our reputation and challenges in attracting new talent as well as retaining experienced employees in the future. If we cannot raise sufficient capital when needed, we may be forced to further curtail or to discontinue our operations, which would materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, business, and prospects, and may result in a loss of your investment.
What’s more, Reddit user Patron_1969 (a profile that links back to a Nikola worker) also seems to confirm that the production shutdown is real, buy says that it’s due to the company’s latest round of layoffs and attempts at cost-savings, rather than the unpredictable failures of the hydrogen drivetrain featured in the NHTSA complaint.
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With rumors swirling, official communications on lockdowns, and tipsters speaking up on email and social media outlets, it’s tough to do anything but assume the worst for Nikola.
It appears to be the end of a 4-year-long death spiral for Nikola:
It’s fair to note that Nikola’s problems are not necessarily indicative of the broader BEV and FCEV truck market.
The company’s problems went beyond the difficulties of delivering a new technology to an established trucking industry.
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Greenlane, which provides public charging infrastructure for electric trucks, just rolled out a new dealer program called “Charge On Us,” which offers $500 in charging credits and six months of free Greenlane Edge subscription access with every qualifying electric truck purchase. The offer applies across light-, medium-, and heavy-duty models. Velocity Truck Centers, one of North America’s largest commercial truck dealers with 65 locations across the US, is the first partner to sign on.
Scott Zeppenfeldt, COO of Velocity, said charging is the biggest unknown for customers considering the switch. “Where to charge, how to support it, and how to pay for it all” often stops fleets from moving forward, he explained. “Greenlane’s ‘Charge On Us’ program removes those hurdles by letting our customers rely on public infrastructure instead of investing time and money in their own charging setup. We’re excited to run pilot programs out of their flagship Colton facility and utilize other sites on their network. This gives us a real-world proving ground to show customers how straightforward electric can be when the charging piece is handled.”
For dealers, the program comes with sales support, marketing resources, and customer service, plus access to Greenlane’s growing public charging network. Dealers also get subscriptions to the network, which makes it easier to run pilots at Greenlane facilities and test the experience with customers. The Greenlane Edge subscription unlocks discounted charging rates, advanced reservation tools, and billing software that can lower the total cost of ownership and streamline freight operations. Fleets also gain access to real-time charging data, route planning support, and consolidated billing.
“As more heavy-duty fleets shift to electric, we need to address the real concerns holding them back: where to charge, cost, and how to deploy charging infrastructure day one,” said Patrick Macdonald-King, CEO of Greenlane. “Our program tackles these issues by providing immediate charging credits, access to high-speed chargers, and our technology ecosystem that delivers a seamless charging solution. Partnering with Velocity helps us scale that impact and make electrification easier for more companies by lowering the cost of entry and complexity of procuring power and deploying infrastructure.”
Greenlane opened its flagship charging center in Colton, California, in April. The site features over 40 high-speed chargers, including 12 pull-through and 29 bobtail lanes built for medium- and heavy-duty EVs. It also offers driver-friendly amenities like restrooms, wifi, carports, and 24/7 security, plus extras such as office space and parking. The Colton facility sits at the junction of I-215 and I-10 and anchors Greenlane’s I-15 charging corridor linking Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It’s also part of the I-10 corridor, with new sites on the way in Blythe, California, and Greater Phoenix.
Read more: Greenlane launches a second long-haul EV truck corridor pilot
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The Jeep Gladiator 4xe is dead before arrival. Jeep’s plug-in pickup was expected to arrive as a sibling to the Wrangler PHEV, but that will no longer be the case.
Why did Jeep cancel the Gladiator 4xe?
Jeep’s plug-in hybrid pickup was set to arrive this year. As a midsize pickup and one of the best-selling Jeep vehicles in the US, the Gladiator is a perfect fit for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system, right?
It seemed like it, but Jeep maker Stellantis disagrees. According to a report from Automotive News, Stellantis told its suppliers that it’s no longer planning to launch the Gladiator 4xe.
The Gladiator PHEV is the latest vehicle that Stellantis has canceled as it reassesses its product lineup in the US.
A company spokesperson confirmed the decision with Car and Driver, saying, “As customers’ propulsion preferences for battery-electric trucks continue to evolve, Stellantis is reassessing its product strategy and will no longer include an electrified Gladiator variant in the Jeep lineup.”
The spokesperson added that Jeep has “already begun reinvesting funding to ensure the long-term growth of the Jeep Gladiator and will introduce even more customer-requested factory features, customization, and additional powertrain options in the near future.”
Does that mean an “electrified” option is still in the pipeline? It could. Earlier this month, Stellantis canceled Ram’s all-electric pickup, the Ram 1500 REV. It also dropped the base R/T trim from the Dodge Charger EV.
The Ramcharger, a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV), will instead take its spot and name (Ram 1500 REV). With the plug-in hybrid Gladiator 4xe canceled, Jeep’s Gladiator could be next in line for an REEV powertrain option.
Until then, Jeep still offers plug-in hybrid Wrangler and Grand Cherokee models, which were the top two best-selling PHEVs in the US in the first half of 2025.
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XCharge North America (NA) and Ascentium Capital have launched a new leasing program to help small-business owners host DC fast chargers without having to front huge amounts of cash or rely on government incentives.
Businesses can lease XCharge NA’s DC fast chargers – up to 400kW – for an affordable monthly rate. That way, they can tap into the US public DC fast-charging market, which is expected to grow at a 14% compound annual rate through 2040 and generate $3.3 billion in annual market value, without paying steep upfront costs. Unlike charging-as-a-service models, where operators earn a percentage of the revenue, lessees in this program can earn the full charging revenue.
The program is modeled after a financing structure used in the auto industry. It bundles installation, equipment, warranties, and maintenance into a single package to simplify things for business owners. XCharge NA says its GridLink and C6 chargers can also be installed faster than typical fast chargers, and the equipment can be moved to different sites if needed. Because the chargers integrate with existing infrastructure, businesses don’t need to worry about major grid upgrades or transformer installations.
“At our core, XCharge NA has always been focused on making EV charging more accessible for businesses of all sizes – from high-traffic airports to small-business owners,” said Aatish Patel, co-founder and president of XCharge NA. “Our new financing model was designed to mitigate risk for individuals looking to get into EV charging without significant upfront [capital expenditure].”
Patel added that working with Ascentium brought the financial expertise needed to make the program possible. Stephen Interlicchio, senior vice president of strategic services for Ascentium, said, “This type of flexible capital option is exactly what the industry needs now, especially to empower small businesses and real estate owners that don’t have the ability to pay significant costs up front but are committed to participating in the EV transition.”
Leasing a C6 EV charger (pictured) starts at $800 a month. You can learn more here.
Read more: Texas trailblazes with DC fast chargers with integrated battery storage
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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