Nikola announces recall of battery electric vehicles, pauses sales after fire investigation

Nikola Corporation Announces Voluntary Recall of Class 8 Tre Battery-Electric Vehicles

August 15, 2023

By Kavya Balaraman

1. Nikola Corporation has announced a voluntary recall of approximately 209 of its Class 8 Tre battery-electric vehicles.
2. The recall is based on the preliminary findings of an investigation conducted by Exponent into its battery packs.
3. The company is in the process of filing the recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
4. Nikola manufactures heavy-duty commercial battery-electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles.
5. The recall will not affect the company’s hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles currently in production, as they have a different design.

Investigation Findings

• Nikola reported a fire incident affecting multiple battery electric trucks at its Phoenix headquarters on June 23.
• Initial suspicions of foul play or external factors have been ruled out after internal and third-party evaluations.
• The investigation concluded that a coolant leak in one lithium-ion battery pack likely caused the fire.
• A “minor thermal incident” also occurred in one battery pack at the Coolidge, Arizona plant, supporting the coolant leak theory.

Actions and Safety Measures

• Nikola encourages customers and dealers to ensure the “main battery disconnect” switch is always on for real-time vehicle monitoring.
• Parking trucks outside is recommended to improve connectivity to Nikola’s monitoring system.

Leadership Change

• Steve Girsky has replaced Michael Lohscheller as CEO of Nikola.
• Lohscheller stepped down due to a family health matter but will continue in an advisory capacity until the end of September.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Trucks

• Nikola has started producing its hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks and has received orders for over 200 trucks.
• The company plans to begin deliveries in September.
• Nikola has secured $58.2 million in grants to build a network of hydrogen refueling stations for heavy-duty trucks.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
• SDG 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of battery-electric vehicles recalled due to safety concerns (Indicator for SDG 9.4)
• Number of actions taken to ensure the safety of battery-electric trucks (Indicator for SDG 11.2)

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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