Mercedes-Benz is recalling 7,362 EQB electric SUVs due to a battery issue that could lead to fires, and it’s asking customers to avoid fully charging until a remedy is implemented.

The recall covers certain 2022-2024 Mercedes EQB models that received battery cells from an early-production batch. These cells could be more vulnerable to internal short circuits under certain conditions, such as current ripples from charging equipment or damage to the battery pack, according to the NHTSA. That presents a fire risk both when the vehicle is being driven and when parked.

Owners will see a battery-malfunction warning message in the instrument cluster should any problems occur while driving, but there may not be any external indication of a problem when the vehicle is parked and shut off, the NHTSA noted.

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB 300

Mercedes told the NHTSA that it was not aware of any fires or related warranty claims in the U.S., but that it first became aware of the problem through reports of fires in other markets. Changes in the manufacturing process used by the battery supplier to address the issue have been implemented in vehicles manufactured after Jan. 24, 2024, Mercedes said.

Owners of vehicles manufactured before that date must take them to dealerships, where updated battery management software will be installed free of charge.

In the meantime, Mercedes instructs owners not to charge beyond 80% battery capacity. Given its 2024 range ratings of 205 to 251 miles, depending on the version, that limits its usable range to less than 200 miles if you leave a few miles left when plugging in. 

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB 300

Mercedes plans to notify owners by mail beginning Apr. 1. Owners can also call the automaker’s customer service department at 1-800-367-6372 for more information.

Introduced for the 2022 model year, the EQB applies an electric powertrain to the GLB-Class crossover, preserving that model’s boxy profile and thus standing out in a market segment dominated by teardrop-shaped crossovers. It received a refresh for 2024 that brought a larger standard touchscreen and Plug and Charge compatibility, while keeping that distinctive shape.

• Rivian EDV for fleet customers starts at $82,900
• Up to 161-mile range from 100-kwh LFP battery pack
• Amazon already has more than 20,000 Rivian electric vans, of its ordered 30,000 by 2030

Rivian electric vans will soon be carrying more than just Amazon packages.

On Monday the automaker announced that it is opening sales of its commercial vans to fleet customers beyond Amazon, which originally got Rivian into the commercial vehicle business.

Rivian was exclusive with Amazon for such vehicles initially, starting in 2019, when it announced an order for 100,000 vans by 2030 as part of a $440 million investment in Rivian. But Rivian has been looking to expand sales to other customers once its exclusivity with Amazon ended. The automaker has been trialing vans “with several large fleets” to lay the groundwork for that, according to a Rivian press release.

Called the EDV (short for Electric Delivery Van), the first examples headed out into the world making Amazon deliveries in 2021. Amazon now has more than 20,000 of the vans in its fleet, according to a Rivian press release.

Rivian Commercial Van

Now dubbed the Rivian Commercial Van, the mass-market version shares design cues with the EDV used by Amazon. It will be offered in two configurations badged 500 and 700 priced at $82,900 and $86,900, respectively, including the $3,000 destination fee. The shorter 500 measures 248.5 inches long with a 157.5-inch wheelbase, while the 700 stretches to 278 inches long, with a 187-inch wheelbase.

The 500 has 487 cubic feet of cargo space and a 2,663-pound payload rating, while the 700 has 652 cubic feet of cargo space and a 2,258-pound payload rating. Both versions have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 9,500 pounds.

Rivian Commercial Van

Both versions are front-wheel drive, with a single motor providing 320 hp and 299 lb-ft of torque. A lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack with 100 kwh usable provides up to 161 miles of range in the 500 and 160 miles in the 700—both based on EPA drive cycles but not official EPA ratings. While Rivian has said it will adopt the Tesla NACS connector for its passenger vehicles at some point, the Commercial Van will start shipping with a CCS connector providing 100 kw of DC fast-charging power. The AC charging rate is 11 kw.

Other automakers also offer electric vans but many, such as the Ram ProMaster EV, Mercedes-Benz eSprinter, and Ford E-Transit, are electrified versions of combustion designs. General Motors’ Chevrolet BrightDrop vans, on the other hand, leverage the same component set as the automaker’s current electric passenger vehicles. Mercedes is also planning electric vans based on a dedicated architecture, called Van.EA, to be previewed by a concept vehicle later this year.

The Volvo EX30 electric vehicle began arriving at U.S. dealerships last month, but only in top Twin Motor Performance guise. Other versions are on the way, though, including the more rugged EX30 Cross Country, which was unveiled in Sweden Monday.

Volvo previewed the Cross Country with a concept vehicle that was unveiled alongside the production version of the standard EX30 in 2023, and the design hasn’t changed much from concept form. The Cross Country features increased ground clearance, skid plates, and 18-inch wheels that can be fitted with all-terrain tires. A load carrier, roof basket, and mud flaps are among the optional accessories offered within Cross Country Experience packages.

2026 Volvo EX30 Cross Country

Blacked-out panels and the front and rear also carry over from the concept, along with wheel-arch extensions. The front fascia includes a topographical representation of the Kebnekaise mountain range in northern Sweden, which Volvo says serves as an inspiration for its designers.

The EX30 Cross Country will come standard with dual-motor all-wheel drive, but Volvo hasn’t confirmed whether it will be tuned for the same 422 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque as current Twin Motor Performance models.

The Cross Country is also likely to use the same 69-kwh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery pack as other U.S.-market EX30 models, with EPA range to be disclosed at a later date. Other dual-motor versions of the EX30 are currently EPA-rated at 253 miles, and Volvo projects that they can DC fast charge from 10%-80% in less than 30 minutes. That charge time is expected to apply to the Cross Country as well.

2026 Volvo EX30 Cross Country

Volvo initially planned to bring the EX30 to the U.S. last summer, but the launch was delayed after new tariffs were imposed for EVs made in China, complicating the automaker’s plans to source the first vehicles from that country before shifting production to Belgium. The China-made EX30 then reached U.S. dealerships in January only in its top dual-motor form, with a starting price of $46,195.

Volvo has promised that a single-motor version of the EX30 is still on the way, with a base price of $36,245. The single-motor EX30 and Cross Country are both expected to appear before the end of the 2025 calendar year, meaning they’ll likely be considered 2026 models.

Last week’s U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announcement placing a freeze on the federal government’s EV charging infrastructure program has already prompted responses from a range of industry interests—including at least one that counts automakers among its membership.

In a statement first reported by Reuters, the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) asked the Trump administration to restore the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which the organization called “an effective and important element of a truly strategic energy policy that promotes U.S. innovation, domestic investment, and energy security.”

The EDTA counts six automakers among its members. Ford, General Motors, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Stellantis, and Toyota are part of the group along with 20 other interests including charging networks, charging-hardware suppliers, and the retail giant Walmart. Although this pushback was a statement of the group and its interests, it’s unclear which companies might have, for instance, signed onto a letter pushing for this rollback of Trump administration policy.

2023 Nissan Ariya at EVgo charging station

“We urge the Administration to quickly resume the critical work of the program and minimize uncertainty for states and their businesses, who have invested in infrastructure to serve local and national goals for advanced transportation,” the EDTA statement said. 

The Trump DOT move announced last Thursday rescinds previous guidance for the program, which was created under the 2021 infrastructure law to disperse funding for a $7.5 billion national network, on the way to a target of 500,000 EV chargers. The agency said it would fund projects already approved but freeze funding for new projects until revised guidance is issued.

2023 Toyota bZ4X at EVgo charging station

Under the NEVI framework, states issue plans showing how they would spend available funding. The DOT has said it will make states submit new plans once altered guidance is complete, which is likely to create additional uncertainty and slow a process that was just beginning to pick up speed, even if the money isn’t actually taken away.

Several of the EDTA’s member automakers are also partners in Ionna, which has suggested that it will take advantage of the NEVI program to reach its goal of 30,000 chargers by 2030. That plan makes Ionna the most likely charging-network rival to Tesla, which has already won many NEVI contracts. That creates more financial risk to charging companies, as the funding is placed in limbo—and a growing conflict of interest as Tesla CEO Elon Musk continues to act as an unofficial advisor to the Trump Administration.

• Damage to the batteries’ separator could lead to shorts and/or fires
• Recall campaigns from Stellantis, Ford, and Audi allow replacement of battery packs
• New paperwork filed by battery supplier Samsung SDI says the issue remains under investigation

Plug-in hybrids from multiple automakers have been recalled due a potential issue with vehicles’ Samsung SDI-supplied battery cells that could cause loss of power or fires. And new paperwork filed with the federal government this week suggests that the issue has not yet been fully resolved.

A total of 180,196 vehicles are affected in the U.S., including 155,096 from Stellantis, 20,484 from Ford, and 4,616 from Audi. Each automaker, in recent months, already announced an individual recall for its respective vehicles.

2023 Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid

Stellantis issued a battery-related recall for the Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe SUVs last October. Audi then recalled its Q5 and A7 plug-in hybrids in December, and Ford then issued a recall for plug-in hybrid versions of the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs in January.

All of these vehicles have Samsung SDI cells that are broadly similar, according to documents filed with the NHTSA, which emphasizing that exact specifications are still unique to each automaker. Each automaker told the safety agency that defects in these cells could lead to internal short circuits or fires. Ford and Stellantis also reported damage in the separator layer between the cathode and anode in some cells, which could lead to short circuits and fires. Ford and Audi both said internal analysis pointed to manufacturing defects, and both said they would install new software as a temporary remedy.

2022 Audi Q5 55 TFSI e plug-in hybrid

These new documents filed by Samsung SDI don’t expand the list of vehicles recalled, but they underscore that the issue lacks a clear resolution, as of yet. In paperwork filed February 5, Samsung SDI calls the issue “still under investigation” for both Ford and Audi. A letter from the NHTSA, reacting to the Samsing SDI filing and dated February 6, asks the battery supplier for a “summary of all warranty claims, field or service reports, and other information.”

In a statement provided to Green Car Reports Friday, Jeep parent Stellantis underscored that for its vehicles, the issue has been remedied. “The remedy includes a software update and, if necessary, replacement of the high-voltage battery, both provided at no cost to owners,” it stated, pointing to notification letters sent out in December. “Customer safety is our highest priority, and we appreciate the patience of our customers as we worked to resolve this matter and implement a solution for all affected vehicles.”

For now, owners of affected vehicles can call the respective automakers’ customer service departments for more information. Stellantis can be reached at 800-853-1403, Audi at 800-253-2834, and Ford at 866-436-7332.

–with reporting by Bengt Halvorson

The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS is due to arrive soon, with a lot more power, at a $62,490 base price once the mandatory $1,395 destination fee is factored in.

That price, which is now shown in Chevy’s online configurator, is slightly higher than the $61,995 Chevy quoted last September when it detailed the 2025 Blazer EV lineup. But it’s still about $3,500 less than when the Blazer EV SS (short for Super Sport) was initially confirmed.

2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS

Pricing isn’t the only thing that’s fluctuated since this model was announced in 2022. At that time, Chevy said its dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain would develop 564 hp and 684 lb-ft of torque using the Wide Open Watts (WOW) performance mode. That changed to 595 hp and 645 lb-ft when Chevy reconfirmed the Super Sport in late 2023. But it’s now been finalized at 615 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, a Chevy spokesperson confirmed to Green Car Reports.

Chevy also lists a 3.4-second 0-60 mph time that’s consistent with its previous claims of a sub-four-second time. A retuned suspension is part of the package as well, but it doesn’t appear that Chevy performance-enhancing changes are as extensive as those of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, which its maker claims is just as quick, and we’ve found to be truly track-capable. However, it’s also a bit pricier, at $67,475 with destination.

2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS

The automaker previously confirmed that the AWD SS would use the same 102-kwh battery pack as RWD RS models (all other models have an 85-kwh pack) but EPA range had not been confirmed at press time.

An initial 2024 Chevy Blazer EV test drive left us impressed with this electric SUV’s efficiency and range. Software issues led to a pause in sales in December 2023, though, and Chevy cut prices the following March, making for a rough initial model year. For 2025, certain models get a boost in both EPA range and output, while a base front-wheel-drive model arrives at the opposite end of the lineup from the range-topping SS.

General Motors is looking at different ways to utilize electric-vehicle bidirectional charging capability and multiple charge ports, a newly surfaced patent filing shows.

Published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Dec. 26, 2024, after being filing by GM Jun. 22, 2023, the document deals less with specific hardware and more with usage schemes and control strategies—and how to balance current in and out of different charge ports.

What it could lead to is a greater flexibility for charging or discharging EVs at any given time, as energy storage devices.

GM lays out a few examples of how this capability can be combined with multiple charge ports, including using one port to charge an EV while using the second port to send power to an external energy-storage system.

General Motors multi-port bidirectional charging patent image

Another possibility is “daisy-chained” vehicles, with only one vehicle actually plugged into a conventional charging station. That vehicle would then be connected to a second vehicle via its other charge port. That second vehicle could in turn be used to charge a third vehicle in a similar manner, according to GM.

This will require a new generation of charge controllers, the patent underscores, and a new range of thinking about how people will use bidirectional charging capability. A fleet of compatible vehicles would be required as well.

GM has expanded bidirectional charging across its lineup, but only with one charge port as of yet. It’s already laid out what large electric trucks might be able to do with multiple charge ports in a separate patent filing, though.

General Motors multi-port bidirectional charging patent image

Ford has also, in a patent, previously laid out what multiple charge ports might accomplish. That includes connecting multiple EVs in series, similar to what GM is discussing here.

Other automakers, such as Tesla, have also discussed adding bidirectional charging capability, while Volvo has shifted that capability into a separate energy business. But it might take mandates like the one proposed by California to further scale up bidirectional charging—and unlock some of the possibilities GM apparently sees in the tech.

• Damage to the batteries’ separator could lead to shorts and/or fires
• Recall campaigns from Stellantis, Ford, and Audi allow replacement of battery packs
• New paperwork filed by battery supplier Samsung SDI says the issue remains under investigation

Plug-in hybrids from multiple automakers have been recalled due a potential issue with vehicles’ Samsung SDI-supplied battery cells that could cause loss of power or fires. And new paperwork filed with the federal government this week suggests that the issue has not yet been fully resolved.

A total of 180,196 vehicles are affected in the U.S., including 155,096 from Stellantis, 20,484 from Ford, and 4,616 from Audi. Each automaker, in recent months, already announced an individual recall for its respective vehicles.

2023 Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid

Stellantis issued a battery-related recall for the Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe SUVs last October. Audi then recalled its Q5 and A7 plug-in hybrids in December, and Ford then issued a recall for plug-in hybrid versions of the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs in January.

All of these vehicles have Samsung SDI cells that are broadly similar, according to documents filed with the NHTSA, which emphasizing that exact specifications are still unique to each automaker. Each automaker told the safety agency that defects in these cells could lead to internal short circuits or fires. Ford and Stellantis also reported damage in the separator layer between the cathode and anode in some cells, which could lead to short circuits and fires. Ford and Audi both said internal analysis pointed to manufacturing defects, and both said they would install new software as a temporary remedy.

2022 Audi Q5 55 TFSI e plug-in hybrid

These new documents filed by Samsung SDI don’t expand the list of vehicles recalled, but they underscore that the issue lacks a clear resolution, as of yet. In paperwork filed February 5, Samsung SDI calls the issue “still under investigation” for both Ford and Audi. A letter from the NHTSA, reacting to the Samsing SDI filing and dated February 6, asks the battery supplier for a “summary of all warranty claims, field or service reports, and other information.”

In a statement provided to Green Car Reports Friday, Jeep parent Stellantis underscored that for its vehicles, the issue has been remedied. “The remedy includes a software update and, if necessary, replacement of the high-voltage battery, both provided at no cost to owners,” it stated, pointing to notification letters sent out in December. “Customer safety is our highest priority, and we appreciate the patience of our customers as we worked to resolve this matter and implement a solution for all affected vehicles.”

For now, owners of affected vehicles can call the respective automakers’ customer service departments for more information. Stellantis can be reached at 800-853-1403, Audi at 800-253-2834, and Ford at 866-436-7332.

–with reporting by Bengt Halvorson

• DOT to review $7.5B federal EV charging program, funded with 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
• Keeps funding projects in progress but rescinds guidance for continued buildout
• Means new state proposals for rules not yet released, months of delay for states’ funding
• Tesla has captured more than $41 million in government money for the buildout

The Trump Administration is stalling on dispersing more funds to U.S. states for the Biden Administration’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure program—one that Tesla has profited from handily.

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program calls for 500,000 charging stations nationwide, and was funded with $7.5 billion under the 2021 infrastructure law to make that happen. That total was split into $5 billion for a highway-based program, and $2.5 billion for rural and underserved communities, with states submitting proposals for use of the available funds.

But on Thursday the Department of Transportation (DOT) said it had “decided to review the policies underlying the implementation” of the NEVI program, and was rescinding all previous guidance. That’s being used as an excuse to stop the funding of new projects.

Redirect of FHWA webpage that previously contained NEVI documents from Feb. 6, 2025

The DOT stated that “effective immediately, no new obligations may occur under the NEVI Formula Program until the updated final NEVI Formula Program Guidance is issued and new state plans are submitted and approved.” Payments will still be made for projects already in progress, though.

“Until new guidance is issued, reimbursement of existing obligations will be allowed in order to not disrupt current financial commitments,” the DOT said.

Lawsuits will likely follow to free up the rest of the money, which the DOT is legally obligated to release to projects that meet requirements set out in the infrastructure law. While the DOT can issue guidance to clarify specifics, it can’t contradict the law itself or withhold funds in perpetuity.

As of late Thursday evening, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) had also removed NEVI documents from its website. This follows a reported pattern of information being removed from federal websites since Trump’s return to office.

Tesla Supercharger

As Elon Musk continues to exert influence on the federal government as a private citizen, it’s worth noting that Tesla ended up winning many NEVI contracts, so this will have a serious financial affect on the EV company—and a growing conflict of interest. As of January 18, Tesla had captured more than $41 million in federal funding covering 99 different NEVI sites, according to the Paren NEVI Database.

The Ionna charging network—funded by eight full-line automakers and the most likely rival to Tesla’s Supercharger network in North America—has also suggested it will look to take advantage of the NEVI program.

Although it picked up speed last spring, NEVI-funded project rollout has been slow because states submitting plans must also deal with individual regulators, utilities, and other bureaucracies. Now that they have to submit new plans, all over again, it’s a major setback for the buildout—many months, if not years—even if the money isn’t actually taken away.

Nikola, a developer of hydrogen fuel-cell and battery-electric trucks that was once among the most hyped automotive startups, is now considering filing for bankruptcy, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

In 2020, when it went public via a then-fashionable reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), Nikola was worth around $30 billion, according to the report. But MSN reported recently that Nikola’s stock price has tanked, bringing the company’s value down to $74 million.

In its most recent SEC filing, in December, Nikola indicated that it was running low on cash and would only have enough money to continue operating through the first quarter of this year. The company has sought additional funding in recent months, and conducted two rounds of layoffs in October and December of last year. Nikola is yet to announced its Q4 2024 financial results, but in the December filing, it reported a net loss of $481.2 million in the first nine months of that year.

Nikola Tre electric semi trucks delivering Nissan vehicles in the Los Angeles area

Last Thursday, Nikola announced that it was selling its battery assets to Mullen Automotive for an undisclosed amount. That comes roughly a month after Nikola’s announced that its battery-electric trucks had covered one million miles in service with customers. The assets were likely inherited from battery maker Romeo Power, which Nikola acquired in September 2023 for around $3.5 million.

Nikola started out not with hydrogen but with a natural-gas turbine, generating electricity to power its semi, with a huge 320-kwh battery pack. But by late 2016, it had shifted to hydrogen fuel cells while continuing to emphasize semi trucks.

Plans also included a fuel-cell pickup, called the Badger, which it turned out never existed to the level that CEO Trevor Milton had suggested—and would have relied on GM to a degree it never actually agreed. In 2020, around the time that the Badger was hyped, Nikola was valued by Wall Street higher than GM. Nikola even teased an ATV around this time.

Nikola Badger

Nikola continued to call itself a BEV and fuel-cell leader, before it actually delivered any trucks, as its stock continued to soar. It all came tumbling down in July 2021, when Milton was charged with securities fraud. That was after Milton left Nikola in response to a report by activist short-seller Hindenburg Research alleging that Milton had misled investors in a range of ways, including that prototypes were moving with Nikola’s own propulsion systems.

Nikola has gone on to deliver products at a more modest scale and ambition, as part of an attempt to rebuild and instead focus on medium-duty trucks after Milton. Although in the interim it’s fallen behind in addressing a battery recall that took many of its first-generation trucks out of service.