InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast

It's a big news week for Rivian! The EV startup announces that the new $45,000 R2 will get lidar, a big step forward for more affordable autonomy. Plus, it gets an in-car AI assistant, and other tweaks are coming to the R1S and R1T. Then Rivian's head of AI, James Philbin, explains how this all works to Patrick and Tim, as if they were children.

Bust out those skinny jeans because Donald Trump is taking fuel economy rules back to 2013. This week, Patrick and Tim explain why the rollback of CAFE standards won’t actually make your car cheaper. Tim recaps his time in the extremely impressive BMW iX3, and the guys discuss whether it can succeed in the EV slowdown of 2026. 

Then Tim speaks with John Harris, cofounder and CEO of Harbinger Motors, about the future of commercial EVs and what automakers are getting wrong about electric cars. 

We Drove The BMW iX3: It's BMW's Best Electric Car Ever 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhtrIehnDwE 

Trump Promises To Make Cars Cheaper, By Making You Pay More For Gas
https://insideevs.com/news/780761/trump-fuel-efficiency-standards-rollback/ 

This week, Patrick and Tim break down two big electric debuts: the Porsche Cayenne EV and Jeep Recon. Can an electric sibling to the Wrangler be a hit—even with only 250 miles of range? 

Plus, they recap some new research about EV battery health and explain why you shouldn’t worry about replacing the battery in a new EV. And the driverless car space is moving faster than ever, with news this week from Waymo, Zoox and Tesla. 

In Plus/Minus, the guys debate whether Tesla should add Apple CarPlay and explain why it’s such a big deal that Xiaomi’s EVs are profitable after less than two years. 

Watch our Porsche Cayenne Electric first look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00lgxIK0DvI

The 2026 Jeep Recon Is The Off-Road EV We’ve Been Waiting For
https://insideevs.com/news/779196/2026-jeep-recon-ev-offroad-stellantis/ 

San Francisco's Latest Robotaxi Has No Steering Wheel Or Pedals. Yes, Really
https://insideevs.com/news/779322/zoox-san-francisco-robotaxi-launch-public-rides/ 

Most Automakers Lose Money on EVs. How Is Xiaomi Turning a Profit Already?
https://insideevs.com/news/779416/xiaomi-profit-toyota-tesla-xai/ 

The Facts Are In: You Shouldn't Worry About EV Battery Replacements
https://insideevs.com/news/779210/ev-battery-replacements-data-tesla/ 

Tesla May Add CarPlay. Here's Why It's A Smart Move
https://insideevs.com/news/778894/tesla-adding-carplay-bloomberg-report/

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This week, Tim is joined by InsideEVs Deputy Editor Mack Hogan. They discuss why there’s way too much capacity to build EV batteries, and what happens next. Tim spent a day with the folks at Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies and shares an update on how that joint venture is going. Plus, leaders of Tesla’s Model Y and Cybertruck programs just quit, right after Elon Musk got his $1 trillion pay package. 

We Built Too Many EV Battery Factories. Here's What Happens Next
https://insideevs.com/news/778532/battery-capacity-outpacing-demand/ 

The Rivian-Volkswagen Partnership Will Go Even Further Than We Expected
https://insideevs.com/news/778750/rivian-volkswagen-joint-venture-strong-progress-evs/

The Tesla Cybertruck And Model Y Bosses Both Just Quit
https://insideevs.com/news/778529/tesla-cybertruck-model-y-executives-exit/

Elon Musk Isn't Going Anywhere
https://insideevs.com/news/778231/tesla-shareholder-vote-elon-musk/ 

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On this week’s Plugged-In Podcast, the EV tax credit party ended in September. So what did October’s hangover month look like? Well, sales of all-electric models weren’t great, even for mainstays like the Hyundai Ioniq 5. But we’re convinced there are bigger things at stake here—and that the whole car market needs to shift a certain way. Plus, we get more details about the Launch Edition for the Rivian R2, and discuss Tesla’s apparent flying car dreams. Can the new Tesla Roadster really fly? Will it ever exist at all? And is this what Tesla needs right now?

EV Sales October Hangover
https://insideevs.com/news/777506/ev-sales-october-hangover-tax-credit/

It's Time to Give Up On the '2020' Tesla Roadster
https://insideevs.com/features/777629/tesla-roadster-delays-musk-altman/

Here's What the Rivian R2 'Launch Edition' Will Be Like
https://insideevs.com/news/777980/rivian-r2-launch-edition-options/

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This week, Patrick and Tim recap discuss Toyota’s game-changing Corolla EV concept, plus other reveals from the Japan Mobility Show. Slate answered one of the biggest questions about its mini electric truck: where you can get it fixed. 

And Nvidia is going hard into the autonomous car game through new tech and a bunch of partnerships, including a deal with Lucid Motors to give its upcoming midsize crossover Level 4 self-driving capability.

In Plus/Minus the guys break down layoffs at GM and Rivian, plus Ford’s big home energy news. 

The Layoffs Are Coming To The EV Sector. Here's What It Means
https://insideevs.com/news/777391/gm-ev-battery-layoffs-3300/ 

The Toyota Corolla Goes Electric—And Then Some
https://insideevs.com/news/777252/toyota-corolla-concept-japan-mobility/ 

Japan Just Showed Off The Future Of Cars—Minus One Crucial Detail
https://insideevs.com/news/777359/japan-mobility-show-2025-floor-report/ 

Lucid Plans To Beat Tesla At Self-Driving Cars—With Nvidia's Help
https://insideevs.com/news/777224/lucid-midsize-autonomous-driving-nvidia/ 

Why Slate Isn't Building Service Centers Like Tesla Did
https://insideevs.com/news/777127/slate-truck-service-partnership/ 

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This week on the Plugged-In Podcast, Patrick and Tim have lots of news: General Motors' big tech push at its GM Forward event, including Super Cruise where you don't have to watch the road, and Rivian's exciting new e-bike spinoff Also. Is Rivian about to deliver a reset on how e-mobility works? Tim tested one, and he loved it.Also on this episode: Patrick talks to Matias Giannini, the CEO of Horse Powertrain. It's a new engine joint venture from Renault and the Geely Group. Why is our podcast covering engines? Because these engines are designed to be better: cleaner, smaller, more efficient, and purpose-built for things like plug-in hybrids and extended-range EVs. They're pro-EV but believe that if gas engines have to stick around longer, they have to better—and they have some interesting stuff up their sleeves.

GM's Super Cruise Aims To Go Beyond Tesla In 2028 With LIDAR, Eyes-Off Driving
https://insideevs.com/news/776525/gm-super-cruise-eyes-off-2028/

'No More Fuses:' How GM's New Architecture Will Transform Gas Cars, Too
https://www.motor1.com/news/776777/gm-ev-ice-architecture-forward-explained/

How Rivian Spinoff Also Is Reinventing The Electric Bike
https://insideevs.com/news/776646/rivian-also-electric-bike-tm-b/

Renault's 'Horse' Wants To Turn EVs Into Hybrids
https://insideevs.com/news/756949/horse-powertrain-hybrid-retrofit-evs/

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On this special bonus episode of the Plugged-In Podcast recorded at Climate Week NYC, Patrick and Tim sit down with two BMW executives to discuss “circularity” in automotive manufacturing and what that means.Nils Hesse, BMW’s vice president of product sustainability, and Glenn Schmidt, its vice president of global sustainability, break down the automaker’s efforts across battery recycling and recycled materials—and how those principles came to life in the BMW iX3. They talk about the need to create circular supply chains, not just for sustainability reasons but also to make a resilient business.

This week on the Plugged-In Podcast, Patrick and Tim are joined by Mark Reuss, President of General Motors. He gets candid about the new 2027 Chevy Bolt, how GM is tackling this chaotic moment, and why GM is “absolutely” getting ready for Chinese EV brands to hit the U.S. Patrick asks about an electric Corvette and Tim wants to know about what other affordable cars are coming after the Bolt. 

The guys also break down Patrick’s driving impressions of the overhauled Nissan Leaf. And they discuss the 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, which we now know will be America’s first modern EREV. 

2027 Chevy Bolt: Meet America's Cheapest New EV
https://insideevs.com/news/775172/2027-chevrolet-bolt-range-price-revealed/ 

The 2027 Chevy Bolt Will Be ‘Limited Run’ Only 
https://insideevs.com/news/775256/2027-chevrolet-bolt-limited-run-only/ 

The New Chevy Bolt Is Much Better At Fast-Charging. But That's Not All
https://insideevs.com/news/775280/2027-chevy-bolt-ev-fast-charging-improvements/ 

The 2026 Nissan Leaf After A Week: Surprisingly Great, Slightly Maddening 
https://insideevs.com/reviews/775427/2026-nissan-leaf-5-things-we-love/ 

This Jeep Is America's First Extended-Range Electric SUV
https://insideevs.com/news/775742/jeep-wagoneer-range-extender-announced/ 

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Do you know where all the parts on your car come from, and how they got there?

Most carmakers don't, actually. But BMW is working to change this. Starting with the grille on the new electric iX3, it's finding ways to track the carbon emissions of its entire supply chain—from raw minerals to the final product. 

This episode features a discussion about supply chain innovations and investments in future technologies, including sustainable materials. As part of our Climate Week NYC partnership with BMW, you can hear more about how the carmaker tackles its decarbonization goals and integrates these efforts into its business strategy.