InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast

Summer is hot, and so are the tariffs and supply chain hang-ups, baby! Patrick and Tim discuss how the unique challenges facing EV upstarts Lucid, Rivian and Slate in the Trumpian era of tariffs. They then preview Ford’s big announcement set for Monday in Louisville, where the automaker is supposed to show off a new EV and EV platform combo described as a “Model T moment.” Finally, is Elon Musk worth $30 billion just to stay “focused” on Tesla? Our hosts dig in.

Further reading: Rivian, Lucid, and Slate Face a Tough Road Ahead, What’s Going on with Lucid Gravity Production?, Ford to Unveil its “Model T Moment” on August 11th, Tesla’s $243M Autopilot Crash Verdict, A Chevy Silverado EV goes over 1000 Miles on a Single Charge, Volvo Sales are Spiraling.

Sign up for the InsideEVs newsletter and find us online:

Patrick and Tim talk about one area of the EV world that isn’t slowing down: fast charging. The U.S. is adding chargers at a record pace this year, despite the end of the EV tax credit and other headwinds.

Then they unpack the EPA’s controversial proposal to axe its “endangerment finding” on climate change. Will getting rid of greenhouse gas emission rules for cars and trucks actually create more consumer choice in America?

Finally, the guys dig into the future of hands-free driver assistance systems, which are now the most in-demand feature among car buyers. In Plus/Minus, Patrick and Tim chat about electric school buses and what’s going right at Tesla these days.

Patrick and Tim start the show with the latest from General Motors’ earnings. EV sales are up across brands like Cadillac, but profits are down thanks to Trump’s tariffs. Then they recap Tesla’s Q2 earnings. They debate whether Tesla’s upcoming cheaper car—which Elon Musk just admitted is “just a Model Y”—is enough to turn things around.

Finally, they chat about semi-solid-state batteries from China, Tesla’s awesome new diner-themed Supercharger and why Mercedes is pulling its EQ cars from the U.S. market.

Further reading: GM’s U.S. EV sales doubled in Q2, Tesla’s brutal earnings, Elon Musk says Tesla’s cheaper car is the Model Y, Affordable cars are getting solid-state batteries now, Mercedes will pause production of EQ EVs for America, Tesla’s retro diner opens in Hollywood.

Sign up for the InsideEVs newsletter and find us online:

This week, Tim and guest host Suvrat break down Lucid’s entry into the robotaxi space. Uber agreed to invest $300 million into the EV startup and buy 20,000 of its Gravity SUVs. Then the guys recap a ton of battery news that dropped this week, including GM’s new LFP plant and why it matters.

Finally, Tim sits down with Stephanie Valdez Streaty, Director of Industry Insights at Cox Automotive, to unpack a rocky quarter for EV sales in the U.S. Tesla is way down, GM is way up, and everybody else is somewhere in the middle.

Further reading: Lucid teams up with Uber and Nuro for robotaxis, Panasonic opens a huge battery plant in Kansas, GM goes all-in on affordable LFP batteries, and GM and Redwood Materials sign a deal to reuse EV batteries.

Sign up for the InsideEVs newsletter and find us online:

Patrick and Tim talk about the fallout of the EV tax credit ending for one particular automaker: Slate. The new startup planned to sell its bare-bones electric pickup for under $20,000 after federal incentives starting in 2026. So what’s next for this company?

Then the guys recap InsideEVs’ recent talk with Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe, who had some harsh words for the legacy auto industry and its stance on EVs. Finally, they discuss used electric cars and why you probably shouldn’t worry about buying one with high mileage. Battery degradation just isn’t that big an issue, studies suggest.

Further reading: End of the EV tax credit hits the $20,000 Slate truck, Rivian CEO says automakers just want EVs to “go away,” RSEV study on battery degradation, comparison of a high-mileage and low-mileage Tesla Model 3

Sign up for the InsideEVs newsletter and find us online:

We’re off for the July 4 holiday, so we’re bringing you a very exciting interview about this moment in EVs, recorded June 27.

Our guest this week is Ben Prochazka, the Executive Director of the Electrification Coalition, a nonprofit organization working to accelerate transportation decarbonization in the United States.

Ben helps break down the state of EV adoption in America, the increasing politicization of electric cars, the policy landscape that’s currently under threat, the importance of electrifying America’s commercial fleets and a whole lot more. We also talk about what's going right in the EV space and reasons to be optimistic.

Sign up for the InsideEVs newsletter and find us online:

Patrick and Tim kick things off by recapping Tesla’s biggest news in years: The Robotaxi is finally here. Kind of. They share what they think about Tesla’s autonomous taxi pilot so far and the big questions Tesla still needs to answer.  Then they explain why Ford’s LFP battery plant is caught up in controversy—and why bringing LFP battery production to America is so critical.

Finally, the guys talk about America’s cheapest EVs and Patrick’s new least favorite car.

Further reading: Tesla Robotaxi first impressions; Ford’s LFP plant takes shape, the Chevy Equinox EV is our EV of 2024.
Sign up for the InsideEVs newsletter and find us online:

The new Nissan Leaf has been announced, and it's something completely different. Patrick and Tim discuss how it could be a game-changer in the world of affordable EVs, and whether or not it can turn things around for Nissan after a very rocky year.

Next, Congress is getting closer to passing a version of Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" and the boys consider what that will mean for the EV tax credit.

Finally, Ferrari is postponing their second EV, and Patrick and Tim try to figure out why they should care.

In Plus/Minus, it's a double positive with Waymo applying to operated in the Big Apple and the Kia EV4 coming right around the corner! 

Further reading: Nissan Leaf First Look, Waymo is coming to the Big Apple, Congress is killing the EV Tax Credit

Sign up for the InsideEVs newsletter and find us online:

Patrick and Tim discuss the war of words between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. They debate whether the dust up actually matters for Tesla’s business and explain how badly Musk’s foray into politics has backfired. Then the guys talk about Tesla’s robotaxi launch, which we now know is happening on June 22. Maybe.

Finally, they share their thoughts on the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and why it may be the best all-around EV you can buy right now.

In Plus/Minus, they discuss a promising new EV from BMW and a plan to tax EV owners $500 per year.

Further reading: The Trump/Musk conflict, everything we know about the Tesla Robotaxi launch, Tim’s review of the Hyundai Ioniq 9

Sign up for the InsideEVs newsletter and find us online:

Tim is on vacation this week so InsideEVs' Kevin Williams is back to talk about more of the EVs he tested in China. Most notably: China's best-selling car, the BYD Seagull, which starts around $8,000. It's headed to Europe and other places soon, and Kevin discusses how it drives—and why it's a game-changer. Plus, Patrick and Kevin test a plug-in hybrid that may be the future of plug-in hybrids.

Check out InsideEVs for the latest future of transportation news and find us online: