InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast

Patrick finally got to drive his dream cheap EV and, well, he wasn’t impressed. The guys talk about the Volvo EX30 and how it keeps getting slammed by tariffs. Then they share their predictions and questions about the Tesla robotaxi’s launch, which is coming up in June. Finally, General Motors is investing big time in V8 engines. Patrick and Tim explain why that matters.

During Plus/Minus, they explain how to reserve a new electric DeLorean by buying crypto. Yes, really.

Further reading: Bloomberg on the Tesla robotaxi launching June 12, General Motors ditches EV motor plan for V8s, and the Volvo EX30 can’t catch a break.

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Patrick and Tim kick off the show by discussing Toyota’s hybrid-only 2026 Toyota RAV4 and why it’s so huge for getting people into electrified vehicles. They recap Elon Musk’s media tour this week and fact-check his claim that Tesla sales are seeing a major rebound. They also dive into a brand reputation poll that did not turn out great for the EV brand.
Finally, the guys explain why America’s EV industry is headed for a slowdown thanks to Trump’s tax bill and other policies.
Further reading:

Tim and colleague Suvrat Kothari kick things off by discussing Suvrat's trip to General Motors' battery development center in Michigan. They explain why GM's new LMR batteries could be the key to cheaper electric trucks. Then the guys recap the House's latest move to end the $7,500 tax credit and talk the huge potential impact on the EV industry.

Finally, they discuss Toyota's onslaught of new electric models and a very strange tweet from the head of the EPA.

Further reading: GM's new batteries, why cutting the leasing credit would break the EV market, and our coverage of the Toyota bZ, bZ Woodland and C-HR. 

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Patrick and Tim start the show by discussing the potential demise of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. They explain what that means for electric car sales and manufacturing jobs in America.

Then the guys talk more about Patrick's mind-blowing trip to China. They're joined by InsideEVs Staff Writer Kevin Williams, a Chinese-car expert who helps break down the country's most exciting EV brands. Patrick and Kevin recap driving cars like the shockingly nice, $10,000 BYD Seagull and the luxurious Nio ET9.

Further reading: Bloomberg story on the EV tax credit, REPEAT Project analysis on the EV tax credit, Kevin's story on dead Chinese car brands, and Patrick's megawatt charging experience and video

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Patrick just got back from the Shanghai auto show and he's MAD at how behind America's EVs are. He tells Tim all about experiencing China's dominant EVs for the first time, how they compare to Tesla, and why American automakers and consumers are basically screwed.

The guys also discuss the big news of the week. They explain why it's such a big deal that Tesla's board initiated a search for a CEO to replace Elon Musk, according to The Wall Street Journal. Plus, they talk about why Waymo is teaming up with Toyota to develop self-driving cars.

Further reading on the Shanghai Auto Show, and the Waymo-Toyota partnership, and Tesla's search for a new CEO. 

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On today's show, staff writer Suvrat Kothari joins Tim to discuss Slate’s new cheap EV! Tim checked out the truck in person and learned all about America's newest car startup. Next, Suvrat gives us the skinny on China's latest battery breakthrough from CATL. And finally, the guys discuss Tesla’s abysmal earnings and how the long-awaited cheap Tesla has been delayed again.

Check out our coverage of the Slate EV, CATL's fast-charging battery, its sodium-ion pack, Tesla's affordable models and the automaker's disappointing Q1 results. 

Reuters story on Tesla delaying affordable models

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Patrick and Tim check out the updated Subaru Solterra and the all-new Trailseeker EV at the New York Auto Show. They seem pretty great! And one is basically an electric Outback wagon. Plus, Tim is pretty blown away by the 2026 Lucid Gravity. Finally, what happens if a new bill successfully bans Chinese cars in America? We'll weigh the benefits of that plan—and the consequences.

Subaru Solterra + Trailseeker: https://insideevs.com/news/756763/2026-subaru-trailseeker-debut-nyas/
Lucid Gravity First Drive: https://insideevs.com/reviews/756457/lucid-gravity-first-drive-2026/
Sen. Elissa Slotkin's Chinese car ban bill: https://insideevs.com/news/756430/anti-china-slotkin-ev-senate/

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Patrick and Tim kick off the show by recapping how tariffs are impacting the auto industry one week in. They offer up some buying advice for this wild time: Consider a used EV while prices are still low. 

Then the guys discuss a new American EV startup that’s coming out of stealth soon, according to a report from TechCrunch. Slate Auto is backed by Amazon's Jeff Bezos and plans to launch a $25,000 electric pickup truck in the next couple of years. Will people buy it? And can EV startups still succeed in 2025 after so many have failed? 

Finally, Patrick and Tim explain why China’s BYD could be the ultimate winner of Trump’s trade war, and why America’s bike industry is screwed. 

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Patrick and Tim kick off the episode by discussing the biggest news of the year in the auto industry: tariffs. They dissect what Trump's 25% tax on imported cars and parts means for the road to electrification and software-defined vehicles. They also recap the winners and losers in the EV market in Q1, and break down why Tesla had its worst quarter in years. Then the guys highlight reporting from Reuters about how Toyota's hybrids are so popular that people are waiting months to buy one.

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Patrick and Tim kick things off by discussing Rivian's entry into the micromobility space through a new spinoff called Also, which will make small electric vehicles like e-bikes. Then they talk about the opening of Hyundai's gigantic new plant in Georgia, breaking down why its timing couldn't have been better. In the back half of the show, they're joined by Andrew Cornelia, CEO of Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging. They discuss what's wrong with EV charging today and how to fix it—plus big charging news out of China's BYD.

During Plus/Minus, the guys explain why Trump's new 25% tariffs will be devastating for car prices and hammer small players like Mazda. 

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