Kilowatt: A Podcast about Electric Vehicles

Affordable EVs are back in the spotlight with the Kia EV3, which starts under $30,000 and offers up to 321 miles of range with its larger battery pack. The show also looks at the updated Pebble Flow electric travel trailer, with its 45 kWh battery, expanded solar setup, powered wheels, and a price tag that puts all that camping convenience firmly into luxury territory. Jaguar takes things in a completely different direction with the Type 01, a four-seat electric GT packing more than 1,000 horsepower, a claimed 400 miles of range, and a design that feels equal parts retro and futuristic. Tesla's Q3 2026 production and delivery numbers are also in, with strong Model 3 and Model Y deliveries alongside much smaller numbers from the rest of the lineup. Tesla is expanding Powershare Home Backup to new Model 3 and Model Y vehicles when paired with a Powerwall 3, giving owners another source of backup power during an outage. Finally, Tesla adds an Emergency Drive Away feature for Supercharging situations and passes another charging milestone with more than 85,000 Supercharger stalls across 9,000 locations worldwide.

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Bodie checks in from the Big Island of Hawaii with a couple of unexpected connections, including a visit to Kona Sea Salt and an introduction to Root & Rise Hawaiʻi, an organization using nature, art, and community to support mental health and well-being. Then it’s an all-renewable-energy episode, starting with what happens to solar panels when they reach the end of their useful lives and why recycling them is still an economic challenge. Sweden is preparing for a future where tens of thousands of metric tons of solar panels could be retired every year, while researchers and recyclers look for better ways to recover valuable materials and give usable panels a second life. Bodie also looks at free software that can estimate how many solar panels will fit on a rooftop using photos or roof plans. Finally, a community solar project in Illinois shows how high-density mounting systems can squeeze significantly more solar generation onto difficult, irregular pieces of land. It’s a look at some of the less flashy problems renewable energy has to solve as solar continues to scale.

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In this episode of Kilowatt, Bodie starts with Europe’s first fully driverless robotaxi rides as Verne and Pony.ai put modified Arcfox Alpha T5s on the streets of Zagreb. ProLogium is moving its solid-state battery technology closer to automotive use, with Gen 3.5 cells in mass production and Mercedes-Benz securing priority access to its upcoming Gen 4 cells. Cyclic Materials has opened a new rare-earth recycling facility in Mesa, Arizona, while VinFast has turned its VF Wild pickup concept into an extended-range EV with around 155 miles of battery-only range.

On the Tesla side, FSD v14.2 Lite is beginning to reach Hardware 3 Model S and Model X vehicles. Tesla has also built its first Cybercab using cathode active material produced at Giga Texas as the company continues bringing more of its battery manufacturing in-house. Tesla is working with Irish authorities on FSD approval while an EU-wide decision has been pushed back, and Optimus production has reportedly climbed to several hundred robots per week while manufacturing and general-purpose capability remain works in progress.

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Bodie joined Sarah Lane to talk about the surprisingly complicated technology packed into modern fire trucks.

Fire Truck Tech: It’s Complicated - Live With It - Podcast

Fire Truck Tech: It's Complicated - Live With It - YouTube

Electrek

Not a Tesla App

Electrek: Mercedes-Benz Gets First Dibs on ProLogium’s Gen4 Solid-State EV Battery Cells

Electrek: A New Arizona Plant Is Going After the Rare Earth Supply Crunch

Electrek: Trucks Gone Wild! VinFast Launches VF Wild EREV Pickup

Not a Tesla App: Tesla Builds First Cybercab Using In-House Battery Materials

Not a Tesla App: Tesla in Talks for FSD Approval in Ireland as EU Delays Vote

Electrek: Tesla Ramps Optimus to Hundreds a Week, but the Robots Can’t Generalize

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I recorded an entire episode about what I thought was Tesla’s 2026 Semi event. It turns out I had watched the earlier event, so I’m releasing both recordings. In the first episode, I cover Tesla’s presentation of the truck, including its drivetrain, range demonstration, charging system, driver features, and delivery to Pepsi. In the second, I cover the actual 2026 event and the changes Tesla says it made after getting feedback from fleets and drivers. That includes updated efficiency figures, a redesigned thermal system, changes inside the cab, service plans, and the Megacharger rollout. Together, the episodes let us hear what Tesla was saying then and what it reported in 2026.

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I recorded an entire episode about what I thought was Tesla’s 2026 Semi event. It turns out I had watched the earlier event, so I’m releasing both recordings. In the first episode, I cover Tesla’s presentation of the truck, including its drivetrain, range demonstration, charging system, driver features, and delivery to Pepsi. In the second, I cover the actual 2026 event and the changes Tesla says it made after getting feedback from fleets and drivers. That includes updated efficiency figures, a redesigned thermal system, changes inside the cab, service plans, and the Megacharger rollout. Together, the episodes let us hear what Tesla was saying then and what it reported in 2026.

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BYD is expanding its European manufacturing plans with three EV factories and a battery factory, while its first European plant in Hungary prepares to ramp up production. Lucid and Bolt are teaming up on a fleet of autonomous EVs for Europe using Lucid’s upcoming midsize platform, with NVIDIA Hyperion technology playing a role in the Level 4 autonomy effort. Kia’s purpose-built EV lineup is also growing, with the PV5 passing 50,000 global sales and the larger PV7 offering passenger and cargo configurations. Tesla says its Robotaxi service is expected to move toward 24/7 operation alongside FSD V15, while customer vehicles should eventually receive the new FSD version as well. Tesla has also reopened Roadster reservations with a $50,000 deposit ahead of the October 1 event. The episode wraps up with the 2026 Model 3 earning a five-star overall NHTSA safety rating and Tesla adding passkey support to help secure Tesla accounts.

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Kia is offering substantial discounts on the 2026 EV9, including $10,000 in customer cash and even larger discounts at some dealers. CATL unveiled its TECTRANS II commercial vehicle battery platform, designed to make heavy-duty electric trucks easier to integrate while offering up to 621 miles of claimed range, megawatt charging, and a long service life. GM is showing off a new infotainment interface on upcoming gas-powered Sierra and Silverado models that puts Apple CarPlay or Android Auto alongside vehicle controls, raising the possibility that the setup could eventually make its way to GM’s EVs. Tesla has added insurance estimates to its vehicle order page, including a comparison of estimated rates with and without FSD usage. Tesla is also trying to speed up Supercharger construction with its new pre-assembled “Accordion” Supercharger system, which arrives at the site largely wired and ready to unfold into place. Finally, NHTSA has escalated its inquiry into the Cybercab with a Special Order requiring Tesla to explain how the vehicle was certified despite lacking traditional controls such as a steering wheel and pedals.

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Bodie reviews the Snuuzu mattress designed for sleeping in a Tesla, testing the Model Y version for comfort, setup, storage, and everyday usability. The mattress combines an inflatable base with foam and breathable layers, includes a removable USB-C rechargeable pump, and is shaped to make use of the Model Y's available sleeping space. Bodie walks through inflating and deflating the mattress, packing it back into its duffel bag, and the different places it can be stored in the car. He also tests how well the mattress supports the gap created when the rear seats are folded and how comfortable it is across the entire sleeping surface. There are a few compromises, including the slight incline created by the Model Y's folded seats and, more significantly for Arizona summers, the mattress blocking the rear climate vents. At $899 for the mattress or $998 with two pillows, Bodhi discusses who might get enough use out of it to justify the price and why frequent road-trippers and Tesla campers are likely to get the most value from it.

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Toyota says reports of another Highlander EV delay are incorrect, while Ford sets an ambitious first-year sales target for its upcoming $30,000 Fathom electric pickup. BYD continues the rapid expansion of its ultra-fast charging network in China, and Waymo has accumulated more than 8,300 San Francisco parking tickets since the beginning of 2025. We also look at just how many EV models are currently available in the United States before moving into Tesla news. Tesla’s latest stories include a built-in browser ad blocker, European Semi specifications, Cybertruck and Powerwall home backup support, and a Model 3 taxi that has reached 250,000 miles with relatively little maintenance. Grok may soon gain the ability to send text messages from Tesla vehicles using natural-language requests. Finally, Tesla has set an October 1 event in Waco, Texas, for the next-generation Roadster, nearly nine years after the car was first unveiled.

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