Japanese kai trucks, small trucks the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, and propelled by motorcycle engines, have seen an increase in numbers on American roads in recent years.  Owners love them, regulators are skeptical about their safety, and they sell for less than $15,000.  Did I mention that they are all over 25 years old? 

On a typical day in America, police initiate more than 50,000 traffic stops impacting 20 million motorist each year.  Every year, approximately 300 of those end fatally.  Safer Traffic Stops LLC was founded in order to reduce that number and make every traffic stop a safe one. 

https://safertrafficstops.com

I f you have ever been on a Zoom call, posted pictures to your Facebook page or even perhaps been in the background of a cellphone selfie, your face is most likely in the files of PimEyes, a searchable free database of faces.  We explain. 

We have talked about GM's positioning as a supplier to the EV industry by providing the battery systems and associated hardware.  Now I take the conversation to the next level by explaining why GM is not throttling back on its EV commitment. 

Despite all the turmoil at parent Stellantis, Ram may be poised to cause a bit of chaos in the marketplace, but of a good kind.  We discuss their upcoming midsize and fullsize EV pickup truck plans. 

One solution that has gained traction over the years is the tiny house concept.  These dwellings, often barely larger than a small Manhattan apartment, offer shelter to those who have few options.  During this episode, I talk about the latest twist in this part of the housing stock. 

The Toyota bz4X is an all-new EV that shares much of its underpinnings with the all-new Subaru Solterra (Toyota owns part of Subaru!)  How does this Toyota EV hold up?  I share my impressions during this episode. 

Scout Motors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Group that is completely separate from the automaker's Volkswagen and Audi dealer footprint in the United States.  While it makes sense to partner with one or both to introduce and sell the all-new truck, Scout Motors has decided to go it alone, without even developing its own dealer network.  While it may have worked for Tesla, will it work for Scout?  We discuss.  

What passes as a good road in the United States?  The federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics uses something called the International Roughness Index which measures how much a vehicle bounces over a given stretch of road.  How does your state compare?  We discuss the five best and the five worst states for road quality. 

Water.  It is both abundant and scarce.  Drinkable and polluted.  Life giving and life taking.  This is an episode about this important resource and what you have to do when you don't have access to it.