The Watt Car EV Podcast

When is good, good enough? For Huawai’s premium Maextro brand, the company might have a lower standard than the rest of us, as brake pedals reportedly fail on those Chinese cars. In other news, Tesla renames FSD to Tesla Assisted Driving in Germany to obtain regulatory approval, Pilot installs MCS chargers for EV big rigs, city cars like the new Citroën 2CV and Smart are coming (but not to the U.S.), and it’s official (!), the Porsche Boxster and Cayman are going EV. All of this and more on this week’s podcast.

SHOW NOTES

FSD is now TAD in Europe: https://www.notateslaapp.com/news/4794/tesla-renames-fsd-to-tesla-assisted-driving-in-europe

Brake pedal failure on Huawei premium brand Maextro vehicles raises concerns: https://carnewschina.com/2026/10/08/huawei-jacs-maextro-v800-faces-safety-scrutiny-following-brake-pedal-failure-reports/

Pilot opens Megawatt Charging with Tesla near Savannah, Ga: https://newsroom.pilotcompany.com/pilot-and-tesla-open-first-megacharger-site-announce-three-additional-locations-opening-soon/

DCFC charging points pass 80,000 in U.S.: https://insideevs.com/news/811678/us-ev-charging-growth-q3-2026/

The Citroën 2CV is coming back as an EV: https://insideevs.com/news/811436/citroen-2cv-electric-reborn-concept/

The Smart is back (but not in the U.S.): https://electrek.co/2026/10/12/smart-2-fortwo-successor-290-km-range-19990/

New Porsche Boxster and Cayman will be EV-only: https://www.motor1.com/news/811750/porsche-electric-718-batteries-instead-engine/

This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. Sanchez

Music courtesy Twisterium at Pixabay

Episode art courtesy Huawai

Website: https://www.thewattcar.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar

BrightDrop’s dead, but that’s not stopping FedEx’s shift to EVs. With GM abandoning its EV delivery truck lineup that FedEx bought into, FedEx is looking to Harbinger, recently ordering 2,000 electric trucks valued at over $300 million, with potential diesel savings for FedEx nearing $800 million over the life of the trucks. We dive in. In other news, we know a little more about the Tesla Semi thanks to test drives hitting the web – MCS is confirmed, production ramp looks promising, and sleeper cabs could happen. Also, the Tesla Roadster launch gets delayed (shocker!), Chinese EVs invade Canada, the Jeep Recon’s range lacks range, and more!

SHOW NOTES

TFL Truck drives the Tesla Semi: https://youtu.be/uVvUGgvKt7Q?si=rZpi5EVqihWH5wbW

FedEx commits to purchasing 2,000 EV delivery vans from Harbinger, expects big payoff: https://electrek.co/2026/10/03/fedex-believes-300m-electric-truck-spend-will-save-them-800m-in-diesel/

Chery announces entry of Omoda and Jaecoo brands to Canada in “late 2026”: https://electrek.co/2026/09/28/omoda-jaecoo-canada-launch-late-2026-ev-lineup/

Trump administration slashes CAFE requirements: https://www.npr.org/2026/09/28/nx-s1-5918509/car-fuel-efficiency-cafe-standards-rollback

Jeep Recon gets dismal 160-mile highway range at 75 mph: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a73642665/2026-jeep-recon-ev-drive/

Trump issues executive order allowing on-road use of “farm diesel”: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/10/emergency-tax-relief-on-diesel-fuel/

This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. Sanchez

Music courtesy Twisterium at Pixabay

Episode art courtesy Harbinger

Website: https://www.thewattcar.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar

Making news this week, Tesla pushes into Europe with its Semi launching 100 megawatt chargers at 21 locations plus Top Gear gives an inside look at how the Semi can relieve financial pressures, and we can’t help but talk about it on this week’s podcast. Also, Windrose open sources its designs, Volkswagen shifts the GTI to rear-wheel drive, Saudi Arabia’s Ceer partners with Foxconn for two interesting EVs, and more.

SHOW NOTES

Tesla announces 100 Megawatt chargers at 21 locations in Europe ahead of Semi launch: https://insideevs.com/news/808615/tesla-megacharger-europe-rollout/

Top Gear checks out the Tesla Semi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WP9HizHCrk

Windrose open-sources its truck parts: https://electrek.co/2026/09/17/open-source-semi-windrose-puts-its-electric-truck-online-for-free/

Volkswagen makes a rear-wheel drive GTI: https://insideevs.com/news/808505/vw-id3-gti-official-range-specs/

Saudi Arabia’s Ceer gets into the EV game with Foxconn’s help: https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/09/saudi-arabia-wants-a-car-industry-launches-ceer-with-two-evs/

California governor signs “Leno’s Law.” Honestly, we're not impressed: https://www.hotrod.com/features/lenos-law-sb-1392-california-classic-car-smog-exemption-assembly

This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. Sanchez

Music courtesy Twisterium at Pixabay

Episode art courtesy Tesla

Website: https://www.thewattcar.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar

Nine years later, Tesla is ready to relaunch its Roadster, but is there a market for the $200,000+ supercar that may or may not use cold gas thrusters, and is there a more nefarious purpose for this upcoming announcement? We dive in. Also on this week’s podcast, VW showcases its Mission Efficiency parts-bin EV, Volvo extends the range of its PHEVS, and ICE emissions are about to get serious.

SHOW NOTES

Tesla “Go For Launch” event set for 10/01/26: https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-roadster-event-date-spacex-package-demo/

VW shows off “Mission Efficiency” concept: https://www.motor1.com/news/808114/vw-mission-efficiency-concept-specs-photos/

2028 Volvo PHEVs double the electric range: https://insideevs.com/news/807862/2028-volvo-xc60-xc90-long-range-plug-in-hybrid/

Emissions standards are getting significantly stricter from 2027 forward:

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-04-18/pdf/2024-06214.pdf

https://marqueeig.com/resources/epa-2027-emissions-standards-fleets/

This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. Sanchez

Music courtesy Twisterium at Pixabay

Episode art courtesy Tesla

Website: https://www.thewattcar.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar

With ever-increasing global uncertainty (especially since the U.S. invaded Iran), energy is on everyone’s minds. On this week’s episode of The Watt Car EV Podcast, we speak with Euan Graham, Senior Analyst for Ember, an energy think tank that, as its website states, “aims to accelerate the clean energy transition with data and policy.” From the war to solar, wind farms, and more, we dive into what the data says the future holds.

SHOW NOTES

Learn more about Ember: https://ember-energy.org/

This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. Sanchez

Music courtesy Twisterium at Pixabay

Website: https://www.thewattcar.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar

Telo Trucks is taking the driver’s seat, poking Ford and Hyundai on the size and capabilities of their small pickups. Is Telo all talk, or is there more to this plucky little startup? We dive in on this week’s podcast. Also, Slate announces a cargo van attachment, Aptera solar panels get third-party testing, an American company breaks through on LFP battery tech, and more!

SHOW NOTES

Telo releases cheeky video flexing on Maverick and Santa Cruz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRCqKB6eo5o 

Slate teases cargo van variant: https://www.motor1.com/news/806667/slate-electric-pickup-high-roof/ 

 Aptera gets its solar system tested & validated by a third party: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uzuW-YvBE0 

American LFP battery company claims breakthrough in charging cycles: https://insideevs.com/news/806443/graphite-free-lithium-metal-battery-ev/ 

Waymo deploys in more cities, one of them Denver: https://insideevs.com/news/806758/waymo-denver-san-diego-tampa-launch-day/ 

Tesla is going to announce the launch of the Cybercab, Semi, and Roadster in September: https://electrek.co/2026/09/01/in-sept-tesla-will-re-launch-3-products-it-launched-a-decade-ago-for-a-stock-pump/ 

This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. Sanchez

Episode art courtesy Telo Trucks

Music courtesy Twisterium at Pixabay

Website: https://www.thewattcar.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar

The original Mini was a fun-loving, tossable runabout. The new Mini has its own following for different reasons. But what if the next Mini was EV and rear-wheel drive? Rumors indicate that might be the case, and we discuss what that means on this week’s podcast. Also on the show, Polestar theories abound, the Genesis GV90 gets coach doors, diesel EREV tech comes to EV semis, and more.

SHOW NOTES

Polestar claiming “disparate treatment” from Volvo in U.S. ban ruling from Commerce Department: https://www.autoblog.com/news/polestar-says-its-u-s-ban-doesnt-add-up-after-volvo-gets-a-pass

Next Mini Cooper could be RWD: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/electric-cars/next-mini-cooper-be-inspired-2001-r50-%E2%80%93-and-could-go-rwd

Aptera partners with Shanghai-based Launch Design to streamline production processes, lower component purchasing costs: https://theevreport.com/aptera-launch-design-production-program

Coach (aka “suicide”) doors make the cut on the production Genesis GV90: https://electrek.co/2026/08/20/genesis-gv90-luxury-coach-doors-images/

EREV tech comes to the heavy truck segment: https://insideevs.com/news/805476/electric-truck-range-extender-mahle/

Tesla says Semi will debut for the European market at IAA Hannover in September: https://x.com/tesla_semi/status/2090333014576488877

Mate Rimac says the future of supercars is combustion engines: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/25/bugatti-ceo-mate-rimac-supercars-gas-engines.html

This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. Sanchez

Episode art courtesy Mini

Music courtesy Twisterium at Pixabay

Website: https://www.thewattcar.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar

Why is Polestar leaving America? There’s a conspiracy theory about that, and it now has a Polestar dealer suing the company over its reason for removing the brand from American shores. Also on this week’s podcast, Porsche’s Taycan run may end by 2030, Tesla can’t beat Zoox in Vegas, Ferrari sells a Luce for $40 million, and more. SHOW NOTESPolestar dealer alleges brand used Connected Vehicle Rule as cover story to exit U.S. market: https://insideevs.com/news/804851/nj-dealer-suing-polestar-coverup/Porsche may end Taycan production by 2030: https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/porsche-plans-discontinue-taycan-production-by-2030-wirtschaftswoche-reports-2026-08-13/Lucid unveils Gravity GT-S, effectively replacing Dream Edition, at a discount: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a73402285/2027-lucid-gravity-gt-s-revealed/Tesla asks Las Vegas for approval for 5,000 robotaxis, it gets approved for 10: https://electrek.co/2026/08/17/tesla-nevada-robotaxi-permit-10-vehicles-las-vegas/Tesla Robotaxi in Austin plows through traffic bollards: https://electrek.co/2026/08/18/tesla-robotaxi-rams-through-bollards-austin/Waymo gets approval to expand to 18 counties in California: https://electrek.co/2026/08/14/waymo-cpuc-approval-california-expansion-18-counties/Rivian announces point-to-point autonomous driving will launch later this year: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/15/rivian-tesla-self-driving-adas-fsd.htmlFlorida man spends $40 million at Car Week auction to get the first production Ferrari Luce: https://www.thewattcar.com/2026/08/the-ferrari-luces-40-million-sale-means.htmlJaguar shows off the electric Type 01 interior during Car Week, but keeps exterior in camo: https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/jaguar-shows-off-its-past-and-previews-its-future-in-pebble-beach/Polish Model 3 owner DIY upgrades HW3 to HW4: https://insideevs.com/news/805235/tesla-hw4-retrofit-progress-owner/This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. SanchezEpisode art courtesy PolestarMusic courtesy Twisterium at PixabayWebsite: https://www.thewattcar.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar

Ford has announced some of the specs of its new affordable EV pickup, and we can’t fathom a more compelling product. Yet, with a starting price barely north of $28,000, is the Ford Fathom the nail in Slate’s coffin. We discuss the future on this week’s episode. We also talk about Lucid’s “operational reset,” Cadillac’s uptown shift, and more.

SHOW NOTES

Ford’s affordable pickup is the Fathom, not the Ranchero: https://www.thewattcar.com/2026/08/fords-fathom-is-four-door-punch-to-face.html

Lucid says it is undergoing an “operational reset” as it delays Cosmos Launch: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/04/lucid-group-lcid-earnings-q2-2026.html

Lucid recently moved to a hybrid dealership model in Germany, and it's now rumored to be doing the same in the UAE: https://eletric-vehicles.com/lucid/exclusive-lucid-extends-indirect-sales-model-to-uae-despite-german-dealer-result/

Cadillac will let you build a bespoke Escalade IQ, for a price: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a73395844/curated-by-cadillac-escalade-iq-revealed/

Hoping to get the California EV credit for a new Tesla? Too late: https://insideevs.com/news/804405/tesla-runs-out-of-california-ev-rebates/

This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. Sanchez

Episode art courtesy Ford

Music courtesy Twisterium at Pixabay

Website: https://www.thewattcar.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar

Are freedom cars coming? If Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has his way, they will. The proposal gives Americans the “right to drive disconnected and non-automated” cars. Sounds good, although it only took us a couple of minutes to come up with a better proposal. Also on this week’s podcast, Zoox gets approval for expanded operations in Las Vegas, Waymo hits more legal issues in Santa Monica, Mazda says the next Miata will be ICE and EV, Telo ups the towing ante, and more!

SHOW NOTES

Transportation secretary Sean Duffy proposes “Freedom Cars” initiative: https://www.newsweek.com/sean-duffy-proposes-freedom-cars-for-americanswhat-it-means-12239971

Amazon owned Zoox receives approval to start charging for autonomous rides in Vegas: https://www.reuters.com/world/amazons-zoox-wins-first-us-approval-paid-robotaxis-with-no-human-controls-2026-07-30/

Waymo and Santa Monica residents clash over autonomous car charging lots being too loud: https://youtu.be/X9rcfRBG3Go?is=eogKfLemTTdqcywT

Mazda CEO says next Miata is being designed to support an EV version: https://insideevs.com/news/803155/mazda-miata-ready-for-electric/

Ed’s Miata EV wishlist: https://www.thewattcar.com/2023/02/my-wish-list-for-a-mazda-miata-ev.html

Telo raises the towing capacity on the MT1 to 8,000 pounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLU4RdnI_Xk, https://insideevs.com/news/803579/telo-tiny-ev-pickup-tow-capacity-update/

BYD Racco a surprise hit in Japan: https://electrek.co/2026/07/30/byds-electric-kei-car-received-over-5000-orders-first-week/

This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. Sanchez

Episode art courtesy Zoox

Music courtesy Twisterium at Pixabay

Website: https://www.thewattcar.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar