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As more and more people experience issues finding replacement and spare parts for their vehicles, we've bene preparing a video for next week explaining what's behind the problem - and how you can help alleviate the pain.

But today, we're starting the conversation off with a simple question: have parts supply issues affected your current EV ownership experience?

Stay safe, stay engaged. Please watch our livestream from January.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxKt_APYQug

About The Transport Evolved Sunday Musings:

Presenter: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield.

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Disclaimer - Transport Evolved received this product free of charge from WOLFBOX in order to bring you this first-person review. No money exchanged hands for the review itself, and no editorial control was given or implied. WOLFBOX sees this review the same time it goes live.

Modern pickup trucks — regardless of what they're powered by — are much larger than they used to be, a shift that's been well documented across the industry over the past two decades. That added size and height doesn't just affect the driver's experience, either — research has repeatedly linked taller, heavier trucks to increased risk for pedestrians and other road users in a collision. And for the people actually driving them, the added size means they're also further off the ground. While most modern EV pickups today come with some form of fixed running board (or side step) for you to use to get in and out of the cabin more easily, high-end models often come with retractable automatic powered running boards.

On the face of it, it might seem like another expensive component that could easily fail — but for those who live in areas where a pickup truck is more practical everyday country transport rather than trailer queen, retractable side steps can be a bonus in helping you gain extra ground clearance and minimize the chance you'll hit your truck on a wayward tree stump.

So when WOLFBOX invited us to try out its Power Running Boards for the F-150 Lightning, we were eager to give them a go on our crew truck — a 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat.

But in typical Transport Evolved style, while we were eager to try out this add-on, we most certainly didn't want to make any modifications to our stock wiring that couldn't be easily reversed. So we came up with our own, alternative installation procedure.

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:

00:00 - Introduction

Links: (Provided By WOLFBOX)

Please note: the following links were provided by WOLFBOX - they are not TE Endorsements. Transport Evolved receives no compensation from the links listed below.

Disclaimer - Transport Evolved received this product free of charge from WOLFBOX in order to bring you this first-person review. No money exchanged hands for the review itself, and no editorial control was given or implied. WOLFBOX sees this review the same time it goes live.

Modern pickup trucks — regardless of what they're powered by — are much larger than they used to be, a shift that's been well documented across the industry over the past two decades. That added size and height doesn't just affect the driver's experience, either — research has repeatedly linked taller, heavier trucks to increased risk for pedestrians and other road users in a collision. And for the people actually driving them, the added size means they're also further off the ground. While most modern EV pickups today come with some form of fixed running board (or side step) for you to use to get in and out of the cabin more easily, high-end models often come with retractable automatic powered running boards.

On the face of it, it might seem like another expensive component that could easily fail — but for those who live in areas where a pickup truck is more practical everyday country transport rather than trailer queen, retractable side steps can be a bonus in helping you gain extra ground clearance and minimize the chance you'll hit your truck on a wayward tree stump.

So when WOLFBOX invited us to try out its Power Running Boards for the F-150 Lightning, we were eager to give them a go on our crew truck — a 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat.

But in typical Transport Evolved style, while we were eager to try out this add-on, we most certainly didn't want to make any modifications to our stock wiring that couldn't be easily reversed. So we came up with our own, alternative installation procedure.

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:

00:00 - Introduction

Links: (Provided By WOLFBOX)

Please note: the following links were provided by WOLFBOX - they are not TE Endorsements. Transport Evolved receives no compensation from the links listed below.

Grab your WOLFBOX Power Running Boards here with a fan-exclusive discount ⬇️

Amazon👉https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/2BA0E48F-86CE-48F5-A7BE-7DA38F0DF9A0?maas=maas_adg_ED7FBA462AA0710CF4F611C89B853FF0_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

Use Code: 13PRBOARD for 13% OFF!

Official site👉https://gears.wolfbox.com/?ref=TRANSPORTEVOLVED

Use Code: 13PRBOARD save an extra $55

#WOLFBOX Power Running Boards #wolfbox

Shout out to Nikki's shirt! She's wearing gear from Kumsons Electric Race Team — "Kickin' Gas & Havin' Fun" — Alberta's Kumson family, who run the world's first and only all-electric ATV racing team. We interviewed them at Everything Electric back in 2024.

FURTHER LINKS, including details of the custom loom, can be found on the Transport Evolved Website at https://www.transportevolved.com/2026/07/30/wolfbox-power-running-boards-fancy-upgrade-or-usable-add-on/

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🎙️ Credits:

Host, Script, Editor: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield

Shout out to Nikki's shirt! She's wearing gear from Kumsons Electric Race Team — "Kickin' Gas & Havin' Fun" — Alberta's Kumson family, who run the world's first and only all-electric ATV racing team. We interviewed them at Everything Electric back in 2024.

FURTHER LINKS, including details of the custom loom, can be found on the Transport Evolved Website at https://www.transportevolved.com/2026/07/30/wolfbox-power-running-boards-fancy-upgrade-or-usable-add-on/

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🎙️ Credits:

Host, Script, Editor: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield

Last year, we got a chance to test the standard all-wheel drive variant of the Volvo EX30 — and while Volvo has now officially canceled the model in the U.S. from this fall, we — as we all too often have — got a chance to get behind the wheel before it was officially removed from dealer forecourts.

And while some of the very same things that made us excited (and frustrated) with the AWD Volvo EX30 remain true for the Cross Country, its more rugged styling, custom suspension, and specially tweaked handling make it a joy on the open road — and incredibly incorrigible on the loose stuff.

Here's what we thought after a week together.

0:00 - Introduction

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Disclaimer - Transport Evolved received this product free of charge from WOLFBOX in order to bring you this first-person review. No money exchanged hands for the review itself, and no editorial control was given or implied. WOLFBOX sees this review the same time it goes live.

While gasoline pickup trucks have had the lion's share of the 'fun' when it comes to add-on aftermarket accessories, we're seeing more and more companies develop components that fit electric models. And while it's now been discontinued, the Ford F150 Lightning remains one of the easier trucks to retrofit — its bed and BoxLink hardware are shared with its ICE siblings, so most aftermarket gear built for a regular F-150 will fit right on.

For the past two-and-a-half years, we've rocked the Retrax Pro XR tonneau cover — but one feature we've missed is the ability to open and close it from the rear of the truck. So when Wolfbox asked if we'd like to review its newest tonneau cover — a fully-electric, app-capable, remote-controlled single-wall aluminum cover — we said "sure".

But coming from what is, to many, one of the best tonneau covers on the market, how does the Wolfbox actually hold up? Is it easier to install? Is it quieter to operate? And what about that RGB light? The answers aren't all straightforward.

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:

00:00 Intro: the truck, the old Retrax cover

Links: (Provided By WOLFBOX)

Please note: the following links were provided by WOLFBOX - they are not TE Endorsements. Transport Evolved receives no compensation from the links listed below.

Grab your WOLFBOX Electric tonneau covers here with a fan-exclusive discount ⬇️

Amazon👉 https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/5BE58849-E1C8-4474-9B64-C6AECE1FC79F?maas=maas_adg_9DB69DF7A2615928BBFF0B4C71A5F2E6_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

Official site👉 https://gears.wolfbox.com/?ref=TRANSPORTEVOLVED

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Host, Script, Editor: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield

OnStar is one of the oldest telematics systems still in use today. It allows owners of GM-brand vehicles — including Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick — the ability to remotely monitor important information about their car. It allows them to activate built-in navigation, activate subscription add-ons, keep track of their vehicle's location in real time, and in the world of EVs, start and stop charging and activate cabin pre-conditioning.

But for owners of older GM-brand vehicles — like early Chevrolet Bolt EVs and Chevrolet Volts — the OnStar systems that came from the factory are showing their age. Their connectivity is becoming spotty and unreliable, and many customers simply give up and cancel their subscription.

Yet thanks to the wonderful community of tinkerers, programmers, and hardware experts working together on the Open Vehicle Monitoring System, you can now add those features back to your Bolt EV without paying a massive monthly fee. GM no longer sees your data — and you regain your own data sovereignty.

Today, Nikki — who used to rely on OVMS V2 hardware in some of her EVs more than a decade ago — gets up to date with OVMS V3 and gives her Bolt EV the features she no longer wants to rely on GM to provide.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction and Opening Skit

⚠️ Disclaimer: OVMS is an open-source hobbyist project with no warranty or official support. Installation requires technical confidence — you'll need to read docs, troubleshoot your own setup, and engage with the community.

🎵 Music

🛒 Buy OVMS

🔧 OVMS — Hardware & Software

📱 OVMS Apps

🔌 SWCAN Board (Bolt/Volt owners — you need this!)

⚠️ 2017–2019 Bolt EV: connect via OBD2. Later models need direct SWCAN tap — see: https://github.com/openvehicles/Open-Vehicle-Monitoring-System-3/issues/704

Board design (Marko Juhanne): https://github.com/kssmll/ovms-swcan-board

🔩 Vise plate design files: https://forgejo.insearchofportlandia.com/Aminorjourney/carvera-air-k11-vise-plate

📡 Self-Hosted MQTT

🏆 Giveaway!!!

We're giving away one fully assembled SWCAN board — built by Nikki herself — to one lucky Chevrolet Bolt EV, Opel Ampera-e or Chevrolet Volt / Opel Ampera owner.

To enter: comment below with #Queenie and tell us what you're most looking forward to about ditching OnStar.

⚠️ Please note: this is the SWCAN board only — it does NOT include an OVMS V3 module. You will need to purchase one separately (~$325) — see Buy OVMS links above. One winner chosen at random on August 14, 2026.

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🎙️ Credits

Disclaimer — Transport Evolved received this product free of charge from Cyrusher in order to bring you this first-person review. Because a free product counts as a "material connection" under FTC and YouTube guidelines, this video is marked as sponsored/paid promotion — but no money changed hands for the review itself, and no editorial control was given or implied. Cyrusher sees this review the same time it goes live. The discount code below does not earn us any commission or kickback — it's provided purely as a benefit to you, our viewers.

Leaving the car at home and taking an electric bicycle for local errands and trips is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and improve your health. In fact, multiple studies have shown that electric bicycles are generally better for people's health than non-electric bicycles, simply because riders tend to use them more often.

And as the summer holiday season gets underway here in the Northern Hemisphere, more of us have the time — and the motivation — to get outside and enjoy it. That's exactly the kind of use case the bike we're looking at today was designed for.

Meet the Cyrusher Kommoda 3.0, an electric step-through fat tire bike. Priced at $1,999 in the U.S., it's designed primarily as a recreational model — one that aims to give you a comfortable riding experience, decent range, and a reason to leave the car at home.

But does it? We've spent a few weeks with it, and here's our take.

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:

00:00 - Introduction

LINKS:

Music: "Kiwi Juice" by Mansij, courtesy of Artlist — https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/kiwi-juice/134675

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🎙️ Credits:

Host, Script, Editor: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield

As regulars to the channel will know, our videographer/DP Vi is a Chevrolet Bolt EV owner — and for a long time now, we've been promising to carve out time to install a TorkLift Central tow hitch. The plan was twofold: give Vi a backup chase car for the days the F-150 Lightning isn't available, and open up the option of a hitch-mounted bike carrier for weekend trail trips.

But between everything else going on, "we'll get to it" kept... not happening.

So when the whole team took the week off for July 4th, Vi decided to stop waiting on us and just get it done — with a little "help" from Nigel.

We think you'll agree the transformation is excellent.

Oh, and if you want a hitch for yourself, you'll find one here: TorkLift Central EcoHitch — Chevy Bolt EV:

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🎙️ Credits:

Camera, Color, Storyboard, Editing: Vi Horton

Last year, we got a chance to get behind the wheel of the Subaru Solterra, the Subaru-badged version of Toyota's bZ4X crossover SUV. At the time, we proclaimed it the "Best BusyForks That Isn't A Toyota" — and we found its rugged styling and practical features worth a look.

Last month, Nikki got the chance to drive the updated 2026 Solterra XT (or rather, the range-topping Solterra Touring XT). With meaningful upgrades on the previous model year, it packs more power, more range, better charging, and an overall better experience that makes it truly ready for adventures off the beaten trail.

Here's why it's well worth a test-drive... if you can cope with its propensity to nag — and its musical tendencies.

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:

00:00 - Introduction

👥 Today’s Sponsors

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✊ Get Involved 🗳️ https://indivisible.org/town-hall-resources

💬 Join the Conversation

🎙️ Credits:

Host, Script, Editor: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield

There's been a pretty constant thread running through many of our videos in 2026 — namely, that in a world of enshittification and politically-motivated pullback from EVs by major automakers, we as owners need to take back control of our vehicles, their data, and our energy.

So today, as the team starts a well-earned July 4th week off, we're sharing some of the fun projects Nikki has planned — from adding OVMS to her wife's Chevrolet Bolt to kick OnStar to the curb, through to continuing to CNC parts for her Vectrix VX-1, some RFID cloning (for a very good cause), and a whole lot more.

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:

0:00 Introduction

Cyrusher Kommoda 3.0 e-bike: https://www.cyrusher.com/products/kommoda-ebike

👥 Today’s Sponsors

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🎙️ Credits:

Host, Script, Editor: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield

This week, Nikki's been thinking about the old days of EV ownership — when everyone waved at each other on the road. These days, it's less of a thing. But does that mean we should stop?

From flashing headlights at a fellow Lightning driver to grinning like a silly schoolgirl at an original Nissan Leaf, Nikki still gets excited every time she spots another EV on the road. She also has... thoughts... about which EV drivers are least likely to wave back. 👀

Do you still do it? Do you do a special wave, a double headlight flash, or do you think the whole thing is just weird?

Stay safe, stay engaged. Please watch our livestream from January.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxKt_APYQug

About The Transport Evolved Sunday Musings:

Presenter: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield.

Support the Channel

🌟 Become a member for exclusive perks:

💖 Support us on Patreon:

☕ Buy the team a coffee — or a meal:

₿ Donate using Bitcoin:

📬 Send us mail!

👕 Grab Transport Evolved merch:

Follow Us Online

📺 Our Main Channel – Transport Evolved

🚗 Curious about Aptera? Use our referral link – i.refs.cc/zz56EbIi

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