Transport Evolved Main

The U.S. auto industry has spent decades building barriers to keep out cheaper, more efficient foreign cars—from Japan in the ’70s to South Korea in the ’90s. Today, those same protections are shielding legacy automakers from a new threat: China’s fast-rising electric vehicle giants.

Under Donald Trump’s second presidency, those barriers are stronger than ever—driven by economic nationalism, supply chain fears, and a broader push to “build it all in America.” The result? Chinese EV makers are effectively locked out of the U.S. market.

But that doesn’t mean they’re out of options. As Canada begins to explore closer ties with Chinese automakers—potentially following Europe into a more competitive EV landscape—the U.S. risks falling behind.

So what’s the workaround?

Companies like BYD could enter the U.S. the back way—through partnerships or acquisitions of struggling American brands. It’s a move that could reshape the industry… and keep some legacy automakers alive.

It sounds far-fetched. It isn’t. And if recent rumors are to be believed, it may already be starting.

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:

00:00 - Introduction

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Semi-autonomous driver assistance systems are here to lend a hand and keep you safe on the road. They can help you stay alert during long drives and protect you from mistakes that could lead to an accident. And, if you believe the hype, fully-autonomous vehicles are expected to bring a new era of freedom for drivers.

However, as recent news reports indicate, both semi- and fully-autonomous vehicles aren’t quite living up to the high expectations set by their developers. This doesn’t mean we should stop using them, but it does suggest we should be aware of the best practices when using them.

Today, we’ll explore some of the safe ways to use semi-autonomous systems, along with things you should definitely avoid. Or to put it another way, how you can coexist with your autonomous pal on the road.

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:

00:00 - Introduction

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In this deep dive, Kate peels back the layers of the Donut Solid State Battery hype to see how the marketing claims from CES 2026 hold up against the data from VTT Finland. We examine the 11C charge rate and investigate the "Zero Compression" claims. We also explare the controversy over claims Donut Lab has truly discovered a new category of energy storage or have simply optimized existing technology to its absolute limit.

The trilemma of energy density, cycle life, and charging speed remains the ultimate benchmark for any new battery. While the VTT reports confirm some claims, critical questions remain regarding the 400 Wh/kg density and the alleged 100,000-cycle lifespan. Without a certified weight for the test cells or long-term degradation data, it is difficult to determine if this is a forever battery, a highly specialized hybrid, or just hype. As we wait for the first teardowns of the Verge TS Pro motorcycles and further transparency on the cell's mass and construction we ask, do we have enough evidence yet?

⏱️ Episode Timeline

00:00 - Introduction

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💬 What do you think? Is Donut delivering a taste of the future, or is it just a tasty looking scam? Let us know on Discord, Patreon or in the comments below.

Start the conversation in the down below, or come on over to our Discord (it's free!).

Not everyone needs granular data in their daily lives — but if you follow this channel, you probably appreciate having properly formatted, easily searchable records showing how things change over time. Whether it's the outside temperature, your favorite sports team's win rate, or how often you sneak off to the local takeout, more data — treated right — can help us make better choices.

So today, Nikki is taking a look at a new open-source project from GitHub user Squidbytes. Leveraging the FordPass-HA integration that many Ford EV owners already have running in Home Assistant, LightningROD helps you track charging sessions, efficiency, and exactly how much it's costing you to keep your EV on the road. The project is still in active development, but it's already pretty capable — and Nikki walks you through what it can do and how to get it running using UNRAID, Docker, and an existing Home Assistant installation.

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:

00:00 - Introduction

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LightningROD on GitHub: https://github.com/SquidBytes/LightningROD

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It's a common misconception — and, in many cases among those who want to see EVs fail, an intentional falsehood — that EV battery packs require expensive replacements every few years, can't be recycled, and simply don't last long.

As we've noted many times on this channel, most EV battery packs outlive the vehicles they're installed in. Now, a new study from the UK confirms that battery health is far better than even some industry insiders have suggested.

Today, Kate breaks down the latest findings from Generational, explains what they mean, and explores what could change as both customers and dealerships come to realize that EVs have a lot more to give — for a lot longer than their warranties might suggest.

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:

7:48 PM00:00 - Introduction

Links: 🔗

Generational's Battery Performance Index Report: https://www.generational.ac/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Generational-2025-Battery-Performance-Index-Industry-Benchmark-Report.pdf

Finding a Doctor

HealthCare.gov — find coverage and doctors by zip code: https://www.healthcare.gov

Prescription Help

RxAssist — patient assistance programs for free or low-cost medications: https://www.rxassist.org

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Mandatory Disclaimer: Transport Evolved was invited by General Motors (Chevrolet) to attend the official Press Drive Event for the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV in Malibu, California. General Motors covered our travel, meal and accommodation costs to facilitate us bringing you this first-person report. YouTube requires this video to be marked as "sponsored" due to this arrangement. However, while GM assisted with travel and accommodation, Transport Evolved retained full editorial and production control, and GM did not review the video prior to its official release.

A few weeks back, someone criticized us in the comments of our 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss review, claiming that we as a channel — and Nikki specifically — don't like any EVs made by Chevrolet. The sentiment was backed up by a handful of disparaging remarks, and several people questioned the team's credentials and our ability to properly review a large, all-American pickup truck.

And while yes, we'll admit we weren't fans of the Trail Boss variant of the Silverado EV — though we quite liked the Work Truck version — we're certainly not anti-GM. In fact, between the four team members at Transport Evolved, there are three Chevy plug-ins represented: a 2016 Chevrolet Volt, a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt, and a 2019 Chevrolet Bolt. So when we were given the chance last October to travel down to Southern California to witness the return of the Bolt nameplate at a special event on the Universal backlot, we jumped at the chance. We packed up the 2017 Bolt belonging to Nikki's other half, headed out, and turned the entire trip into quite the adventure.

After that short drive, Nikki had mixed feelings about some of the design and engineering choices underpinning the all-new 2027 Bolt EV — but with only a trip around the block and no higher-speed driving, it wasn't exactly what you'd call a comprehensive review.

Last week, we headed back to Southern California to rectify that, as guests of GM at its official Press Drive Event for the 2027 Bolt EV. Now hitting dealer lots, its exterior styling is that of the old 2020–2022 Bolt EUV — but underneath and inside, it's a completely different beast. Join Nikki as she puts this rebirth of an icon through its paces, and explains why she thinks this is a car worthy of picking up the mantle of the original Bolt EV, without any of the things that irked her about the Bolt EUV.

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00:00 - Introduction

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Growing up in the UK, Nikki is no stranger to the need for decent fog lights to help her see — and be seen — on the road in heavy fog.

And while her F-150 Lightning didn’t come with fog lights from the factory, she’s been cooking up a way to add them. But rather than installing extra switches or aftermarket controls, she’s aiming for a solution that feels as close to OEM as possible.

Today, in Part 1 of what we hope will be a multi-part series, she installs the physical switch and tries to get the dashboard tell-tale working properly.

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:

00:00 - Filler Video Alert!

Links: 🔗

• The Ford light switch we picked: : https://www.oemfordpartsdirect.com/oem-parts/ford-headlight-switch-lb5z11654tc

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We all know that an electric vehicle’s range depends on a variety of factors: how well the car is maintained, the driver’s skill (or how heavy their right foot is), and the weather and terrain it’s being driven on.

Battery health and state of charge—along with temperature—also play a major role.

Today, we’re going to tackle a question many EV owners have about the “guessometer” range readings: why are they so notoriously difficult to get right?

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:

00:00 - Introduction

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🌱 Electric Vehicle Association - https://www.myeva.org

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Usually, when we test drive a vehicle on this channel, the team walks away with a range of opinions — about how it drives, what it does well (and badly), and where it fits in the broader EV marketplace.

And we work hard to set aside our personal biases. Especially when it comes to oversized SUVs, massive pickup trucks, or eye-wateringly expensive models we’d never buy ourselves.

A year ago, we test-drove the Chevrolet Silverado EV RST, which at the time was the most expensive version of Chevrolet’s all-electric truck. It was big. It was powerful. It was expensive.

And while we respected what it was trying to do, we admitted we actually preferred the more practical — and far more affordable — Work Truck variant.

Later, when we were in Los Angeles for the launch of the Chevrolet Bolt EV, several members of Chevrolet’s press team told us we’d probably enjoy driving the Trail Boss more. It had replaced the RST at the top of the Silverado EV lineup, and it promised something a little different: a suspension lift, beefier tires, and a dedicated off-road mode.

On paper, it sounded interesting, if not exactly our usual cup of tea. We were interested to give it a go.

But after just one week behind the wheel, our usual spectrum of opinions — the debates, the disagreements, the “yes, but” conversations — vanished. For the first time in a long while, we all agreed that this is terrible and, by a long way, our least favorite EV of 2025.

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:

00:00 — Introduction

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Has the "Musk Premium" turned into a "Musk Penalty"? As 2026 unfolds, the debate surrounding Elon Musk’s leadership has reached a fever pitch. While his leadership has been credited with driving success in a wide variety of ventures, his increasingly erratic and polarizing public behavior and deep dive into right wing politics are leaving the public and investors asking: At what cost?

After Tesla's brand value plummeted in 2025, sales cratered in Europe and with legal challenges mounting - despite his historic $1 trillion potential pay package, investors are becoming frustrated with promises that never reach reality and financial risks from his optimistic claims. So the question is, is Musk vital, or is it time to cut him loose? Can Tesla survive without Musk’s "masterclass in persuasion," or is he now the biggest obstacle to its long-term stability?

⏱️ Episode Timeline

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💬 What do you think? Has Elon crossed the line of no return, or is this just the price of "breaking china" on the way to the future? Let us know on Discord, Patreon or in the comments below.

Start the conversation in the down below, or come on over to our Discord (it's free!).