Quick Charge

ACME stock soars on today's cartoonishly silly episode of Quick Charge, we watch Tesla Autopilot crash into a wall with a painting on it, make the Elon stans look silly when they point out shady behavior from their fearless leader, and toss out the notion that some franchise dealers might help the troubled EV brand make more sales in red states. We also cover Toyota as it moves to position itself for global battery dominance by suppling batteries to more than 400,000 electrified Honda vehicles per year, plus an upgraded Xpeng G6 electric SUV that makes everything on this side of the Pacific look positively plebeian. All this and more, enjoy! Source Links Tesla Autopilot drives into Wile E Coyote fake road wall in camera vs lidar testTesla fans expose Tesla’s own shadiness in attempt to defend Autopilot crashTesla used car prices are falling at 3x the rest of the marketIf Musk wants to sell Tesla cars to conservatives, Tesla needs stores and service in red statesToyota the EV battery supplier? Honda will use them to power up its 400,000 hybrids in the USTuring AI and “bulletproof” EV batteries arrive with 2025 Xpeng G6 SUV Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news. Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

On today's challenging episode of Quick Charge, Elon seems serious about rebuilding the Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, there are questions about Tesla's record-setting weekend in Canada, and lots, lots more. In other news, we've got a hot tub you can sail around a lake, a 140-ton electric hoverboard from Liebherr, a $1,000 electric pickup from China, questions about the effectiveness of EV rebates in general, and a 0% interest deal on an all-new electric Dodge Charger Daytona. Source Links Destroyed Cybertruck used in Vegas bombing is for sale, Musk said Tesla would rebuild itSpacruzzi opens 2025 reservations for limited builds of its all-electric hot tub boatsLiebherr developing giant, 140-ton Segway-style autonomous haulers Tesla made a suspicious number of rebate requests on last days of Canadian EV incentiveHarbinger guarantees incentive pricing to combat Trump Administration chaosAll the EVs (and one PHEV) you can buy with 0% financing in March 2025 [update]These are the cheapest EVs you can lease in March at under $300 a monthRemember that $2,000 electric mini-truck I bought from China? Now they’re down to $1,000 Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news. Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

It's been a big day for big reveals with the all-new Volvo ES90, a new compact electric city car from Volkswagen, plus a pair of new, over-the-top EVs from General Motors that perfectly exemplify American excess. All this and maybe the dawn of the long-awaited "Tesla Killer" on today's revealing episode of Quick Charge! GM is practically daring the competition to build a bigger, badder EV with a new, bigger $133,000 Cadillac Escalade and 1,100 hp off-road special in the form of the new Chevrolet Silverado EV ZR2. Finally, you guys are never happy ... try to enjoy this episode, anyway! Source Links Volvo ES90 revealed: 800V beauty is midway between SUV, sedan and fastbackVolkswagen unveils ID. EVERY1 show car, production version set to launch around 20,000 eurosCadillac Escalade too small? New, bigger $133K Escalade IQL might be the ticketMeet the Chevy Silverado EV Trail Boss and 1,100 hp ZR2 electric race truck conceptThis Chinese EV has surpassed Tesla’s Model 3, and Model Y is nextTesla (TSLA) sales crash continues in Europe, with Germany down 70%All the EVs you can buy with 0% financing in March 2025 Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news. Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

On today's fiery episode of Quick Charge, it's all bad news for Elon as Tesla sales continue to plunge in Europe, the pump fails to stop the TSLA stock price slide, and people set fire to dealers. Plus: BMW takes the top two spots in the J.D. Power EV owner satisfaction survey. Tesla shareholders were hoping today's claims of 10x growth in the coming years would help goose TSLA stock prices, but they slid instead as BMW took the top two spots in the J.D. Power EV owner satisfaction survey and GM launched an all-new, affordable Chevy Spark EUV. Source Links Tesla (TSLA) sales are still crashing in Europe in FebruaryElon Musk tries and fails to pump Tesla’s stock (TSLA)Tesla brings back 0% loans to boost demand in the USTesla store gets taken over by Musk protesters, 9 people arrestedA dozen Tesla cars burned at store, arson is suspected amid global protestsTesla owners get creative to distance themselves from Elon with new car logos & projectorsBMW iX snatches the top spot in J.D. Power EV satisfaction surveyChevy Spark returns for 2026 as affordable electric crossover with 220 mile range Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news. Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

With revenue tumbling almost as fast as market share, Tesla stock is taking a pounding – exactly like CEO Elon Musk predicted! We've also got FSD rolling out in China, a German automation acquisition, and more on today's red candlestick edition of Quick Charge! We've also got some clarifying news at Mercedes-Benz, which is set to ditch its confusing EQ-based model alphanumerics and (God willing) their suppository-based styling language, too. Plus, Rivian launches a new upfit service to make it easier for fleet managers to order ready-to-work EVs, Ram ProMaster EV lives up to its promises with more options and a lower price tag, and a big solar deal goes down. Source Links Tesla (TSLA) stock is crashing like a ‘soufflé under a sledge hammer’ as Elon Musk predictedTesla launches limited Full Self-Driving in China to mixed reviewsTesla acquires bankrupted automation engineering firmMercedes will stop treating EVs as a separate lineup and thats a good thingRivian Upfit Program offers fleet managers custom solutions for its EVs2025 Ram ProMaster EV (finally) lives up to its initial promiseNational Grid to sell its US renewables arm for $1.74B Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news. Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

On today's energized episode of Quick Charge, a Tesla executive leaks news of a new Model S and X as protests at retail locations escalate and key staff continue their exodus from the troubled brand. Plus: 0% financing deals on EVs and PHEVs and Volvo brings off-grid power to bauma. We've also got a look at the crowded EV sedan market the updated Tesla Model S (if it happens) will enter, talk about the Chinese answer to Rolls-Royce and Bentley from Huawei, and the latest off-grid BESS substation concept from Volvo Penta. Enjoy! Source Links Tesla announces Model S and Model X refresh later this yearTesla protests gain momentum while the hate is spreading Tesla ownersTesla loses two of its top car designersMercedes-Benz tests world’s first solid-state battery EV with +621 miles rangeBMW vows next-gen EV batteries will slash costs and boost range by 30%Sony opens first mall studio for its upcoming AFEELA EV, in Los AngelesAll the EVs (and PHEVs) you can buy with 0% financing in February 2025 [Updated]Volvo Penta set to show off its new BESS subsystem at bauma 2025 Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news. Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

Elon Musk's visit to India may have been more about Tesla than any mission for the US government, if recent job listings at Tesla are to be believed. Plus, we've got news that construction on the first Tesla Semi truck stop is underway in California – and only six years behind schedule! All this and more on today's (also late) episode of Quick Charge! We've also got news Hyundai and Kia have plans to get back their $7,500 Federal tax credits, are set to launch a new, 509 hp version of the hot-selling EV9 GT, and there's a new battery factory coming to Louisiana. Enjoy! Source Links Tesla starts hiring in India in a big deja vu momentFirst look at Tesla’s first ‘public’ electric semi truck charging stationKia finally pulls the covers off its new EV4: Here’s our first look at the low-cost EVHyundai and Kia EVs are set to regain the $7,500 US tax creditKia just launched the +500 hp EV9 GT in Korea for just over $60,000This $500M EV battery material plant is the first of its kind in the US Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news. Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories we discuss in this episode (with links) UPDATE: FreeWire hasn’t closed its HQ just yet Elon Musk’s no.2 at Tesla goes back to China as the CEO isolates himself at the top Tesla (TSLA) launches another round of layoffs Lilium (LILM) receives firm order from UrbanLink to put 20 eVTOL jets into service in Florida In 2023, investment in clean energy manufacturing shot up 70% from 2022 Listen & Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories we discuss in this episode (with links) Joby completes pre-production eVTOL testing, segues into production prototype flight certification A fully-electric 10,000 ton container ship has begun service equipped with over 50,000 kWh in batteries This German startup is pioneering recyclable wooden wind turbine blades US updates EV tax credit rules, enabling more electric cars to be eligible Watch this autonomous excavator build a 215 foot retaining wall Listen & Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories we discuss in this episode (with links) Why gas bikes just can’t compete with electric motorcycles in the summer Tesla’s next-gen Dojo AI training tile is in production The US just proposed 18 GW of new offshore wind sales There’s a new trend making electric bike batteries safer Toyota goes large on hydrogen with new US headquarters Listen & Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories we discuss in this episode (with links) Everrati rebrands B2B EV conversion arm to ‘Powered by Everrati’ amid clientele increase Tesla Cybertruck owner gets quoted over $30,000 for Powershare installation CATL unveils world’s first LFP battery with 4C ultra-fast charging for 370-mi in 10 mins Tesla (TSLA) surges on Elon Musk trying to ride AI wave Tesla expects its 4680 battery cells to be cheaper than suppliers by end of year Listen & Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories we discuss in this episode (with links): Tesla may start selling its Optimus humanoid robot next year, says Elon Musk Tesla is in talks with ‘one major automaker about licensing Full Self-Driving’ BETA hits its latest eVTOL milestone, transitioning mid-air with a pilot onboard [Video] Tesla announces change of plans to build cheaper electric cars Tesla teases its upcoming Uber-like self-driving ride-hailing app Listen & Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories we discuss in this episode (with links): Tesla driver arrested for homicide after running over motorcyclist on Autopilot Tesla officially unveils new Model 3 Performance with 0-60 mph in 2.9 sec Arres Prevent robot uses advanced AI to fight potholes Allye Energy wants to power your job site with used Land Rover batteries Tesla skirts Austin’s environmental rules at Texas gigafactory Listen & Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories we discuss in this episode (with links): Firstgreen remote operated electric skid steer hopes to reduce mining deaths The Las Vegas–LA electric high-speed rail line just broke ground Aptera to sell its solar EVs in the UAE, beginning with 53 exclusive ‘Union Editions’ with ‘Solar Chill’ Walmart is putting AI-powered electric forklifts to work Tesla has lowest maintenance and repair cost of any brand Listen & Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories we discuss in this episode (with links): Tesla recalls Cybertruck due to defective accelerator, confirms about 4,000 deliveries Tesla’s biggest retail shareholder is voting against Elon Musk’s $55 billion package The US now has 1 DC fast charging station for every 15 gas stations Norway just signed a contract for its first commercial offshore wind farm Liebherr electric excavator reaches million ton milestone, scores more orders Listen & Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories we discuss in this episode (with links): You can power your home for 21 days with a Chevy Silverado EV and GM’s new bidirectional charger Hyundai bets on new materials to improve its upcoming electric vehicles Tesla launches website to convince shareholders to vote for Elon’s $55 billion payday XPeng CEO shares NGP self-driving footage in Germany, teasing full roll out coming to EU 2023 was a record year for wind power growth – in numbers Listen & Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories we discuss in this episode (with links): Tesla Semi has been pushed ‘well beyond expectations’ by a new customer These new EV charging features are coming to Google Maps Tesla asks shareholders to move to Texas and re-pass Elon Musk’s massive compensation plan How Gogoro is making the world’s largest EV battery swapping network greener Kia has the ‘secret sauce’ for affordable EVs in the US Listen & Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show! FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories we discuss in this episode (with links): BYD unveils new low-cost ‘interstellar chariot’ electric SUV complete with a drone landing Elon Musk is putting Tesla all-in on Robotaxi Nissan steps up all-solid-state EV battery plans as pilot line construction kicks off Tesla heads are rolling over critical projects at Gigafactory Texas Tesla puts ‘$25,000 electric car’ codenamed NV9 on back burner despite what Elon Musk said Listen & Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories we discuss in this episode (with links): California exceeds 100% of energy demand with renewables over a record 30 days Tesla’s head of policy and business dev leaves BP axes jobs and scales back its EV charging business Tesla’s top engineering executive Drew Baglino leaves in massive leadership loss Tesla lays off ‘more than 10%’ of its global workforce Listen & Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories we discuss in this episode (with links): EVs are taking over the rest of the world much faster than the US Tesla slashes Full Self-Driving monthly subscription to $99 A 605 MW PV plant in Germany is now Europe’s largest solar farm Automobili Pininfarina’s one-of-a-kind Battista Reversario hyper GT goes 0-60 mph in 1.79 sec China gave BYD $3.7 billion to ‘win’ the EV race Listen & Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!