EV Geek Podcast

This week's topics include:🔹 Ford chooses Apple Maps as the native navigation system for its next-generation UEV platform, complete with EV route planning, battery preconditioning, and BlueCruise integration.🔹 Subaru officially delays its upcoming three-row Getaway EV following Toyota's Highlander EV production delay.🔹 GM expands Energy Pass with Plug & Charge support for ChargePoint stations—and even older EVs like the Chevy Bolt can take advantage.🔹 Ford introduces a new, lower-cost home backup power solution for the F-150 Lightning using the new Generlink system.🔹 Volvo's new EX60 beats its original EPA range estimates.🔹 Pilot reaches a major milestone by opening its 300th EV fast-charging location across the United States.🔹 Joel shares the latest rumors and discussion surrounding a possible Toyota Corolla EV.
Whether you're an EV owner, prospective buyer, or simply love staying on top of the latest electric vehicle news, we've got you covered every Friday.
 

The world's best-selling car is finally going electric, but Toyota is facing an uphill battle it didn't see coming.
A rare behind-the-scenes look inside Toyota’s R&D center revealed prototype footage of the upcoming Toyota Corolla EV, alongside candid admissions from top leadership that the company is struggling to keep pace with rapid Chinese EV development.
Instead of a clean-sheet EV skateboard architecture, Toyota is underpinning the next-gen Corolla with a flexible platform designed for BEVs, Plug-In Hybrids, Traditional Hybrids, and Gas engines. Is this "one-size-fits-all" approach the ultimate bridge strategy—or a dangerous compromise in 2026?

In a massive strategy shift, General Motors is pivoting back to gas-powered vehicles. Following their latest earnings report, GM revealed that Chevy and Cadillac essentially have zero new or redesigned electric models planned for the next several years—focusing instead on updated gas engines and full-size trucks.
In this episode, we break down:
Why GM is freezing its consumer EV lineup while taking over $10B in restructuring charges.
What this means for existing models like the Equinox EV, Blazer EV, and Chevy Bolt.
How global competitors like Hyundai and Rivian are stepping up to capture mass-market share.
Whether GM's short-term profit play will cost them long-term dominance in the EV transition.
Is GM making a pragmatic business decision, or are they leaving the door wide open for rival automakers? Listen in and let us know your thoughts!

In this episode of The Friday Charge, we're breaking down the biggest electric vehicle stories of the week, including:
🔋 This Week's EV Headlines:
Honda confirms the end of the Prologue after the 2026 model year
Why Honda is betting big on hybrids instead of EVs
Hyundai drops the price of the 2027 Ioniq 5 N by over $6,300
The Ioniq 5 N switches to a native NACS charging port
California launches a brand-new EV rebate program
Hyundai's new $5 billion U.S. battery factory is now online
Toyota delays the all-electric Highlander SUV
GMC celebrates 25 years of Hummer with the limited-edition 2027 Hummer EV ICON | 25
Honda's decision is especially surprising considering the Prologue was one of America's best-selling EVs last year. Is this the right move, or is Honda giving up on the EV market just as competition heats up?
We also discuss Hyundai's growing investment in U.S. battery production, Toyota's continued reliance on hybrids, and why performance EV fans have a new reason to celebrate with a more affordable Ioniq 5 N.
👇 Let us know in the comments:Is Honda making a huge mistake by abandoning the Prologue? Or are hybrids the smarter path forward?
If you enjoy honest EV news and analysis every week, make sure to Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of The Friday Charge!
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

California just signed a brand-new $3,500 instant EV rebate into law called "MyFirstEV" (SB 168)—but there is a massive catch hidden in the fine print.
While the new program is designed to help first-time buyers go electric with an on-the-hood, point-of-sale discount, a highly specific "headquarters loophole" completely waives the $50,000 price cap for California-based EV brands like Rivian and Lucid. Meanwhile, Tesla (now headquartered in Texas) gets left out in the cold on its premium models. In today's episode, we break down exactly how this new $3,500 rebate works, why it's sparking a massive political feud between Gavin Newsom and Elon Musk, and how you can take advantage of the cash before the state's funding completely runs out.
Are you looking to buy your first EV this summer? What do you think about this new loophole? Let me know in the comments!

Are electric vehicles actually dying, or are we just looking at the ultimate market correction?
In this episode, we are breaking down the official Q2 2026 EV sales data from Cox Automotive to separate the mainstream media narratives from what’s actually happening on dealership lots. With EV market share stabilizing at 5.8% after the post-incentive crash, the game has officially changed. We sit down with two industry experts to tackle the hard questions: Is the current hybrid boom a gateway or a massive roadblock for BEVs? Can legacy brands like Toyota actually catch Tesla despite Tesla owning half the market? And is a surging used EV market about to completely cannibalize new car sales?
If you want to understand where the automotive industry is actually heading over the next five years—without the hype—this is the conversation you need to hear.
Let us know in the comments: Are you buying a hybrid next, or waiting out the EV winter?

This week on The Friday Charge, Joel and Sebastian break down the biggest EV news stories you need to know! Tesla officially unveils the long-awaited Model Y L in the U.S. with six seats, a longer wheelbase, and a premium Launch Edition—but is it worth the price? We also discuss massive Polestar discounts of up to $25,000, Ford's recall of more than 42,000 Mustang Mach-Es, Waymo's expansion into Las Vegas and three additional cities, rumors that Tesla could require Face ID to activate Full Self-Driving, and GM's recall and delivery stop for the Cadillac Vistiq. Join us as we separate the hype from reality and explain what these developments mean for EV buyers and owners.

Think Tesla owns the charging game? Think again. Walmart just doubled its ultra-fast charging network in 60 days, and they’re solving the biggest problem in EV ownership. Here’s how the retail giant is leaving traditional networks in the dust.

Join Joel and Sebastian for The Friday Charge EP92 as we break down the biggest EV news of the week! We discuss Tesla's new FSD Lite rollout for HW3 vehicles, BMW's impressive new iX5 with 435 miles of estimated range and 460kW charging, Electrify America's expanding NACS rollout, Jeep's pricey new Recon EV, and the growing Cybertruck PCS charging issue. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and let us know which story caught your attention most! ⚡
 

The premium electric SUV segment just got a massive wake-up call. On today's episode, we are diving deep into the massive news out of Munich: the official debut of the first-ever, all-electric 2027 BMW iX5 xDrive60. This isn't a minor refresh. Built on BMW’s dedicated "Neue Klasse" architecture, this luxury family hauler is completely rewriting the rules of highway range and road-trip charging speeds. We’re breaking down the full technical spec sheet, including: • The Structural Secret: How BMW used unique 120mm tall cylindrical cells in a cell-to-pack design to jam a massive 144 kWh usable battery pack under the floor—hitting a targeted 435 miles of EPA range (525 miles WLTP). • Meltdown-inducing Speeds: Why the iX5’s 460 kW peak DC fast-charging rate puts the competition on notice, pulling a 10% to 80% charge in just 22 minutes. • The Engineering Nuance: Why BMW ditched permanent magnets on the rear axle for an electrically excited synchronous motor managed by the 10x faster "Heart of Joy" supercomputer. • The Software-Defined Cockpit: A look at the pillar-to-pillar Panoramic Vision windshield projection and Alexa+ AI automated routines. • The Supply Chain Play: Why building the iX5 and its packs locally in Spartanburg and Woodruff, South Carolina is a genius operational shield against volatile automotive tariffs. Is an $81,250 starting price for a luxury EV with a 435-mile real-world range enough to make you switch your primary family hauler? Plug in, get the numbers, and let’s get into the charge!T