The Watt Car EV Podcast

235: Stop, Collaborate, and Listen

Perhaps Chevrolet’s engineers were so busy trying to drive a Silverado EV 1,000+ miles on a single charge that they never asked whether they should. We discuss that, and propose what would perhaps be a better test for the powerhouse of an EV pickup. Also on this week’s podcast, the new Chevy Bolt is teased, Tesla sales are actually pretty good, and more!Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, PocketCasts, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and more! Or heck, use your favorite podcast application.Perhaps you prefer to watch as well as listen. If so, we’ve got you covered.SHOW NOTESGM teases spy shots of the ‘27 Chevy Bolt: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a65551237/2027-chevy-bolt-teaser/ Chevy engineers top 1,000 miles in a Silverado EV. With some caveats: https://www.newsweek.com/chevy-silverado-just-went-1059-miles-one-fill-2107510 Jaguar Land Rover CEO Adrian Mardell announces retirement after controversial Jaguar re-launch: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/jlr-ceo-adrian-mardell-retires-after-35-years-firm Tesla Model Y still best-selling EV in Europe by a significant margin: https://cleantechnica.com/2025/08/02/europe-ev-sales-report-tesla-has-1-plus-2-win-in-a-29-ev-share-market/ Tesla Model 3 (not the Model Y) out-sold the Toyota Camry in the first half of 2025, Model Y still the best-selling car in the Golden State: https://cleantechnica.com/2025/08/03/tesla-still-stands-alone-in-california-ev-market/ Tesla board approves new pay package for Musk following strike down of previous package by Delaware court: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/tesla-approves-share-award-worth-29-billion-ceo-elon-musk-2025-08-04/ Mercedes-Benz shows off new “heritage-inspired” grille design for next-gen EVs: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a65576696/mercedes-benz-new-grille-design/ Porsche reconsidering all-EV strategy for Macan: https://www.motor1.com/news/767676/porsche-gas-suv-2028-launch/ Rivian follows Scout in challenging franchise dealerships in Ohio: https://www.theverge.com/news/718186/rivian-ohio-lawsuit-direct-sales-ban This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. SanchezEpisode art courtesy ChevroletMusic courtesy Twisterium at PixabayWebsite: https://www.thewattcar.comBuy merch: https://www.thewattcar.com/storeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar

234: Generic Future Car

The new, more affordable Tesla is coming…and it’s probably going to be a decontented Model Y. Could this generic future car be the next big thing for Tesla? We chew on that topic before discussing Texas-based chip manufacturing, more EV chargers coming to the US, Ferrari testing something unexpected, and more!Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, PocketCasts, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and more! Or heck, use your favorite podcast application.Perhaps you prefer to watch as well as listen. If so, we’ve got you covered.SHOW NOTESTesla’s highly anticipated “low-cost” model is in fact a decontented Model Y: https://www.notateslaapp.com/news/2965/teslas-affordable-model-y-leaked-video-and-list-of-changes Tesla, Samsung ink $16.5 billion chip deal: https://www.reuters.com/business/tesla-samsung-165-billion-supply-deal-may-spur-chipmakers-us-contract-business-2025-07-28/U.S. on track to add more than 16,000 charging points this year: https://insideevs.com/news/767059/record-ev-charger-deployment-q2-2025/Xiaomi SU7 Ultra seen at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters for testing: https://www.carscoops.com/2025/07/ferrari-secretly-studying-worlds-fastest-ev-sedan-behind-closed-doors/ 7/28/25: Rich Benoit of “Rich Rebuilds” fame drives a Zeekr 001 FR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTV_4aWRAJI This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. SanchezEpisode art courtesy TeslaMusic courtesy Twisterium at PixabayWebsite: https://www.thewattcar.comBuy merch: https://www.thewattcar.com/storeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar

233: Taking it to the People

Scout Motors is taking the battle to the dealerships in an attempt to get a direct-to-consumer sales model launched. The dealers, as expected, are fighting back with their own claims that Scout is actually VW. Who will win? We don’t know, but we still discuss it on this week’s podcast. Also this week, Tesla opens its drive-in charger, China tackles Europe, and more!Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, PocketCasts, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and more! Or heck, use your favorite podcast application.Perhaps you prefer to watch as well as listen. If so, we’ve got you covered.SHOW NOTESScout Motors (division of VW Group) takes gloves off in fight with NADA: https://autos.yahoo.com/articles/scout-motors-doj-letter-urges-171105390.html Tesla diner opens: https://www.notateslaapp.com/news/2940/tesla-hollywood-diner-opens-a-look-at-the-food-merch-features-and-more-videos Tesla making a Model YL for China: https://electrek.co/2025/07/16/tesla-announces-model-yl-larger-6-seater-suv-coming-fall/ Tesla gearing up to release extended range Model 3+ in China: https://electrek.co/2025/07/17/tesla-prepares-launch-model-3-plus-800-km-500-miles-range/ Subaru Uncharted: https://insideevs.com/news/766241/2026-subaru-uncharted-ev-crossover-coupe/ BYD’s premium Yangwang brand is coming to Europe: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/byd-primes-bentley-rivalling-yangwang-brand-european-launch Mercedes-Benz “pausing” production of EQ models due to slow demand: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a65450365/mercedes-cuts-eq-pricing-ends-us-production/ EU researchers claim to have developed “self-repairing” batteries: https://batteriesnews.com/self-repairing-batteries-promise-longer-life-and-range-for-electric-cars/ This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. SanchezEpisode art courtesy ScoutMusic courtesy Twisterium at PixabayWebsite: https://www.thewattcar.comBuy merch: https://www.thewattcar.com/storeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar

232: Rich Redneck

Bentley has unveiled its first EV, and it’s interesting. Featuring a blocky design, a ho-hum dashboard, a dog seat, and the ability to tailgate, we’re not sure who the target audience is for this one. Maybe rich rednecks? Also on this week’s podcast, VW halts ID. Buzz imports, Tesla enters India, Lucid unseats Tesla, and more!Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, PocketCasts, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and more! Or heck, use your favorite podcast application.Perhaps you prefer to watch as well as listen. If so, we’ve got you covered.SHOW NOTESBentley shows off its EXP 15 EV concept: https://www.topgear.com/car-news/first-look/electric-three-door-exp-15-a-dog-bed-future-bentley-unless-you-hate-it Exports of ID. Buzz to U.S. halted because tariffs: https://www.theautopian.com/wtf-is-going-on-with-the-volkswagen-id-buzz/ Tesla finally officially in India: https://insideevs.com/news/765873/tesla-india-model-y-price/ Lucid Air out-sells Tesla Model S in latest quarterly results: https://electrek.co/2025/07/14/lucid-air-tops-tesla-for-best-selling-luxury-ev-sedan-in-the-us/ Ioniq 6 N is finally here: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a65365358/2026-hyundai-ioniq-6-n-revealed/ Mercedes-Benz unveils CLA shooting brake: https://www.motor1.com/news/765814/2026-mercedes-cla-shooting-brake/ GM will build LFP battery packs in Tennessee in conjunction with LG Energy Solution: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/14/gm-to-challenge-chinas-lfp-monopoly-with-upgraded-battery-factory/ Panasonic opens claimed “world’s largest” battery cell plant in Kansas: https://insideevs.com/news/765796/panasonic-worlds-largest-battery-plant-tesla-kansas/ This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. SanchezEpisode art courtesy BentleyMusic courtesy Twisterium at PixabayWebsite: https://www.thewattcar.comBuy merch: https://www.thewattcar.com/storeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar

231: Tank Turn is Back!

For good and bad, Rivian’s in the news. From the return of Tank Turn to falling sales numbers and additional investments, Rivian’s on a rollercoaster of an adventure right now. Also in the news, Tesla builds another “world’s largest” supercharger, and this one’s off grid. Plus, Honda backtracks, and more!Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, PocketCasts, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and more! Or heck, use your favorite podcast application.Perhaps you prefer to watch as well as listen. If so, we’ve got you covered.SHOW NOTES World’s largest Supercharger will be (at least partially) off-grid: https://insideevs.com/news/764997/worlds-largest-tesla-supercharger-project-oasis/ Tesla prototypes send the fanboys into a frenzy: https://electrek.co/2025/07/04/tesla-prototype-sparks-speculation-a-model-y-maybe-slightly-smaller/ Tesla forced to reimburse FSD cost to a Washington Tesla owner: https://share.google/kne4ito2OCgRuFxI8 Honda’s planned “Project 0” large SUV reportedly delayed due to market conditions and “political factors”: https://www.electrive.com/2025/07/07/honda-reportedly-halts-plans-for-large-electric-suv/ Rivian Q2 not so hot: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/rivian-reports-22-fall-quarterly-deliveries-tariffs-hit-demand-2025-07-02/ Rivian gets another $1 billion from VW: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/02/rivian-receives-the-next-1b-from-volkswagen-as-sales-struggles-continue/ Rivian finally brings Tank Turn to market: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a65252188/2026-rivian-r1t-r1s-quad-motor-drive/ Hagerty’s EV vs ICE video is a great physics lesson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di68seGJHTU This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. SanchezEpisode art courtesy RivianMusic courtesy Twisterium at PixabayWebsite: https://www.thewattcar.comBuy merch: https://www.thewattcar.com/storeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar