Quick Charge

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Quick Charge is a recap podcast bringing you the latest in Tesla news and the top green energy stories every Monday through Friday.

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    • May 19, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
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    • 7m AVG DURATION
    • 1,035 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Quick Charge

    Elon promises FSD by year's end, but Einride has L4 autonomy for big trucks TODAY

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2026 27:30


    It's a question of who is actually delivering product and who is just delivering promises on today's delivery-heavy episode of Quick Charge! Is the tenth time a charm for Elon's FSD, or will Einride CEO Roozbeh Charli steal his self-driving thunder? We've also got some concerning news about Tesla's Actually Smart Summon app getting faster, a sneak peek at some upcoming affordable EVs from BMW, Stellantis, and Volvo, and a full interview discussing Amazon's multimillion dollar middle mile deal with Einride CEO Roozbeh Charli. Today's episode is sponsored by GM Energy. If you want to experience more resilience and control over your home energy, the GM Energy Home System adds stationary battery power for always-ready backup energy for your home, and the GM Energy PowerBank takes in energy from the grid and stores it for when you need it most. Learn more here. Source Links Musk says Tesla unsupervised FSD will be ‘widespread' in the US by year-end — again Tesla increases Actually Smart Summon speed by 33% in new FSD update BMW has a plan to ‘keep the brand young' — A cheaper EV Jeep maker reveals plans for a new ‘groundbreaking' EV that will start at under $18,000 The Dodge Neon deserves a comeback – and Stellantis could do it tomorrow $10,000 Leapmotor A10 is the new-age Neon Stellantis needs in the US Amazon is deploying these massive cargo e-bikes for deliveries Amazon taps Einride to scale electric semi truck fleet capacity, NOW Forget Tesla hype — Einride begins public L4 autonomous electric semi operations Costco has a new stackable discount on the 2027 Chevy Bolt Yes, an EV really CAN power your home – if it's one of these [update] 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Fleets are moving fast to electrify as homeowners race to get 30% solar credit

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 11:05


    In this long overdue episode of Quick Charge, the commercial trucking and logistics space is racing to electrify in the face of an ongoing oil crunch while homeowners race to claim the 30% solar tax credit by July 4th! We've also got electric semi truck news from Volvo, a seriously substantial new electric forklift from Kalmar that defies belief, and a new solar-powered trailer concept from Nivalis. All that, plus an ACT roundup AND an all-new sponsor on today's show. Today's episode is sponsored by GM Energy. If you want to experience more resilience and control over your home energy, the GM Energy Home System adds stationary battery power for always-ready backup energy for your home, and the GM Energy PowerBank takes in energy from the grid and stores it for when you need it most. Learn more at gmenergy.gm.com. Source Links ACT Expo roundup Zeem celebrates 350,000th successful charging session at LAX REALLY Quick Charge with Range Energy electric trailer at ACT Expo 2026 REALLY Quick Charge: The Mobility House, V2G, and building up the grid REALLY Quick Charge: Slate Auto CCO talks affordability, flexibility, and more REALLY Quick Charge: Greenlane CEO talks expansion, deals, and more Toyota Hino debut new Le Series electric MD trucks at ACT Expo Toyota announces new hydrogen collab with Nikola fueling spinoff Volvo Trucks adds electric PTO to VNR Electric semi lineup E-quipment highlight: Kalmar li-ion Super Heavy electric forklifts Nivalis buys SolarEdge, paving the way for solar powered reefer trailers in the US If you still want that 30% solar tax credit, the new panic date is July 4 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Zeem celebrates 350,000th successful charging session at LAX [video]

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2026 12:04


    Electric logistics firm Zeem Solutions celebrated some good reliability news at ACT Expo last week, after its commercial charging depot at LAX hit a huge milestone, surpassing 350,000 successful charging sessions as one of the highest-throughput charging facilities in the US. "What the 350,000-session milestone really measures is reliability at scale," says Rick Eckert, Vice President of Operations at Zeem Solutions. "Every one of those sessions represents a fleet vehicle that needed to get back on the road on time. The fact that we have been able to deliver that consistently, across an increasingly diverse set of vehicles and duty cycles, is what gives our customers the confidence to expand their electric fleets and gives us the confidence to invest in the next generation of depots." Zeem's message has consistently been that that reliability isn't just about making sure EV chargers work when you plug your car into them (and, for the record, Zeem's do, with the first 4 months of 2026 delivering more than 75,000 charging sessions and dispensing a whopping 3.2 million kWhs of electricity). To Zeem, reliability includes knowing the industries your customers work in and understanding what your partners need. To that end, Zeem is bringing an unprecedented level of operational expertise, with contracted and pre-scheduled charging sessions allowing Zeem to maintain a 98% charger uptime to accommodate a mix of light-duty, medium-duty, and class 8 vehicles on one site, while also providing 24/7/365 valets to rotate out charged units, perform visual inspections on fleet vehicles, and provide regular maintenance and as-needed repairs. Parking, security, and cleaning services are also included. "You learn a tremendous amount from 350,000 commercial charging sessions, and those lessons have shaped Zeem 2.0 as we bring our proven model directly to customer fleet sites," explains Paul Gioupis, Founder and CEO of Zeem Solutions. "Five years of operating commercial EV charging at scale has taught us what drives uptime, where execution matters most, and why reliability is non-negotiable. The future of transportation depends on infrastructure that performs every day in real-world fleet operations, and Zeem is delivering that today at scale." All of this charging has also shown a huge environmental impact, with the 350,000 EV charging session milestone avoiding an estimated 5.6 million kg of CO2 emissions – equivalent to burning 634,831 gallons of gasoline or powering more than 1,100 average US homes for a full year. Zeem plans to open charging depots to serve the SeaTac and Long Beach commercial fleet markets next, and is actively developing additional facilities nationwide to meet the needs of the growing electric vehicle fleet. We had a chance to sit down with Paul at last week's ACT Expo in Las Vegas, where we talked charging, maintenance, incentives, Tesla Semi, and a whole lot more as Zeem's Eastward expansion rolls on. Check it out, at top, then let us know what you think of Paul's plans in the comments. Or, if you prefer listening to interviews, check out the audio-only version, below. SOURCE | IMAGES: Zeem. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    REALLY Quick Charge with Range Energy electric trailer at ACT Expo 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2026 6:58


    On this really quick episode of Quick Charge, we talk to Range Energy Vice President of Product Collin MacGregor about how his electric trailer can help reduce freight costs, support the grid, and more – WITHOUT asking operators to switch trucks. More often than you probably think, the biggest obstacle a fleet faces when choosing to electrify isn't the high cost of entry or the utility's ability to provide power. Instead, it's the operators – the drivers who will be sitting behind the wheel of the fleet's new trucks, and who don't want to part with the big diesel rigs they've come to know and love. Range Energy has an interim solution that could help fleets save up to 70% on their existing fuel costs, get the fleet's techs and drivers used to electrification, and provide emergency energy storage at a moment's notice. If you've been paying attention, you already know I'm talking about Range Energy and its battery-powered, e-axle equipped semi truck trailers. The company was at ACT Expo this week, and announced that they've completed a multi-year winter testing program validating the performance of its production-ready eTrailer system, marking a key step toward commercial deployment of its trailer electrification platform. While there, Range's Vice President of Product, Collin MacGregor, took a few minutes in between sessions to talk a bit more about his big battery trailers, and we've got that interview right here. Source Links Range Energy's electric trailer helps CA egg farm improve mpg by ‘up to 70%' Range Energy announces two partners to electrify refrigerated trailers Range Energy's electric trailer can improve semi-truck mpg by 36% Range Energy website 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    REALLY Quick Charge: The Mobility House, V2G, and building up the grid

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2026 13:13


    On this really quick episode of Quick Charge, we got the chance to sit down with The Mobility House North America's director of marketing communications, Dylan Gasperik, who talks ACT, V2G integration with Kia, utility programs, and how EVs strengthen – not weaken – the nation's straining energy grid. Earlier this week, The Mobility House and Wallbox successfully installed and interconnected a Kia EV9 and Quasar 2 bidirectional charger in a San Diego County home, representing the first residential bidirectional charger interconnected in the County and an important step toward the broader adoption of bidirectional charging in residential settings in the US. "This is an important milestone in the commercialization of vehicle-to-everything services for electric vehicle drivers," explains Russell Vare, VP of Vehicle-Grid Integration (VGI), The Mobility House North America. "Many people don't realize you need an interconnection approval with the utility, even if you only manage your home energy and never export power beyond the meter. We have accomplished this, and have gone one step further to enable the system to export power and realize the value of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)." Also, there's this candidate for best show swag ever. Chocowatt Mobility House Chocowatt bar. The news was announced at ACT Expo '26 as part of a broader effort to promote the work The Mobility House has been doing with utility and pilot programs across the country, and Dylan and I got a chance to talk about that, fleets, and more. Source Links The Mobility House North America website Wallbox expands its bidirectional EV charger program in the US Wallbox chargers enable Kia EV9s to power homes for the first time 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    REALLY Quick Charge: Slate Auto CCO talks affordability, flexibility, and more

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2026 5:31


    On this really quick episode of Quick Charge, Slate Auto's Chief Commercial Officer Jeremy Snyder believes his new truck is the right size and price to drive fleet adoption AND fandom. We only had a few minutes with Jeremy, and Slate is nearly ready for prime time! Slate Auto had a well-optioned, work-focused version of their upcoming compact electric pickup on display at ACT Expo 2026. The preproduction truck was fitted with ladder racks and wrapped in white vinyl, and some of the staff on hand even teased a utility-style "van" body. Regardless of which bodystyle you choose, Slate will offer its affordable trucks with a choice of two US-made SK On nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery packs – the base model gets 52.7 kWh and a 150 mile range while more upscale trucks get an 84.3 kWh battery with up to 240 miles of range. The two battery will be the only Slate option that gets installed at the factory (the rest of the available options will be installed by the "dealer" at the point of sale). Source Links Slate Auto website Slate's price-friendly electric pickup spotted testing in the snow Slate pricing to be revealed in June, ‘Blank Slate' truck still expected in the mid-$20k range Slate Auto closes funding round with enough financial runway to reach next stage of production 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    REALLY Quick Charge: Greenlane CEO talks expansion, deals, and more

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2026 3:47


    On this really quick episode of Quick Charge, Greenlane announces it's taking its heavy-duty EV truck charging network beyond California, and bringing diesel-level charging access straight into one of the busiest freight corridors in Texas. Greenlane CEO Patrick McDonald-King took to the ACT Expo stage today to follow up the company's completed expansion plans into the Lone Star State with news that the company had put pen to paper on deals with shipping and logistics firms Einride and Nevoya. Once finished, the latest announced route will complete what's often called the "Texas triangle," a region that connects Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio and plays a huge role in US logistics and hopefully provide a "rising tide" of EV charging infrastructure that genuinely works for OTR truckers. Source Links Texas-sized 10-4, good buddy: 40 electric semi trucks set to hit Texas' highway Amazon taps Einride to scale electric semi truck fleet capacity, NOW Greenlane launches a second long-haul EV truck corridor pilot 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    CHINA RECAP: Beijing, Xiaomi test drive, BYD news, and a fresh home battery pilot

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2026 9:13


    On today's totally true episode of Quick Charge, Fred returns from the Beijing Auto Show with a fresh look at the future of the car business, and a test drive in a 2nd generation Xiaomi SU7 does nothing to convince him that China hasn't just set the bar even higher. We've also got news about the latest from VW's Chinese AUDI and JETTA brands, a passing glance at a big Buick concept with no windshield, and news about BYD's latest new flagship sedan that promises to bring the superfast charging fight to CATL. Source Links I went to the Beijing Auto Show and it's a glimpse at the future of the auto industry CATL says sodium batteries are mainstream-ready, signs massive 60 GWh deal Xpeng VLA 2.0 test drive: Tesla is not alone with ‘Full Self-Driving' anymore BYD Seal 08 debuts with Blade Battery 2.0: 1,000 km range, 5-min charging, 684 hp CATL says sodium batteries are mainstream-ready, signs massive 60 GWh deal This US city is putting solar + batteries on 150 homes to cut bills 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Interview: we talk home batteries with FranklinWH CEO Gary Lam

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2026 17:30


    On today's charged up episode of Quick Charge, we've got FranklinWH co-founder and CEO Gary Lam here to talk us through some of the benefits of a home battery system, and what it takes to make the most of one – with, or even without a home solar panel system. We published an article last week explaining how home battery systems could be used to reduce energy bills, add lasting value to your home, and more – and it got the attention of FranklinWH's Gary Lam, who helped with some updates and generously offered to take the time to answer some of my questions on today's episode. Enjoy! Source Links Backup power is the LEAST interesting thing your home battery can do [update] FranklinWH website It's time to start recommending some Tesla Powerwall alternatives [update] The 30% solar tax credit is dead — long live the 30% solar tax credit! This $600M California battery will power 321,000 homes at peak demand 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Tesla Robotaxi expansion, heavy duty EVs, and last week's pain at the pump

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2026 8:35


    On today's pumped-up episode of Quick Charge, we notice how funny it is that Tesla makes a big Robotaxi announcement every time the TSLA earnings call looks like a disappointment. Tesla's tiny territory maps in Houston and Dallas underscore just how difficult it's been for the brand's camera-only autonomous driving ambitions to yield anything like Elon's early promises, and the timing of the announcement – just days ahead of what's bound to be a tough, tough Q1 earnings call – leaves a lot to be desired. We've also got a massive, 600-ton electric excavator in India and a 40+ tonne quad-axle electric semi from Mercedes-Benz that is ready to do some real dirty work. All that and the results of our "pain at the pump" survey, when you hit "play." Source Links Tesla launches ‘Robotaxi' in Houston and Dallas with tiny geofences Tesla's ‘Robotaxi' expansion looks like another stock pump before earnings MASSIVE 600 ton Liebherr mining excavator converted from diesel to electric Hot and ready: Mercedes is taking orders for its new eArocs 400 vocational truck Survey Sunday: how much pain at the pump will it take to switch to EV? 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    SOLARAMA – big proof from Aptera and big savings for solar + EV drivers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2026 7:52


    On today's solar-powered episode of Quick Charge, Aptera's CEO shares more proof that his company's solar car concept has legs, joining dozens of Electrek readers who are topping off their car (and home) batteries with the power of the sun! We also talk about why backup power is the least interesting thing you can do with a home backup battery, and celebrate an absolutely massive win for every American as five offshore wind projects the Trump Administration has been pushing back against since day 1 get the go-ahead to continue. PLUS: enjoy up to $10,000 off a new, 300-mile Chevy Equinox EV (trusted affiliate link) Source Links Aptera CEO shows his solar car producing more energy than his home solar Home solar + battery + EV, one GMC Sierra EV driver shares their experience The Chevy Equinox EV is 20% off right now with a $10,000 discount Tesla China denies developing new smaller, cheaper SUV — but take it with a grain of salt Homeowners share surprising, real-world data after installing solar panels Backup power is the LEAST interesting thing your home battery can do 5 offshore wind farms move ahead after Trump admin misses appeal deadline [update] 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Electric, diesel, or CNG? MOOG tech lets you pick all of the above, on just ONE machine!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2026 24:10


    On today's supremely clever episode of Quick Charge, we talk with engineers from MOOG about diesel, natural gas, and battery power – and how the ability to use any or all of the above on a single machine can help fleets decarbonize at lower cost, and with lower risk than buying different machines for each fuel. The ability to operate a single machine and swap out a power or energy module that can convert it from diesel to electric to hydrogen as needed has been the calling card of MOOG's ZQUIP technology for all the years we've been covering it, and the latest oil war is just making the ZQUIP concept even harder to ignore. Check out some of the articles we've written about these guys in the past, below, then let us know what you think about this sort of modular power plant in the comments. Source Links Moog modular battery concept for heavy equipment is too smart to ignore ZQUIP modular power lets job sites switch from diesel to EV on the same machine CASE eliminates “messy middle” worries with ZQUIP battery swap tech E-quipment highlight: ZQUIP heavy equipment battery swap demo BONUS: 2024 ZQUIP interview on The Heavy Equipment Podcast 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    TSLA stock slides, Supercharger prices, and who's REALLY behind Elon's big chip fab

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 11:08


    On today's Tesla-tastic episode of Quick Charge, a TSLA bear thinks the stock is headed for a 60% slide before the year is out, Tesla launches a Supercharger configurator, and we find out what's really going on at Elon's proposed chip fab. We also take a look at the NHTSA investigation into 159 incidents involving Tesla's Actually Smart Summon (ASS) parking feature, and ask whether or not the Supercharger wholesale model will be able to stand up to increasing pressure from other EVSE manufacturers. Source Links Musk falsely claims Tesla FSD is 10X safer than humans, complains about lawsuits Tesla (TSLA) down 20% in 2026 — JPMorgan sees another 60% downside Tesla's new Supercharger for Business tool reveals $940,000 all-in price NHTSA closes Tesla Smart Summon probe after 159 incidents Tesla won't really build its own chip fab — Intel is going to do it 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    US war in Iran is pushing up gas prices and making a case for home solar

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2026 8:46


    On today's independent episode of Quick Charge, we take a look at refining and distributing our own fuel supply with home solar as America's war in Iran rages on, shooting gas prices (and EV sales) into the stratosphere. As diesel prices cross $8/gal. in parts of California, more and more Americans are shopping for EVs and hybrids, and that's driving record sales of electrified vehicles for brands like Toyota and Hyundai. It's also brought the ability to generate your own "electric fuel" with a home solar panel system back into the limelight, whether you qualify for a tax credit or not! Source Links The oil crisis is making drivers realize they can't afford not to drive electric Toyota's updated electric SUV is a surprise hit The Hyundai IONIQ 5 EV is red-hot after another record sales month in March Kia launches its most affordable EV at lower prices than expected Home solar + battery + EV, one GMC Sierra EV driver shares their experience EV driver shares surprising, real-world data after installing solar panels 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Elon teases a van, Tesla sales tumble, and there is no Robotaxi in California

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2026


    On today's van-tastic episode of Quick Charge, Elon Musk teases a people-hauling Tesla that's 10 years late, California says there are ZERO Robotaxis on the road, and the Chinese EVs continue to outsell the brand in Europe. It's been nearly a decade since Tesla CEO Elon Musk hinted a new people moving EV might be on its way, and while the company rolled out a twenty passenger Robovan concept in 2024, Musk insists the company's got something coming that's "cooler" than a minivan. By definition, then, it's not the Robovan. Or a Cybertruck. In smarter news, we've got Vanair's latest solar-powered semi truck add-on that can help slash emissions and operating costs for large commercial fleets. You can check it out here, then let us know what you think in the comments. Source Links Tesla is coming out with ‘something cooler than a minivan', says Elon Musk BYD outsells Tesla in Europe for second straight month as gap widens California regulator confirms Tesla is ‘not operating an autonomous vehicle service' Adding solar panels to semi trucks helps slash diesel emissions GENIUS: adding solar panels to semi trailers is an idea so obvious it hurts 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Harbinger CEO John Harris stops by to talk trucks, batteries, and more

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2026


    On today's portentous episode of Quick Charge, we've got Harbinger CEO John Harris on-hand to talk through the brand's new low cab forward EV and EREV trucks, the industry-first battery deal with Airstream, and a whole lot more! Harbinger says its all-new HC Series Cab delivers best-in-class maneuverability with a tight, 42-foot turning circle, superior visibility from a car-like driving position that's not compromised by the needs of an internal combustion engine, and a modular, Lego-style battery pack that addressing one of the most commonly called-out shortcomings of (most) modern EVs. We've got CEO John Harris here to tell us all about it, and explore some of the ways Harbinger's modular battery design can help dealers and fleet operators cut costs and streamline their parts inventory. Source Links Harbinger electric truck brand gets real with $100M Series B funding raise Game changer: Harbinger launches a medium-duty EREV with 500 mile range Harbinger launches standalone modular battery business with new Airstream deal Harbinger announces new, low cab forward electric box trucks at Work Truck Week What driver shortage? Electric trucks give fleets a real hiring edge 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Affordable EV deals, Volvo EX30 update, and Tesla's latest Robotaxi crash

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2026


    On today's surprisingly affordable episode of Quick Charge we respond to America's new, $770/mo. average car payment buy rounding up some affordable EV lease deals at less than HALF the new normal. Plus, we take a look at some new entry-level EVs from Kia and BMW, talk about the future of Volvo's compact electric cars, and ask questions about Tesla's lone driverless Cybercab and the company's latest self-driving Robotaxi crash in Austin. Source Links What affordability crisis? These EV lease deals are HALF the average car payment find Chevy Equinox EV deals near you (trusted affiliate link) find Ford F-150 Lightning deals near you (trusted affiliate link) find Honda Prologue deals near you (trusted affiliate link) find Honda Prologue deals near you (trusted affiliate link) find Kia EV6 deals near you (trusted affiliate link) find Subaru Solterra deals near you (trusted affiliate link) Kia reveals EV2 prices are cheaper than expected Volkswagen's affordable electric SUV is almost here [Images] BMW accidentally leaks new i3 EV days before its debut [Images] Volvo is killing its smallest EV in the US, but the rest of the world can still get it click here for EX30 deals near you (trusted affiliate link) Tesla reports another ‘Robotaxi' crash, still only has a single unsupervised car Workhorse Group's electric van fleet hits the 20 MILLION MILE mark 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Keeping Elon could cost Tesla millions, Rivian R2 and affordable Lucid arrive

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2026


    On today's episode of Quick Charge, a new lawsuit alleges that Tesla was negligent in retaining Elon Musk as CEO, comparing him to a fast-talking salesman and questioning his input into engineering and safety decisions at the struggling EV brand. Plus, we explore the executive exodus at Tesla that began in mid 2024, ask why Tesla cars equipped with FSD are driving people into lakes and through railroad crossings, then take a look at the Rivian R2 and upcoming, mid-sized Tesla Model Y "killers" from Lucid. Are these the most credible threats to Tesla's Model Y dominance in America's EV market, yet, or will Tesla's "negligent" CEO come through on his AI-powered promises? Source Links Tesla Cybertruck owner sues over FSD crash, alleges ‘negligent' retention of Musk Tesla ‘Full Self-Driving' drives through railroad crossing barriers in viral video Tesla loses software director who built its OTA and Robotaxi infrastructure Tesla (TSLA) VP of Finance leaves after 17 years as executive exodus grows Rivian reveals full R2 lineup and pricing, starting at $57,990 with a $45K RWD model coming later Lucid (LCID) reveals Cosmos and Earth SUVs as first midsize EVs, starting under $50,000 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Can EVs help solve the affordability crisis? Dave Thomas from CDK talks it out

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2026


    As the average transaction price of a new car creeps towards $55,000, a coming wave of low mile, off-lease EVs with massive depreciation could help car dealers solve the affordability crisis, combat sticker shock, and move more units. CDK's David Thomas talks us through it on today's surprisingly affordable episode of Quick Charge. A tidal wave of EVs leased in the early-2020s is about to come back to dealers, with over 300,000 electric lease returns expected in 2026 alone, and many hundreds of thousands more every year thereafter just as used values fall and fuel prices climb. For dealers and buyers alike, that volatility could turn what looks like a resale disaster on paper into one of the biggest affordability opportunities the car market has seen in years. Source Links US average new car price tops $50k for the first time – here's why Used Tesla prices rise 4% while rest of EV market drops after tax credit ends Forget what you've heard – leasing your car is almost ALWAYS the right move 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Interview: it's all solar, all the time with Emily from EnergySage

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026


    On today's solar-powered episode of Quick Charge, we've got EnergySage director of insights Emily Walker with a look inside the company's 22nd industry report, this time featuring home solar, EV charging, and whole home electrification. In addition to some key takeaways from millions of solar customer datapoints across North America, Emily talks us through the changing landscape of hardware availability, what trade restrictions on China could mean for the residential solar market, some of the ways people are choosing to finance their solar panel systems – and why the right choice can help save them big money! You can check out some of the article we referenced in the episode, below, and let us know if you knew that Franklin WH stood for "Whole Home" in the comments. Source Links Solar installs surged 205% before the tax credit cut – and reshaped the market EnergySage Plugged In podcast Home Electrification Marketplace Report [FEB2026] It's time to start recommending some Tesla Powerwall alternatives Report: solar could increase your home value by $39,500 to $79,000 EV driver shares surprising, real-world data after installing solar panels 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Elon's dirty deals, Tesla's credit losses, and electric semi trucks save BIG money

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2026


    On today's disturbingly dirty episode of Quick Charge, Elon Musk is undoing nearly two decades of decarbonization by pumping out massive amounts of pollution to keep his xAI and Grok slop-machines rolling – and hurting some of America's most vulnerable communities at the same time. Tesla's troubles with pollution and carbon don't end there, either – two of company's biggest buyers of carbon credits are taking their business elsewhere, and the damage to Tesla's bottom line could be in the billions. Plus: it's a record month for Hyundai IONIQ 5 sales, electric semi trucks really do save fleets money, and some cool pictures of Volvo heavy equipment assets getting topped off at the Circle K! And, before you ask: NO! The irony is not lost on me ... but I didn't waste any water making the image, I just copy/pasted it in (he said, defensively). Source Links Tesla loses Toyota and Stellantis from its EU CO2 pool, taking billions with them Elon Musk's xAI is undoing Tesla's climate work all in the name of AI slop Hyundai bucks the trend as IONIQ 5 EV sales surge 33% in record-setting February Real-world test: electric semi trucks can save fleets nearly $160,000 per truck Where do you charge your wheel loader? Try the Circle K! 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Donut solid-state batteries tested, Tesla engineer quits, and solar value

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2026


    On today's extraordinary episode of Quick Charge, we reflect on the fact that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and both Donut Labs AND Tesla are a long long way from turning everyone into believers. While Donut Labs' allegedly groundbreaking solid state battery tech gets put to the test, Tesla engineer Victor Nechita, who served as Tesla's vehicle program manager for the Cybercab, has announced he is leaving the company as part of the recent exodus of the brand's top staff. Plus, a new study of 5,000 home sales showed that rooftop solar really does pay for itself – almost as soon as you put it in! Source Links Donut Lab's ‘miracle' solid-state battery confirms 0-80% charge in 4.5 min — but there's a catch Verge unveils 370-mile electric motorcycle with solid state battery; sounds too good to be true? This battery is about to change the world in 3 months, or make this guy a fool Tesla Cybercab program manager exits ahead of launch Tesla rolls first steering wheel-less Cybercab unit off the line before solving autonomy Tesla launches legal war over ‘Cybercab' name against seltzer company Report: solar could increase your home value by $39,500 to $79,000 EIA: 62% more renewable energy capacity is coming in 2026 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Floodgates open for Tesla lawsuits, Waymo expands, and US goes nuclear

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026


    On today's high-dollar episode of Quick Charge, Tesla is reeling from a $243 million judgement against it in a high-profile wrongful death case involving the company's Autopilot system, and has a hard time getting the relevant data to NHTSA. We've also got news that Waymo its expanding its L4 autonomous and driverless taxi operations into four new US cities across Florida and Texas, bringing its total to 10 compared to Tesla's 0 total cities with driverless electric vehicles in operation. Plus: the US Air Force has deployed the world's first portable 5MW nuclear reactor – which seems like the kind of thing we should all know about, you know? Source Links Tesla has to pay historic $243 million judgement over Autopilot crash, judge says Tesla avoids 30-day California sales suspension after dropping misleading ‘Autopilot' marketing Tesla sues California DMV to reverse ‘Full Self-Driving' false advertising ruling Tesla is having a hard time turning over its FSD traffic violation data Waymo adds 4 more cities to its robotaxi service, now 10 total (Tesla: still 0) Tesla admits it still needs drivers and remote operators — then argues that's better than Waymo Waymo founder trashes Tesla safety as Waymos illegally pass school buses World's first: US Air Force deploys portable nuclear power station 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Amazon grows van fleet, solar-powered semis, and BetterFleet stops by

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2026


    On today's smarter episode of Quick Charge, we've got CEO Daniel Hilson here to give us an in-depth look at how BetterFleet can help fleets and utilities manage their charging schedules to keep both energy costs and downtime to a minimum. We also take a look at Amazon's Rivian electric van fleet and how their goal of reaching 100,000 vans by 2030 is coming along, as well as a new solar-powered semi trailer that's using Australia's sunshine to keep food fresh from farm to store to table. Source Links Amazon grew its Rivian electric delivery van fleet by 50% in 2025 California's Helix water district gets state-of-the-art managed charging [Q&A] ACT Expo 2025 – one step forward, two steps back for clean trucking Check out BetterFleet GENIUS: adding solar panels to semi trailers is an idea so obvious it hurts 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Tesla's European future in doubt, but they didn't get banned in California!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026


    On today's labor-intensive episode of Quick Charge, Germany's largest union IG Metall is squaring off with Tesla in a major dispute involving a toxic work culture, criminal charges, defamation, and more – but at least they can still sell cars in California (for now). That's right, gang – Tesla has managed to avoid a sales ban in California by pivoting away from the use of the word "Autopilot" in its marketing (which explains that $99 FSD Supervised deal too, btw). Plus: Polestar is rolling out FOUR new production cars in then next THREE years and if you just can't wait for that, there's a whole lot of great deals on a new EV you can drive home today. That featured image up there, by the way, comes courtesy of IG Metall. Source Links Tesla calls police on IG Metall rep at Giga Berlin works council meeting before critical vote German union accuses Tesla ‘toxic' environment, files defamation against plant manager Tesla avoids 30-day California sales suspension after dropping misleading ‘Autopilot' marketing Polestar goes on the offensive with FOUR new models in THREE years Hyundai cuts EV prices in response to BYD and Tesla Toyota is already offering a $5,000 discount and 0% financing on its new EVs With a $10,000 discount, the Chevy Equinox EV is hard to pass up 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Robotaxis wreck 4x more than humans, and at least one Tesla wants to swim

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026


    On today's crash-tacular episode of Quick Charge it's been a rough, rough week for Tesla stans as new data out of Austin shows Robotaxis crashing at rates more than 4x higher than humans, new data out of China shows sales crashing more than 45%, and a new video seems to show a Tesla trying to crash into a lake. We've got some of Fred's in-depth analysis of what's going on over at Tesla as they start rolling Cybercabs or Cybervehicles or whatever they're calling it off an assembly line, too – and even something the house that Elon built is doing right! Source Links Tesla ‘Robotaxi' adds 5 more crashes in Austin in a month — 4x worse than humans Tesla rolls first steering wheel-less Cybercab unit off the line before solving autonomy Chinese state media amplifies viral Tesla failure amid 45% sales crash Tesla ‘Full Self-Driving' tried to drive owner into a lake, viral video shows Tesla announces Powerwall 3P with native three-phase inverter 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Texas bets on Tesla bets on WeChat, and a bet on Toyota to crack solid-state

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026


    On today's Texas-sized episode of Quick Charge, Tesla Cybertruck owners in the Lone Star state get V2G access, Tesla Model 3 and Y models get WeChat via OTA, and Toyota has an all-new electric Toyota Highlander with up to 320 miles of range! We're also taking a look at a Japanese joint venture involving oil refining giant Idemitsu Kosan and Sumitomo Metal Mining that's helping Toyota scale up its solid-state battery production plus up to $5,000 off and 0% interest financing on new Toyota EVs. Source Links Tesla launches Cybertruck V2G program in Texas, earning money with your truck's battery pack Tesla partners with Tencent to bring WeChat inside over 1 million cars in China Toyota reveals the Highlander EV as first 3-row electric SUV with 320 miles range [Images] Big oil is betting big on Toyota to win the solid-state battery race Toyota is already offering a $5,000 discount and 0% financing on its new EVs find Toyota bZ deals near you (trusted affiliate) find Toyota C-HR deals near you (trusted affiliate) 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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 If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Tesla Semi specs and pricing, L4 haul trucks, and Windrose' mobile AI concept

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026


    On today's long overdue episode of Quick Charge, we've finally got production specs and pricing on the Tesla Semi first revealed by Elon Musk nine (9) years ago. Will it be a revolution, or a case of too little, too late to make a real impact? We've also got a Level 4 autonomous mining truck backed by global EV leader BYD that's already being put to work on more than 30 mining sites, a look at the first preproduction Rivian R2s, and a mobile AI data center + BESS and charging solution from Windrose Electric CEO Wen Han that may be the most bonkers, or brilliant thing you see this week. Source Links Tesla reveals final Semi specs with two trims ahead of customer deliveries Tesla is quoting $290,000 for its 500-miles electric semi truck Rivian R2 enters final validation testing, spotted uncamouflaged on streets Rivian R2 prototypes hit the media and revealed new performance specs as a Tesla Model Y competitor Autonomous, battery-swap mining truck gets big-buck boost from BYD AI in a box: Windrose wants to containerize the data center 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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 If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Quick Charge checks out the e-bikes at CABDA Chicago 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2026


    On today's show-stopping episode of Quick Charge, we're on location at the midwest's largest independent bicycle dealer show checking out some of the highlights from Himiway, Radio Flyer, Rambo, and a whole lot more! While controversy continues to swirl about e-bike regulations and major players seem to be coming and going and getting saved at the eleventh hour amid the uncertainty of all of this – it's still fun to get to experience the newest e-bikes firsthand, and that's exactly what CABDA 2026 is all about! Bike brands mentioned Aventon Aventon's newly launched Soltera ADV looks almost perfect – I'd only change one thing Aventon New Year Sale takes up to $500 off legacy + new e-bikes for lows from $999 Flyer Radio Flyer launches new 20 MPH utility electric bike Heybike Heybike Villain launched as low-cost 45 MPH light electric dirt bike Himiway Himiway Big Dog electric bike review: A cargo e-bike that's more like a moped Magnum Rambo Velotric Velotric Triker launched, giving e-trikes more power and speed – and tech 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Elon is in the files, Tesla sales are down, and Ford is NOT working with Xiaomi

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2026


    On today's island-hopping episode of Quick Charge, we have to talk about Elon Musk's cringey appearance in the Epstein files amid Tesla's rapid sales decline in Europe, as well as the ultra-fast Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and its own rapid sales decline. We've also got a look at the Tesla Robotaxi service and ask why its vehicles are crashing so much more often than human drivers, even with safety monitors in the car. All this and more – let us know what you think of today's episode in the comments! Source Links Tesla CEO Elon Musk lied about “refusing” Epstein island invite, newly released DOJ emails show Tesla (TSLA) can't find the bottom in Europe as 2026 starts with another brutal decline Tesla's own Robotaxi data confirms crash rate 3x worse than humans even with monitor Sales of the ultra-fast Xiaomi SU7 Ultra have ultra-plummeted to under 50 units Xiaomi SU7 outsells Tesla Model 3 in China for the first time Ford denies report that it plans to build EVs in the US with China's Xiaomi 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Electric take on winter weather while Tesla's sales slide continues

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2026


    On today's icy cold episode of Quick Charge, the only thing colder than the air outside most Americans' homes is the demand for Tesla Cybertrucks – so we've got some EV-focused tips on making it through the cold while Elon begins shipping CTs overseas. We've got plenty of tips for home solar and backup battery systems today, as well as some links to older posts about vehicle-to-home capable systems and, of course, some cold weather driving tips for EV drivers who may not be used to these chilly conditions. All that, Tesla sales, and some big batteries in North Carolina – enjoy! Source Links Home solar in rural America: how much battery do you need in a winter storm? Home solar in rural America: how much battery do you need to run a well pump? It's time to start recommending some Tesla Powerwall alternatives Here are 8 tips for the best EV winter range and performance Yes, an EV really CAN power your home – if it's one of these Tesla brings Cybertruck to Middle East amid US demand collapse Xiaomi SU7 outsells Tesla Model 3 in China for the first time Duke Energy brings $100M, 50 MW battery project online 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Waymo founder: Tesla FSD would FAIL a DMV eye test, plus all-new Volvo EX60

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2026


    On today's highly observant episode of Quick Charge, Waymo founder John Krafcik takes aim at Tesla's Full Self Driving hardware limitations and Volvo Cars rolls out their most important new product of the 2020s: the all-new EX60 electric SUV! The Waymo founder says it's Tesla's antiquated camera tech, not necessarily its FSD software, that's keeping the company from offering truly autonomous robotaxis – and even says they'd fail a DMV eye exam! We've also got a look at the all-new, ultra fast charging Volvo EX60 and Peter Johnson looks into the crystal ball to peer into the future of Hyundai's upscale Genesis brand. Source Links Waymo founder John Krafcik: Tesla's Full Self-Driving has ‘bad case of myopia' Tesla patents ‘clever math trick' for HW3, but nothing points to delivering promised self-driving Tesla quietly cuts 1,700 jobs at Gigafactory Berlin despite denying it Volvo reveals EX60 SUV, its fastest charging EV yet – and an offroad surprise Volvo set to ditch LiDAR for 2026 – and Luminar is BIG mad Genesis outsold Infiniti in the US in 2025, now it's closing in on Lincoln and Acura Genesis emerges as a dark horse in the luxury EV space as even bigger plans unfold Genesis secretly designed this electric pickup and may bring it to life [Images] 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Tesla AI5 is late, Canada gets Chinese cars, and EV beats diesel in extreme cold

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2026


    On today's bitterly cold episode of Quick Charge, Elon says the chip he said was ready six months ago isn't actually ready, Chinese carmakers make a deal with Canada, and a series of new, real-world studies prove that EVs will save your fleet money over diesel, even in the most extreme cold weather use cases. We've also got another new entrant in the solid state battery race promising more than 600 miles per charge and an innovative new way to keep warm in the winter with a clever use of bricks and excess solar power. Source Links Elon Musk says Tesla ‘almost done' with AI5 design, 6 months after saying it was ‘finished' Canada breaks with US, slashes 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs to 6% Another Chinese EV giant begins testing solid-state batteries with 620+ miles range Even in extreme cold, EVs outperform diesel AND save drivers money Germany is using heated bricks to replace gas-fired industrial boilers 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 (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Tesla STOPS selling Full Self Driving, a sexy electric road bike, and Transformers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026


    On today's subscriber-focused episode of Quick Charge, Tesla stops selling Full Self Driving as the promise of a Tesla as an appreciating asset dies. Plus, someone's getting a $200 million bonus and Komatsu introduces its own, IRL take on a transforming farm robot at CES. At least one Tesla executive not named "Elon Musk" has reportedly earned a $200+ million bonus in stock according to a recent SEC filing, while Micah Toll shows off a sexy new road bike with a nearly invisible electric motor, Komatsu rolls out a new, real-life Transformer concept, and Hyundai's Genesis brand takes on Mercedes' AMG and BMW's M divisions. Source Links Tesla (TSLA) to stop selling Full Self-Driving package, moves to subscription-only: why it's a big move Tesla gives stock option package worth over $200 million to rare non-Elon ‘critical exec' Tesla settling another racism lawsuit after saying it would only settle fair lawsuits Can you even tell that this slick two-wheeler is an electric bike? Transformers get real: Kubota brings electric tractor concept to CES Genesis launches its first electric sports car: Meet the 650-HP GV60 Magma 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 supposed to be recorded several times per week (most weeks, anyway). 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Stellantis kills its plugins, Tesla could back out of Berlin, and leasing vs. buying

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2026


    On today's plug-pulling episode of Quick Charge, Stellantis is pulling the plug on a number of popular plug-in hybrid models from Jeep and Chrysler, while falling sales and ongoing union clashes at Giga Berlin could spell the end of the road for Tesla production in Germany. We also take a quick look at some of the many other EVs going the way of the Dodo in 2026 (including the best-selling electric pickup in all the land and a credible Model Y competitor that never got a fair shake), a red wave of EVs headed into Europe, and why this writer thinks you should lease instead of buy – enjoy! Source Links The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is dead along with these two other Stellantis plug-in hybrids Last call: check out these EVs before they're gone for good in 2026 [update] Are Tesla Gigafactory Berlin's days numbered? Tesla throws ‘cringe' anti-union concert for Giga Berlin employees ahead of vote EU and China are close to deal on electric cars, as Chinese EVs surge even with tariffs in Europe Forget what you've heard – leasing your car is almost ALWAYS the right move 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 supposed to be recorded several times per week (most weeks, anyway). 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Congressman claims Tesla design killed at least 15, solar tax credit lives on

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2026


    On today's heated episode of Quick Charge, a US Congressman claims Tesla's poor design caused at least 15 deaths, Elon says he's a few billion miles away from real Full Self Driving, and Volvo teases an incredible new EX60 with 400 miles of range. It's hard to understate how wild it is for a sitting US Congressman to call out a specific person and company like this, and it'll be interesting to see how it plays out. Today's show also explores Tesla's moving goalposts for Full Self Driving and the upcoming SPA3 EX60 from Volvo while the 30% home solar tax credit gets a new lease on life and Germany sets a new clean energy benchmark despite geography working against them. Source Links US Congress introduces ‘SAFE Exit Act' targeting Tesla door handles after claiming 15 deaths Elon Musk moves goalpost again: admits Tesla needs 10 billion miles for ‘safe unsupervised' FSD Volvo's new 400-mile EX60 is a specs monster The 30% solar tax credit is dead — long live the 30% solar tax credit! Solar power overtakes coal and gas in Germany, a country with little sun 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 supposed to be recorded several times per week (most weeks, anyway). 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Tesla tanks in Europe, Geely eyes the US, and CES 2026 kicks off in Las Vegas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2026


    On today's all-consuming episode of Quick Charge, we've got some quick takes from the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show! One of the largest tech and mobility trade shows on the planet, CES has already seen advanced AI, a drone you can ride, advanced AI, and more! We've also got an all-new SUV from the Sony/Honda partnership, Afeela, sales numbers from Chevy, Genesis, and Lucid, and even an "extended range RV" backed by the home power experts at Anker. You can find out more in the source links, below, then let us know what you think in the comments. Featured image via CES. Source Links Best of CES 2026: All of the weird, wild, and wonderful reveals from the biggest show in tech Honda and Sony will deliver their first EV in 2026, but this SUV may be an even bigger hit Nvidia unveils open-source AI for autonomous driving, ships in Mercedes-Benz CLA in Q1 2026 Check out the LEO JetBike – a personal propeller-free eVTOL that anyone can fly Anker-backed RV startup thinks you'll love their “extended-range” camper Chinese auto giant Geely to announce entry into US EV market within 2-3 years Tesla's full 2025 data from Europe is in, and it is a total bloodbath GM sold more than twice as many EVs in the US as Ford in 2025 Genesis outsold Infiniti in the US in 2025, now it's closing in on Lincoln and Acura Lucid (LCID) beats the odds after Q4 production surges more than 100% 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 supposed to be recorded several times per week (most weeks, anyway). 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Tesla rolls out 0% financing to boost declining sales as Hyundai sets records

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2026


    In this first, thrilling Quick Charge episode of the new year we've got declining Tesla sales in China and the US, a rare 0% financing deal on a new Model Y, and a brand-new EV sales champion was crowned in 2025. We'll also taking a look at Hyundai's fifth consecutive record sales year with nearly 1 in every 3 new Hyundai's sold being electric and another third being hybrids, and explore some of the big promises being made by a two-wheeled startup that's making some heady solid-state battery claims that carry plenty, plenty of asterisks. Source Links Tesla is starting to get squeezed by competition in China, confirms first year of sales decline BYD officially crushes Tesla in all-electric sales for 2025, secures global BEV crown All the EVs you can buy with 0% financing in January 2026 Hyundai goes ‘5 for 5' in 2025 with another record sales year Verge unveils 370-mile electric motorcycle with solid state battery; sounds too good to be true? 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 supposed to be recorded several times per week (most weeks, anyway). 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    2026, and the road ahead for clean fleets with TRC's Joe Annotti

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025


    TRC hosts the ACT Expo – America's premier clean commercial vehicle show – and helps fleets find the funding and resources they need to decarbonize. On today's episode of Quick Charge, we've got TRC's Sr. VP of incentives Joe Annotti here to give us a 30,000 ft view of the road ahead. We've also got a sneak peek at the agenda for the 2026 ACT Expo in Las Vegas, which is set to spotlight the full spectrum of technologies driving fleet advancement today, from digital and connected solutions to low-carbon and zero-emission vehicles. More than 12,000 attendees are expected from the fleet, shipping, OEM, utility, infrastructure, energy, and telematics sectors will be on hand, with a few dealers and policymakers to spice things up. But, of course, the biggest buzzwords will be AI, autonomy, software-defined vehicles, and incentive-stacking – all of which might mean something else to a commercial fleet than it does to a soccer dad. "The accelerated development and deployment of the range of digital solutions – on top of the increasingly wide array of powertrain technologies and fuel choices available to today's commercial customers – is truly astounding," says Erik Neandross, President of the Clean Transportation Solutions group at TRC, producers of ACT Expo.  "It is an incredibly exciting time in our industry, but one that we also know can be dizzying for fleets to keep up with it all." come together for four days of peer-to-peer education, real-world case studies, and direct access to the people and solutions shaping the industry I've included a few articles from last year's ACT Expo in the show notes, below, as well as some links that we reference in the interview. Enjoy! Source Links Win your dream EV in Climate XChange's 10th Annual Raffle! Zenobe arrives in North America Honda wants to sell you a fuel cell Hyundai opens up about its hydrogen semi ABB has figured out this whole charging deal Windrose gets real, and Wen Han signs my truck Volvo has the best deal going for commercial EVs New Mack electric trucks are coming, and one is already here Bigger, badder Section 179 tax credit could POWER UP fleet electrification efforts 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 supposed to be recorded several times per week (most weeks, anyway). 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 podcast series. 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Elon threatens to rage quit Tesla if he doesn't get his $1 TRILLION payday

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2025


    Elon Musk implies that he'll quit his part-time job as CEO of Tesla (TSLA) if he doesn't get his $1 trillion pay package. On today's episode of Quick Charge, I suggest GM's Mary Barra should replace him, and explore some of the compelling EV deals out there looking to take a bite out of Elon's market share. In addition to my take on what the TSLA board should or shouldn't decide, we've got a pile of EV lease deals, some hot, upcoming new electric Jeep models, and a look at some of the ways the end of the Federal EV tax credit isn't the end at all. Quick Charge is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more. Source Links Elon Musk threatens to leave Tesla (TSLA) if he doesn't get his ridiculous pay Tesla is now buying ads on Elon Musk's X to get people to vote for his $1 trillion compensation Win your dream EV in Climate XChange's 10th Annual Raffle! From $189 a month: 5 of the best EV lease deals in October [Updated] $189 Hyundai IONOQ 5 deals near you (trusted affiliate link) $189 Hyundai IONOQ 6 deals near you (trusted affiliate link) Jeep's electric off-roader is finally almost here and it's ready to join the Wrangler Bigger, badder Section 179 tax credit could POWER UP fleet electrification efforts Survey Sunday: we asked WHY you chose home solar, you answered 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 (most weeks, anyway). 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

    Real-time EV charging prices at thousands of chargers, now on Chargeway Plus

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2025


    A lot of EV charging apps can tell you where the plugs are, and Chargeway tells you that, too — along with everything else. From your EV's state of charge, to the best charging strategy to get you from point A to point B, to real-time charger availability, and more, it's simply the best tool I've found to help new EV drivers understand how an EV fits into their busy lives today. And as of today, in fact, Chargeway is adding another benefit to its platform: real-time kWh pricing. Today's announcement ahead of Electrify Expo Industry Day in New York means that Chargeway Plus subscribers will have access to real-time pricing for more than half the public charging stations in North America, including daily price/kWh rates as well as variable kWh pricing for individual stations within the station details, empowering cost- and grid-conscious EV drivers with the information they need to make a fully informed charging choice. That's not all. In addition to showing the price/kWh for power, Chargeway's unique, patented colors and numbers system makes it easy for drivers to make smart choices, saving themselves time, money, or both — that's something that's especially critical as new EV drivers learn to navigate not just the rapidly evolving EV charging infrastructure, but the widespread rollout of NACS/CCS adapters, as well. "Our mission at Chargeway from day one has been to simplify 'electric fuel' for every driver to help  accelerate EV adoption," said Matt Teske, Chargeway's Founder and CEO. "Now with one tap on the Chargeway station map drivers can easily see what we in the industry know the public must learn: Can I connect my car here? How long will charging take? How many chargers are available? How much will  my charge session cost? With our latest update to Chargeway users can now see 'electric fuel pricing' for thousands of stations at a glance." I had a chance to connect with Matt ahead of Electrify Industry Day to talk about Chargeway's latest feature, and how the transparency of at-a-glance pricing can help demystify public charging. You can watch that interview, above (disclaimer: Matt's been a dear friend of mine and the EV industry as-a-whole for years). 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 (most weeks, anyway). 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 Quick Charge is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more. GET THE APP: Chargeway. If you drive an electric vehicle, make charging at home fast, safe, and convenient with a Level 2 charger installed by Qmerit. As the nation's most trusted EV charger installation network, Qmerit connects you with licensed, background-checked electricians who specialize in EV charging. You'll get a quick online estimate, upfront pricing, and installation backed by Qmerit's nationwide quality guarantee. Their pros follow the highest safety standards so you can plug in at home with total peace of mind. Ready to charge smarter? Get started today with Qmerit.

    First-ever Jeep extended range EV, Mazda gets in the price war, and antique hybrids

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2025


    On today's hyped up hybrid episode of Quick Charge, we've got the first extended range electric Jeep in North America – the 500-mile new Grand Wagoneer PLUS news that Mazda is getting into the plug-in price war, and a whole lot more. Today's episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more. Source Links Jeep's new Grand Wagoneer is America's first range-extended EV, and it can drive 500 miles Win your dream EV in Climate XChange's 10th Annual Raffle! Mazda is getting in on the post-credit price war, slashing $10K off its plug-in cars Truckers are ready to embrace battery power TODAY – but it's not what you think Clear skies ahead – Delta partners with Maeve on M80 hybrid regional aircraft You can get antique plates for a first-gen Prius now — feeling old, yet? 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 (most weeks, anyway). 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. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

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