Quick Charge

On today's completely predictable episode of Quick Charge, Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the weather looks like it'll be too rough to show off his new "flying" Roadster 2.0 on October 1st, so he's pushing the reveal back another two weeks – but after 9 years of moving goal posts and broken promises, what's a few more weeks?

We've also got a review of the Tom Hanks classic The Money Pit, which may or may not be a reference to spending $250,000 on a car you've never driven, touched, or even seen – but which you might get to see in two weeks...

On today's pressing episode of Quick Charge, we challenge the notion that all press is good press by filling the void of information surrounding this week's Tesla Cybercab launch with a whole lot of bad news for the Full Self Driving brand.

This week's headlines have been full of bad news for Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self Driving brands, but the big questions are more about the broken promises made to the company's earliest believers – plus, Waymo racks up speeding tickets while IONNA slashes the cost of your electric road trips for Labor Day.

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On today's hard-working episode of Quick Charge, we tip our collective hat to Apple CEO Tim Cook on his last day at work before taking a look at Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Auto's approach to the compact truck market, and ponder its chances against The House That Henry Built.

We've also got a pint-size powerhouse in the form of Waev's new Tiger Li-Ion airport tug that can tow more than 60,000 lbs., all day, every day, for nearly $20,000 per year less than the diesel competition.

Today’s episode is sponsored by GM Energy Pass, a new feature th...

On this second consecutive self-steering episode of Quick Charge, we take a look at how Tesla increased its national self-driving Robotaxi fleet by half with the stroke of a pen, and see how the company's autonomous deployments compare to the rest of the world's.

We've also got some news from autonomous freight and logistics experts Einride, who have Level 4 autonomous heavy trucks operating in Europe and, more recently, Ohio – but they're just scratching the surface, because China has literally THOUSANDS of fully autonomous ultra heavy haul trucks operating in mines, today.

You can check those out...

On today's self-steering episode of Quick Charge, we take a look at Waymo's westward expansion into 18 new California counties – a move the company believes will power it to more than one MILLION paid rides by the end of the year.

Waymo has won approval to expand its services in California to encompass all speeds, all zones, and all weather service for the majority of California's population. When considered alongside the rapid expansion of robotaxi inventory at the company's Mesa conversion facility, it sure does look like Waymo is scaling in a big, big way.

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On today's time-sensitive episode of Quick Charge, we revisit the idea that even a broken clock is right twice a day as we examine US President Donald Trump's takes on electric vehicles, range anxiety, highway road signs, and why he's absolutely right.

The Donald and I don't see eye-to-eye too often, but when he called range anxiety a disease at a Las Vegas political rally last week, he hit on something wasn't just true – but which was at the very root of the range anxiety phenomenon: visibility.

If you blinked (blunk?) and missed it, President Tru...

On today's super simple episode of Quick Charge, we talk about GM's new Energy Pass, SpaceX's big bet on fossil fuels, and Tesla's long-promised Roadster set to arrive "real soon." Again. For what is nearly the tenth year in a row.

GM is offering two new technologies that promise to make life easier for electric Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC drivers. Called "Energy Pass" and "Plug and Charge," the pair eliminate the need to juggle apps and payment methods while simplifying the experience all together – when you get to a participating station, just plug in your GM vehicle int...

On today's brain-addled episode of Quick Charge, President Trump says electric car drivers have a disease, Full Self Driving won't stop earning Tesla drivers tickets, and Waymo's CEO spends over forty minutes explaining why Tesla's tech won't ever beat a human driver.

Despite being riddled with factual inaccuracies about fake gas bans, nonexistent EV mandates, and claims that Elon was against the very thing that he spent $250 million lobbying for, President Trump's Red Rock rally speech absolutely nailed a very real truth about America's electric vehicle chrging infrastructure: it's pretty much invisible.

You can check...

On today's episode of Quick Charge, the audio is sketchy but the math is absolutely rock solid with 94% of current EV owners saying they'll NEVER go back to driving an antiquated gas guzzler. CDK's David Thomas walks us through the findings.

From dealership interactions to daily driving habits, CDK's research taps real EV drivers to uncover how behavior, expectations, and satisfaction vary across different ownership scenarios. With access to thousands of auto deals and an in-depth view of what drives today’s EV buyers, this study can help all EV stakeholders get more insight into what EV bu...

Full autonomy, big delivery numbers, and a push towards electrification that's moving global markets? We must be talking about electric forklifts! On today's uplifting episode of Quick Charge, we've got Big Joe CMO Martin Boyd here to walk us through some of the ways these battery powered equipment assets are making all our lives better.

Forklifts might not be the first vehicles that come to mind when you think about EVs, but they may be one of the industry's biggest success stories. Electric forklifts are quieter, smoother, and produce zero tailpipe emissions, making them ideal for warehouses...

Today's episode of Quick Charge means business – the business of buying up power stations to power up the pet AI that says it would have picked you over Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA draft and the business of fleecing well-heeled car collectors out of an extra $100,000 on a (mostly) new Tesla Model S Signature sedan.

We also get into the very business-y business of Lucid's finances and plummeting stock price – despite billions of dollars and many months of runway still available, as well as the plummetting prices on world-class EVs from Hyundai and Polestar.

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On today's totally normal episode of Quick Charge, it seems like EV sales are starting to normalize in the US after the loss of the Federal Tax Credit last September – but they're taking off everywhere else, and Europe is leading the charge!

Global EV sales hit a record 2 million deliveries in June, lead by a red hot European market and followed by expansion into Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa from more affordable Chinese brands. In the US, EV sales are still down from last year's peak, but up more than 20% from last month and trending upward as...

On today's surveillance-heavy episode of Quick Charge, it sure looks like Tesla's in-cabin driver cam failed to stop one woman from falling asleep at the wheel, but safety and attention monitoring may not be the end game for that camera after all.

Fred takes a look at Tesla FSD's use of in-cabin cameras in three different articles covering how the system can be defeated, what the system might be used for in the future, and what it's probably being used for now – and none of those things might be what you think!

We've also got wor...

On today's officially priced episode of Quick Charge, Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Auto has announced official pricing for its compact, ultra-simple electric pickup and SUV – and this compact truck just so happens to be the most affordable new car you can buy in the US!

With more than 200 miles of electric range and a 180 hp electric motor (~65 more hp than a base 4 cyl. Ford Ranger in 1996), the $24,950 back-to-basics Slate Auto truck promises to be the most affordable new vehicle on US roads when deliveries begin later this year. That is huge news for compact truck fans, recent grads, an...

On today's authoritative episode of Quick Charge, we're talking all about how ports and port authorities are cleaning up their acts with the man in charge of the busiest port in North America – Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba.

We've also got a new, data-sharing electric semi pilot program at the Canadian port of Vancouver featuring Peterbilt Model 579EV Class 8 trucks, a massive new electric truck deal from Orange EV, and a thousand-year-old idea that seems brand new again.

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On today's time-traveling episode of Quick Charge, Tesla might be trying to erase evidence of FSD fraud, Caterpillar keeps trying to electrify the construction space, and time is rapidly running out on what's left of the 30% home solar tax credit.

While Elon tries to change the past and weasel his way out of a multibillion dollar payout and CAT seems focused on the future, our guest, Tom Pacheco, is here to talk about getting your technicians trained up on high-voltage systems and batteries today. Check out his site, then let us know if you agree with me...

On today's really quick episode of Quick Charge, we're doing a crossover episode with Mike Bush from Marketscale's Hammer Down podcast and explore the business of freight and logistics, how to get involved, and what the future might hold for more efficient, fossil-free trucking.

The world of shipping and logistics is far more interesting than it may seem at first glance, and Mike Bush from Marketscale's Hammer Down podcast is one of the best in the business when it comes to helping young talent wrap their heads around the hundreds of ways their interest can serve, and...

On today's exciting episode of Quick Charge, we're exploring the industry's backlash – real or imagined – towards Elon Musk's SpaceX merger talks, Full Self Driving's staff revolt, and even large, utility scale solar projects. All this and more when you hit that play button!

We also explore Elon's history of billion-dollar self dealing, why Tesla's labeling team doesn't trust FSD, Waymo's new 6th gen hardware gets real, and why (or who) is actually upset by utility-grade solar projects going up in their back yards.

Today’s episode is sponsored by GM Energy. If you want to experien...

On today's momentous episode of Quick Charge, we are all about momentum, with solid-state EV batteries gaining ground in China as wind and solar continuing to grow in the US while Tesla's self-driving Robotaxi fleet, well – doesn't.

After some promising numbers in April, it looks like Tesla's Robotaxi fleet is shrinking in May, with the overall fleet apparently plummeting into the single digit range if the data is to be believed. We've also got a low-cost Chinese EV packing semi solid-state batteries that's in production TODAY, along with some good news from the wind and solar contingent.

On this really quick episode of Quick Charge, we spend time with TRC Senior Director and ACT Expo co-founder Joe Annotti to talk about the state of clean trucking in 2026, incentive programs, and ever so briefly talk about why Autocar was my favorite OEM at this year's show.

We've got a roundup of the best, electric-only ACT Expo 2026 stories in the source links, below, along with one or two extra points Joe and I touched on during the interview. Enjoy!

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On today's prancing episode of Quick Charge, the prancing horse people at Ferrari have released a world of firsts: the first-ever electric Ferrari, the brand's first 5 passenger sedan, AND the first car designed by legendary Apple designer Jony Ive.

We also draw some parallels between the launch of the first-ever electric four-door Ferrari with the launch of the first-ever electric four-door Ford Mustang a few years ago, and a lot of the same hysterics are upset (for a lot of the same reasons). Plus: Cadillac is going south!

Today’s episode is sponsored by GM En...

On today's sustainably-produced episode of Quick Charge, we explore some of the different types of sustainability available to us in the world of electrification, celebrate some big wind and solar wins, and take a minute to enjoy some schadenfreude.

We've also got a quick take on the all-new Volvo EX60, a couple of new European additions to the V2H list, and we get around to talking about Tesla (if just a little)

Today's episode is sponsored by GM Energy. If you want to experience more resilience and control over your home energy, the GM...

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 e...

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 re...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 re...

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.

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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...

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+...

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...

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 co...

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.

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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...

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...

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 Jo...

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.

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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...