EV Geek Podcast

Rivian just dropped a bombshell that changes the entire EV landscape. From cutting R2 production costs by a staggering 50% to a massive 300,000-unit capacity boost at the new Georgia plant, RJ Scaringe is playing chess while others play checkers. In today’s episode of EV Geek Studios, we’re diving deep into the "Maximus" drive unit, the $4.5B DOE loan restructure, and why the R2 is officially the...

The data is in for the first four months of 2026, and a historic shift has occurred in the UK electric vehicle market. For the first time, BYD has officially surpassed Tesla in total BEV registrations, claiming over 7% market share. In this deep dive, host Joel Spencer moves past the headlines to analyze the engineering milestones and infrastructure economics driving this transition. We break down...

Welcome back to The Friday Charge ⚡ — your weekly dose of the biggest electric vehicle news! This week, the EV market just got turned upside down: 🚗 Kia EV6 prices SLASHED by up to $5,900 — now undercutting the Tesla Model Y 📈 Toyota EV sales SURGE 139% globally with the updated Toyota bZ4X (bZ) 🔌 General Motors goes ALL-IN on Tesla’s charging standard + adds home backup power 🇩🇪 **Volkswagen...

The "Tesla Moat" is under fire. For years, the Supercharger network was the undisputed king, but in 2026, the competition has stopped trying to copy Tesla and started trying to out-engineer them. In today's episode, we’re breaking down the two radical philosophies fighting for your next road trip: Tesla’s "Invisible" Solution: How their new AI-powered "Virtual Queues" and trajectory forecasting ar...

Welcome back to The Friday Charge, brought to you by EV Geek Studios! ⚡ I’m your host Sebastian, and today’s episode (April 24, 2026) is packed with some of the biggest EV developments we’ve seen in weeks—from luxury shakeups to major Tesla news and the future of ultra-fast charging. 🚗 In today’s episode: Hyundai Ioniq 3 Debuts Hyundai unveils its sleek new “Aero Hatch” design with impressive ef...

Hyundai and Kia have officially extended the warranty on the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) for E-GMP vehicles to a staggering 15 years or 180,000 miles. In this video, we break down why this is happening, which cars are covered, and what you need to do if you’re an owner. In this video: What exactly is an ICCU and why is it failing? The specifics of the April 2026 warranty extension. Why...

The "land-grab" phase of the EV industry is over. We have officially entered Phase 2: The Efficiency Era. Today, we analyze three critical developments that define this new landscape, from the UK to Arizona. We start with Kia’s 100,000-unit milestone and the end of the "Niro Era" as they shift to the dedicated E-GMP platform. Then, we dive into the "Speed vs. Density" debate through the lens of Be...

The EV landscape just shifted. From Ford’s massive internal reshuffle to BMW retiring its flagship electric SUV, the "startup phase" of the EV transition is officially over. Today, we’re breaking down the departure of Ford’s EV chief, the arrival of 800V Mercedes luxury, and why you’ll need to pass a quiz to drive a Tesla in Europe. Subscribe to The Friday Charge for your weekly spark of EV news!...

The EV charging landscape just shifted! 🚨 IONNA, the powerful charging joint venture from 8 major automakers (BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota), has officially partnered with Circle K to create a massive, 400kW+ high-power charging network across North America. Is this the partnership that finally challenges Tesla's Supercharger dominance? In this 40-minute solo...

The Q1 2026 EV sales data is officially in, and there is a new name in the top three. The Toyota bZ (formerly bZ4X) has seen a staggering 80% year-over-year increase, moving over 10,000 units and bypassing industry favorites like the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Chevy Equinox EV. In this episode, we break down the technical and strategic shifts that fueled this surge. We analyze Toyota’s move to native NAC...

Hello everyone, and welcome to this episode of the Friday Charge, brought to you by EV Geek Studios. This week, we dive into the expanding used cars market and discuss Volkswagen's decision to discontinue another one of their evs. We also cover the latest ev news regarding Rivian's EPA numbers. Stay tuned for more insights from the ev geek! Questions? Comments? Interested in being a guest? Email u...

Don't let the headlines fool you. Rivian's Q1 2026 production might look "down," but the reality is a masterclass in business discipline. From clearing out 2025 inventory to launching the most anticipated SUV of the decade, RJ Scaringe is playing the long game. We’re looking at the $1.25B Uber deal, the 30,000 Amazon van fleet, and why Rivian’s new "zonal architecture" is scaring the legacy automa...

Massive EV discounts are hitting the market—$7,500, $8,000+, and counting. What’s causing it, and what does it mean for buyers and the future of electric cars? Let’s break it down.

Toyota has long been labeled as “late” to the electric vehicle race—but Q1 2026 might be the turning point. In this episode, we break down the latest sales numbers for Toyota’s bZ lineup and what they reveal about the company’s evolving EV strategy. Despite a cooling EV market and the loss of federal tax incentives, Toyota is seeing surprising momentum with its electric SUV. So what’s driving the...

This week on The Friday Charge, Sebastian and Joel chat about.... - All new Subaru Getaway  - No more Tesla Model X and S - Toyota BZ Q1 sales - Google Maps updates Plus a whole lot more! Questions? Comments? Interested in being a guest? Email us at info@evgeekstudios.com

Is the future of the EV revolution actually a bike? Today, March 31, 2026, we’re breaking down the massive news that Rivian’s micromobility spinoff, ALSO, has officially hit a $1 billion valuation. In this "Mega-Episode," we explore why DoorDash just led a $200 million funding round and signed a multi-year deal to deploy autonomous delivery quads in your neighborhood. We’re going deep into the har...

600 miles of range. 10-minute charging. Toyota reliability. We used to think Toyota was behind, but their latest investments in Kentucky and North Carolina prove they were just getting started. This is the full breakdown of Toyota’s upcoming EV models, the secret battery tech they’ve been hiding, and why your next car might not have a gas tank after all. What do you think? Is Toyota too late, or i...

Are we finally at the tipping point for Electric Vehicles? In this 40-minute masterclass, we break down the "Holy Grail" of transportation: Solid-State Batteries. From China’s new 2026 industrial standards to Toyota’s 1,200km range roadmap, we separate the laboratory science from the marketing hype. In this episode: The Physics: Why sulfide electrolytes are winning the "liquid vs. solid" war. The...

Joel and Sebastian get you caught up on the latest EV news for the week!

On today's mini-charge episode, brought to you by EV Geek Studios, Sebastian discusses just how much range is necessary now. Almost every new EV being introduced seems to be targeting this magical 300 mile number, but is that really enough? Will we see 400 become the norm? Questions? Comments? Interested in being a guest? Email us at info@evgeekstudios.com

On this week's episode of The Friday Charge, hosts Joel and Sebastian discuss: - The New BMW i3 - Volkswagen's New Naming Scheme and EV Marketing as a whole - Volvo EX30 Dead in the US - Rivian x Uber - Ionna's Huge Milestone Questions? Comments? Interested in being a guest? Email us at info@evgeekstudios.com

The $16 Billion "Never Mind." On March 12, 2026, the automotive world was rocked by a move so massive it triggered Honda’s first annual net loss in nearly 70 years. In a single afternoon, one of the world's most disciplined automakers hit the "delete" button on its entire North American electric vehicle slate—wiping out the futuristic 0 Series Saloon, the 0 Series SUV, and the highly anticipated A...

Is the dream of an all-American EV charging network actually killing the rollout? In today’s episode, we dive into the massive legal battle between 20 state attorneys general and the federal government over the 100% "Buy America" mandate. We break down why $5 billion in NEVI funding is currently stuck in limbo and what it means for the future of your road trips. We also take a first look at the 20...

Today on the Friday Charge, Joel and Sebastian discuss some major updates from Lucid and Rivian. Plus other news from Mercedes, Honda and Chevy!