The Watt Car EV Podcast

Hey Rimac…apparently Ernest P. Worrell never made it to Croatia, or else you may have named your new robotaxi something other than Verne. Jim Varney jokes aside, we dive into Rimac’s newest release, an autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel, no pedals, and no windshield wiper. We also talk about Tesla eventually dropping support for Hardware 3 vehicles and what that means for car buyers. Plus,...

Bugatti announces a super-duper expensive hybrid, Ferrari reveals plans for a very expensive EV, and we can’t wait to talk about both. But the conversation goes sideways when EV motorsports and internal combustion hydrogen enters the conversation. Have we gone mad? Undoubtedly! In other news, VW invests in Rivian, Ford is losing money fast, plus more! Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts , A...

Ford has created a “dream team” to build the company’s next generation of affordable EVs, but is the idea as good as it sounds, or will it turn into an AI-generated nightmare? We break down the possibilities. We also look into recent statements by Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, as well as look at the realities of Aspark’s record-setting claims. Then there’s a gas ban in New Yor...

We update the hardware on our 2019 Tesla Model 3 SR+ and test out the latest FSD. The results are…well…mixed. We tell you all about it on this week’s podcast, along with what’s new at Rivian, how Virginia is opting out of CARB emissions requirements, which could lead to bad things — like what’s happening in Texas. We put all of that into context with a California emissions history lesson, chat abo...

Jeep’s on the move with the unveiling of the Wagoneer S, the brand’s first production-intent EV – and it’s a stunner. But there may be more to the story, with better versions possibly just around the corner. There’s also Ioniq’s new manufacturing plant to discuss, along with Lucid’s latest potential good news. Hear about all of that, and more, on this week’s podcast! Subscribe to the podcast on Ap...

It’d be an understatement to say that Toyota, Subaru, and Mazda have made halfhearted attempts at building EVs recently. Now, that trend continues with the announcement of new ICE development – but will the new lineup of hybrids actually be the undoing of these reluctant three? We untangle the mess on this week’s podcast. But that’s not all! Tesla’s in the news, both in a suspicious third-party su...

Last week’s announcement of a U.S. tariff hike on Chinese EVs is followed by this week’s news of a potent plug-in pickup from China called the Shark, showing companies like BYD have serious chops that could really take a bite out of the North American market. Meanwhile, the UAW fails to control the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama, Kia is spotted testing its EV pickup, Toyota announces an EV big rig...

Yeah, we know this episode’s podcast title is a misquote, but the sentiment remains true: With the unveiling of a hydrogen-powered 5500 Ram truck, it’s a bold strategy for Ram. What else is a bold strategy is Biden’s 100% tariff on Chinese-built EVs, Tesla’s about-face on firings and hirings, and Rimac shifting away from full electric hypercars. We talk about all of this, plus more, on this week’s...

We have two big EV topics to chew on this week, and both involve the heads of organizations. First, let’s discuss Elon. Is Tesla’s success tied to its polarizing CEO, or is there life after Musk? Then, it’s time to talk about the rise and fall (and then another rise and fall) of Henrik Fisker’s automotive empire. Was his vision right but the timing wrong, did Henrik concentrate on the wrong things...

Is Mazda trying to correct past mistakes with its Errata…err…we mean Arata? That’s just one of the topics we discuss on this week’s podcast. Other conversations include charging a Tesla on CCS, new CHAdeMO installations, Tesla lays off its Supercharger team, Nissan unveils “unique” concepts, and so much more. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts , Amazon Music , Audible , Spotify , Stitcher...

With a win at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant, the UAW is on a tear — and now its setting sights on Mercedes manufacturing in Alabama. We delve into how this came to be, and what this could mean for the price of your next EV. We also discuss Tesla, from the company’s Q1 earnings to Cybertruck recalls, and more. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts , Amazon Music , Audible , Spotify , Stitcher...

Rivian’s hoping to move fast and fix things — like charging experiences for its owners. Thanks to a creative grading system, Rivian could have a winning idea on its hands. But before we discuss that on this week’s podcast, we tackle Tesla Model 3 windshield repair costs, Tesla layoffs, Mercedes redesign strategies, and more. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts , Amazon Music , Audible , Spo...

Turns out, supercar producer Rimac might be getting into other EVs via its increasingly efficient battery technology. We jump into that topic on this week’s podcast, but before we do, we discuss the politics of EVs, recent state legislation, EV and hybrid Q1 sales, a fantastic Tesla financing option (although only in China), and more! Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts , Amazon Music , Aud...

From fantastic EV lease deals to manufacturer profit (and loss), on this week’s podcast we look at the realities of the EV market and what it means for the makers and the buyers. The question is, what’s the financial sweet spot for car buyers, and can automakers hit those targets without going out of business. Furthermore, what does this mean for government regulation when it comes to electrificat...

Genesis heats things up with Magma edition cars, but is the color too hot to handle? We discuss on this week’s podcast. We also talk about Cupra (which we dub the Magma of VW’s SEAT brand) coming to the U.S., the problems with renting an EV, the ID.Buzz GTX, a Cybertruck teardown, whether Rimac’s next big reveal will be super awesome or a super downer, and more! Subscribe to the podcast on Apple P...

The Volkswagen Group is the company you can’t help but root for, as VW is once again swinging for the EV fences with the Audi Q6 e-tron, VW ID.3 GTX and ID.7 GTX Tourer, and a potential $25,000 GTI. But there’s more news for VW, as the company’s Chattanooga plant may soon become unionized. In other news, Rivian might be building a higher priced R1 vehicle named the R1X, Honda and Nissan begin talk...

Rivian pulls a rabbit out of a hat at its R2 reveal with a “one more thing” moment for the R3 and R3X. But…is the charging port on the wrong side? Plus, power is restored to Tesla’s Berlin factory, Porsche sets Laguna Seca on fire, the Cybertruck gets put to the test, Aptera needs more funding (again), and so much more — all presented for free on this week’s podcast. Subscribe to the podcast on Ap...

Stellantis is coming out of the gate strong with its future Charger EV that is pure, unadulterated, and unapologetically Dodge. On this week’s podcast, we sort through the latest details and decide whether or not Dodge is on the road to success. Then, Rivian’s R2 details leak ahead of schedule, Ford gets access to the Supercharger network, BYD’s Seagull flies (although not in the U.S.), Karma goes...

Is the Apple Car dead? Did it ever really exist? We discuss the past, present, and future of the vehicle that never was. We also chat about Cybertruck sightings, Elon Musk’s “Ludicrous” claims, Chinese manufacturers entering the U.S. market (will they or wont they…or have they already), the Nikola Badger returns (maybe), and so much more! Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts , Amazon Music ,...

Building EV charging infrastructure is far from simple. From EV charging companies to real estate, there’s a lot to consider. This week, we welcome real estate attorney-turned-EV advocate Jason Goldfarb to the podcast to dive into the nitty gritty. What are the flaws in NEVI? What are some of the potential landmines awaiting those looking to install public chargers? We discuss that — and so much m...

Is Chrysler’s latest EV concept tapping into awesomeness, or does its strangely named Halcyon concept fall short of the company’s sedan design from two decades ago? In other weird name news, we discuss Nikola’s HYLA hydrogen fueling station opening (along with other hydrogen news, both good and bad), the Ionna EV charging consortium, Stellantis moving to J3400, problems with the Fisker Ocean, and...

Tesla’s recall strikes our very own show, but now the icons are bigger on our Model 3 and we’ve marked ourselves safe from the potential ensuing madness. In this week’s news, unions are back, as VW potentially welcomes the UAW into its Chattanooga plant, Toyota suffers its own “dieselgate,” but we expect the results to differ greatly from the OG controversy, Dodge puts its Charger EV on the road,...

Rivian has accidentally announced the date and location of its R2 chassis unveiling — and that location is a grassy knoll. We chat about that on this week’s podcast, as well as Fisker delivery woes being confirmed, Porsche unveiling its electric Macan, Lucid developing its more affordable EV, GM second guessing its own decisions, Stellantis arguing that the “s” in “speed” stands for “safety,” and...

With ice storms a-brewin’ and the media (once again) closing in on the realities of cold-weather EV charging, there’s a lot to talk about this week. But first, there’s a tale about the Chevy Bolt battery recall that must be told, as well as a dealer’s run-in with L2 cable thieves and EV investments. After all of this, we discuss Edmunds and its ability to instantly claim a Fisker Ocean (are there...

The CES Show is back, baby! EVs galore spread across Las Vegas and one of our correspondents at ground zero gave us plenty to talk about this week. From wild EV concepts from Honda, Kia, and VinFast to underground mining, MCS chargers, EVTOLs, and more, we dive into the electronics show that’s seemingly on track to replace all U.S. auto shows. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts , Amazon Mu...