EV Geek Podcast

Is the "Honor System" enough to save Tesla Superchargers?

In today’s episode, we are diving into a massive week for EVs. Tesla has finally launched its long-awaited "Virtual Queues" at 5 pilot locations, but there’s a catch: it doesn’t actually lock the stalls. Is this the end of Supercharger chaos, or just the beginning?

 

Plus, we cover:

Rivian’s "Agentic" Assistant: Rivian just leapfrogged Tesla’s voice tech with a new LLM that can actually control your vehicle's ride height, drive modes, and even your Google Calendar.

 

Cadillac’s 100k Milestone: Caddy is officially an EV powerhouse, and surprisingly, 75% of their buyers are coming from other brands (looking at you, Tesla).

 

Mazda’s "Free" Delay: Mazda pushed their 2027 EV to 2029, but the real story is that it’s costing them $0. We explain why that's a huge red flag for their EV development.

 

The Buzz is Back: VW announces the 2027 ID.Buzz. It finally gets One-Pedal Driving and a "Tourer" camper trim, but is the range still a dealbreaker?

Rivian just changed the game for EV software.

In today’s episode, we’re doing a deep dive into the official launch of the Rivian Assistant and the "Hey Rivian" ecosystem. This isn't just another voice assistant—it’s a massive technical shift powered by Rivian Unified Intelligence.

We break down how this AI actually controls your vehicle (unlike Tesla’s Grok), the technical specs of the edge AI compute in the R1 and R2 platforms, and whether the Connect+ subscription is actually worth your money.

Is Tesla building a European battery fortress?

In this technical deep dive, we analyze Tesla’s massive $250 million investment to double battery production at Giga Berlin-Brandenburg. We move past the headlines to explore the market economics, engineering milestones, and the strategic push for an 18 GWh annual capacity.

In today’s episode of The Friday Charge, we’re breaking down the full specs of the new iX3, including its massive 108.7kWh battery and 400kW charging speeds. We also dive into some of the wildest EV news of the week, from a "Tesla-fied" classic Mustang to a massive price drop for the Model 3 in Canada.

In this episode:

BMW iX3 Orders Live: We break down the $61,500 starting price, the 434-mile range, and why the "options list" might be your biggest hurdle.

The Ultimate Fusion: A shop in Sacramento swapped a dual-motor Tesla Model 3 drivetrain (and FSD!) into a 1966 Mustang. Is this the coolest EV conversion ever?

Model 3 Price Drop: Tesla just launched a $39k CAD (~$28k USD) Model 3 in Canada thanks to a new import program. We look at the Chinese-built tech making this possible.

Tesla’s New Hardware: "Semi Charging for Business" is here, featuring the $188k MegaCharger and the all-new $40k BaseCharger for fleets.

Lexus TZ Revealed: Lexus pulls the wraps off their 2nd EV, a 3-row luxury SUV built on the Highlander platform. Can it compete with the R1S and Cadillac Vistiq?

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 most important electric vehicle of 2026. Is Tesla finally facing its toughest competitor? Let’s get into it.