The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is an electric van designed to carry people. Instead of using gasoline, it runs on electricity from a battery. The podcast mentions it because it’s coming back to the USA and charging access is a big part of owning an EV.
A virtual charging queue is like a digital line for charging at a station. Instead of showing up and guessing, you can wait in an app so the station is used more efficiently.
One-pedal driving means you can slow down mostly by lifting off the gas pedal. The car uses the battery’s braking effect to slow you down, so you don’t have to use the brake pedal as often.
Tesla Supercharger stations are Tesla’s fast-charging spots for electric cars. When lots of people arrive at once, it can get chaotic, so Tesla is adding a way to manage who plugs in next.
“Queue position” means where you are in line to use a charging stall. Tesla shows your spot and how long you’ll likely wait, so people don’t crowd around the chargers.
A live activity notification is a phone alert that updates in real time. Here, it’s used to show your Supercharger wait/queue info while you’re waiting.
Tesla checks both where your car is and where your phone is to decide whether you’re allowed into the queue. That helps make sure the system is for drivers who are really at that charger.
“Voluntary compliance” here means Tesla can encourage you to follow the line, but it won’t physically stop you from plugging in out of order. It’s more of a reminder than a lockout.
“Third-party vehicles” are EVs from brands other than Tesla. The hosts say many Supercharger stalls can already charge non-Tesla cars, and Tesla’s queue feature now includes them too.
“Pet mode” is a setting in some EVs that helps keep the cabin at a safer temperature for a pet while the car is parked. It’s meant to reduce the chance of overheating or other problems.
“Dog mode” is a feature that helps keep the car’s inside conditions safer for a dog while you’re away. It’s basically a pet-friendly climate/monitoring mode.
CO2 is a gas that contributes to climate change. The discussion here is about whether EVs should be marketed mainly by how they help the environment, or mainly by how they help the driver (like saving money).
Plug-in hybrids are cars that can drive on electricity, but they also have a gasoline engine. You can charge them at home or at a charger, and they can still use gas when the battery runs low.
Range extenders are add-ons in some EV-like cars that help them go farther. They generate electricity when the battery is running low, so you’re not limited to just the battery range.
A “BEV” is a fully electric car that runs only on its battery. The point here is that the speaker thinks the industry shouldn’t rely on only fully electric cars—other electrified options can help too.
Connected vehicles are cars that can send data over the internet. That means the company can see things like how often people plug in their car to charge it.
The Ford Ranger is a pickup truck. A plug-in hybrid version can run like a regular vehicle, but it can also be charged from a plug to use electricity for part of your driving. The podcast mentions it because more people are plugging these versions in lately.
Car
Polestar three
The Polestar three is Polestar’s main SUV. In this update, it’s designed to charge faster and use a newer, more powerful electric setup.
An 800-volt setup is the car’s electrical system being designed for faster charging. It helps the charger deliver more power quickly, so you spend less time plugged in.
Term
DCC charging
DCC charging means fast charging using direct current. It’s the kind of charging that can deliver a lot of power quickly.
“10 to 80” is a way to compare charging speed. It measures how long it takes to go from a low battery level to 80%, which is where charging is typically still fast.
An asynchronous motor is another kind of electric motor used in EVs. It works using electromagnetic induction, and it’s controlled to work with the rest of the drivetrain.
Drive AGX Orin is a newer, faster computer used in the car. The idea is that it can handle more demanding software features.
Car
Polestar four
Polestar four is an electric car. The hosts say Polestar is updating it with new suspension and software tuning, and they’re also planning a wagon/estate version later.
Chassis calibration is the process of tuning how a car’s control systems and vehicle dynamics behave—things like steering feel, stability control responses, and suspension/handling characteristics. In this segment, Polestar says it’s updating the Polestar four’s chassis calibration as part of the refresh.
Dampers are shock absorbers. “Passive” means they don’t electronically change their settings, and “high capacity” implies they can better control the car over rough roads or hard driving.
MPTO is a way for an electric car to send power out to other equipment. The hosts say it’s unusual and helps companies build special-purpose vehicles that need power from the car’s battery.
California is offering cash rebates to help businesses buy cleaner electric trucks. The goal is to speed up the switch from diesel to EVs for deliveries and freight.
It’s a government rule that pushes transportation fuels to be cleaner. The cleaner the fuel, the more support or credits the program can generate for things like EV rebates.
A heat pump is like a more efficient heater/air-conditioner. In an EV, it can warm the cabin and battery more efficiently—especially when it’s cold—so you lose less driving range.
An EV uses coolant to keep key parts from getting too hot or too cold. Dual loops mean the battery and the drive system get their own cooling circuits so each can be controlled better.
Tesla Model Y is an EV crossover. In this segment, it’s mentioned as the first Tesla where a specific heat-and-coolant routing system was introduced, which helps manage temperatures for the battery and drive system.
Car
Kateram Project V
Kateram Project V is an electric sports car project. The hosts talk about it being lightweight and designed to do repeated track runs by charging quickly between them.
High-speed charging means the EV can take charge quickly when plugged in. How fast it charges can change depending on battery condition and how full it already is.
“Hot laps” are short, fast track runs where you push the car hard. The idea here is to do several runs, then charge briefly, then go again.
LIVE
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Capital One's tech team isn't just talking about multi-agentic AI. They are already deployed one.
It's called Chat Concierge and it's simplifying car shopping. Using self-reflection and layered
reasoning with live API checks. It doesn't just help buyers find a car they love. It helps schedule
a test drive. Get pre-approved for financing. An estimate trading value. Advanced, intuitive,
and deployed. That's how they stack. That's technology at Capital One.
The $10 God of Habit Meal Deal. Swing by for half a Santa Barbara char. With fresh sourdough
and fresh avocado. A five-piece chicken bites. Your choice of a fresh select side. And a drink.
All for a fresh price. The $10 God of Habit Meal Deal. Habit. Fresh like that. Limited time only.
Price and participation varies. Tax extra terms at HabitBurger.com.
Capital One's tech team isn't just talking about multi-agentic AI. They are already deployed one.
It's called Chat Concierge and it's simplifying car shopping. Using self-reflection and layered
reasoning with live API checks. It doesn't just help buyers find a car they love. It helps schedule a
test drive. Get pre-approved for financing. An estimate trading value. Advanced, intuitive,
and deployed. That's how they stack. That's technology at Capital One.
Welcome back to EV News Daily. Today the ID buzz returns to the USA. Tesla's virtual
supercharger queues and Ford urges more from Europe. Plus, stay tuned. Later in the show,
I'll tell you why sports car maker Kateram hasn't given up on its plan to make a lightweight EV.
Let's get into it. Volkswagen confirming the ID buzz will return to the US market.
For model year 2027, after skipping 26, VW Group of America CEO Kiel Gruner said the gap
came because model year 25 vehicles arrived late, leaving a model year 26 just too short
to justify. The 2027 lineup has four trims. There's the Pro S rear wheel drive, the Pro S
4-motion. That's VW speak for all the wheel drive. The Tora 4-motion and the Pro S Plus 4-motion.
Pro S 4-motion and Tora 4-motion. Both join the range. The interesting one I think is the Tora
4-motion. That gives the ID buzz a factory built camper. That includes a fold out mattress and
platform, window blinds, ventilation panels, and a folding table and chair set. It also adds an
overnight mode. That uses the high voltage traction pack to power climate control and other functions
whilst the vehicle is off but you're camping in the back of it.
Volkswagen has also added true one-pedal driving. Only 10 years too late. Welcome to the party.
In the 2027 version of the ID buzz. Weren't ArriVs doing that a long time ago? Oh well,
at least they got there in the end. The system obviously lets the vehicle break to a complete
stop through regen alone rather than doing the last couple of miles an hour by depressing the
brake pedal. Somewhat of a no-brainer. non-negotiable as well for many people
in their EV for, well, like I say, many, many years now. But Volkswagen finally implementing that.
The new model year will use the updated software called IDS6, adding a new navigation layout,
new vehicle settings page, and a larger expanded app store with third-party apps like YouTube.
Welcome to the party, Volkswagen! And Spotify joining as well. Hey, look, better late than never.
After all, that vehicle finally getting there.
Look, my brother's got a buzz and it's very cool. It is just a big car, really. However, it's really,
really nice. If I could afford one, absolutely would have a buzz. Especially with two young
kiddos in my driveway. It would just be, it would be brilliant. And adding those features, well,
yeah, vehicle to load is here now and camping mode and stuff like that should just be normal. It
shouldn't just be reserved for the camping variant, which is obviously going to carry a big price
premium. It should just be on the basic bog standard ID buzz, shouldn't it? Shouldn't it?
It's just a software line of code. Maybe it's just me. Anyway, that's why I'm not running a car
company and running a podcast instead. Let's move on. Tesla has started a virtual queuing system at
five supercharger locations, letting drivers join a waitlist in the Tesla app rather than forming
a physical line at sites. The trial arrived a year after Tesla pledged to begin it. That was
some time in Q2 2025. Code tied to the feature has been around sitting in the app for people who
were kind of reverse engineer these things for many, many months. The pilot followed a viral
video that showed Tesla owners fighting at a crowded station over who was next. Back in the day,
I'm talking like a lot again, a long time ago, like a decade ago, early, early doors with Tesla
supercharger stations. I remember people keeping handwritten notes and when you had finished
charging, you'd pass it onto the next person or somebody was happily to happy to do that role
over holidays, particularly when the supercharger stations get absolutely chaotic.
There'd often be an informal queuing system, a polite, well-mannered group of people saying,
oh, where am I on the list? Oh, okay, so you're next. Well, those days are clearly long gone.
Tesla now has a tool for the part of charging your car that happens before the cable reaches
the car. So what happens is you reach a Tesla supercharger station, the Tesla shows your queue
position and your wait time. The information appears through a live activity notification.
Tesla uses vehicle location and phone location to confirm who can join the queue. The system
doesn't enforce it, though. It's not like if you are later in the queue and you skip it on purpose
and then you plug the cable in. It's not as if it physically won't charge your car. It's voluntary
compliance. If a driver starts a session out of turn, it will ask you, there is a wait list
and you're ahead of the queue. Are you sure? And you could just say yes, if you're that kind of person.
Tesla has also opened the feature to non-Tesla revies, very importantly,
through the Tesla app. And that matters because 70% of the 80,000 plus supercharging stalls
now accept third-party vehicles. Opening the network has pushed utilisation rates higher
across the system. So you have to involve those third-party drivers as well. Sounds like I'd
love to know if you've used it, by the way, in the five trial locations. Is it working? Have you
seen on Reddit discussions? I haven't seen anything from people saying, yep, good, thumbs up, thumbs
down. It seems like this is the kind of stuff that Tesla can do that they're good at. The kind
of headlines that they used to generate weekly. Like, hey, we've had an idea, we've implemented it,
and that sort of all seems to have dried up a lot lately, which is my deep sadness around Tesla.
Still doing some good stuff, but that kind of innovation used to be boom,
all the time. Didn't it back in the day with Tesla? Like, great idea. We've rolled it out.
Stuff like pet mode or dog mode, if you want to call it, that all those kind of things.
Yeah, this is where they can absolutely excel and show everybody else the way. I hope it works
really well. It seems like a brilliant idea. Let's move on. And Ford's boss in Europe, Jim
Baumbick, says that the industry needs to sell EVs on personal benefits and not CO2, and I've been
saying that for, well, the best part of however many podcasts I've made since 2018. Don't sell
somebody an EV based on saving the rain forest. Tell them you'll save money. There's more pounds
in your pocket, dollars in your drawer, all that kind of stuff, because EVs are cheaper, better,
faster. And if you want to also think about emissions and stuff like that, that is absolutely
brilliant. Speaking at the Financial Times Future of the Car Summit in London, he argued drivers
respond to what vehicles do for them, not the carbon case. I completely agree. Everyone is
inherently selfish. I want the best possible, safest, cheapest means of transport for my
family to keep them safe, to do it in a way that costs me not as much money, to drive brilliant
cars. And I absolutely love the fact that there is an environmental benefit as well. I really
despise sitting in traffic with the windows open, just breathing in other people's diesel fumes.
We just need to get electric as soon as possible for all of our health, our children's health,
and just the future. But if you're trying to sell someone something, I completely agree. You've
got to appeal to their instincts, which are, by human nature, going to be selfish. There you go.
I said the quiet bit out loud. But isn't it true, I think? He says the fastest path to meet zero
emissions need not be the most restrictive. This is where he diverges from where I think.
He says that the electrification push should be broad, like plug-in hybrids and range extenders.
In his view, pure Bev should not be the only acceptable route. And of course, the boss of
Ford in Europe has to say that because his boss is also saying that, isn't he? Like Ford's new
case is, well, we tried EVs, they didn't work. But hey, look at all of our great hybrids. And
that's the company line he has to tell it. Rising fuel costs partly linked to tensions in the Middle
East have led to a 10% increase in Ford charging of their plug-in hybrids. Because you can monitor
this on connected vehicles. And so they can see that Ford plug-in hybrids, I like the Ranger,
are being plugged in more lately. Policy helps as well. In Sweden, plug-in hybrid drivers get a
tax break if you plug your car in. So 70% of people regularly do. And here in the UK,
which offers no equivalent tax incentive, plug-in hybrid charging is, depending on what you read
between 10 and 20% of owners regularly plug-in. Let's move on. EV adoption in Canada rose from
6.5% to 12.2% of total vehicle sales in March. This year, Bev and plug-in hybrid vehicles were
over 21,500 units as the wider new market fell. The federal government helped Ottawa reinstated
the $5,000 purchase incentive in February. Reviving support helped the battery electric
and plug-in hybrid sales grow. Prices also playing a part. Automaker factory incentives
have kept EV prices competitive and some models around 30,000 Canadian now.
Polestar has opened orders for its updated three and four. The Polestar three is their
flagship SUV. The four is the Coupe. They're doing that now in Canada, Sweden, Norway,
Netherlands and Germany. The rollout began in the UK last October. Polestar's US support page says
the upgraded Polestar three reaches additional markets from the middle of this year. Tariffs,
as always, complicate the plan in the US. The main hardware change in the Polestar three,
the flagship, is the move to an 800 volt architecture. DCC charging is lifted to 350 kilowatts
and your 10 to 80 is now 22 minutes. That's 35% faster than the old one. Polestar also revising
the powertrain, a new permanent magnet synchronous rear motor, dual motor versions at an asynchronous
front motor combined output over 500 kilowatts. Polestar three also gets a new compute upgrade
and if you've got one of these cars, so do you. Replacing the NVIDIA Drive AGX Xavier chip with
a Drive AGX Orin chip. So that's almost a 10x on power, but the old chip was underpowered.
Existing Polestar three owners get the chip upgrade at no extra charge. That should please you.
The Polestar four update is not as dramatic. They've changed the name. They've now called it a Coupe
and that helps because later this year there's going to be a Polestar four
estate or wagon coming. So they're getting ahead of the game on that. They've got a new chassis
calibration, new high capacity passive dampers, new springs, anti roll bars and that 0 to 62
time or 0 to 100 kph. 3.8 seconds makes it one of the fastest cars they sell. Polestar three
is built at Volvo's plant in South Carolina, which Polestar has confirmed as the sole production
site going forward. Polestar four made in China and South Korea. Polestar five, the big grand
tourer deliveries begin in summer and the all new Polestar two comes early next year. Polestar seven
is going to be a compact SUV. That's in 2028 made in Slovakia. That'll be a European car,
no doubt. Right, we'll take a break. We'll come back in a moment. We'll talk about some trucking,
California and heat pumps. Stick around back in a moment.
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Capital One's tech team isn't just talking about multi-agentic AI. They already deployed one.
It's called Chat Concierge and it's simplifying car shopping using self-reflection and layered
reasoning with live API checks. It doesn't just help buyers find a car they love. It helps schedule
a test drive, get pre-approved for financing and estimate trading value. Advanced, intuitive,
and deployed. That's how they stack. That's technology at Capital One.
That's how they stack.
That's how they stack. That's technology at Capital One.
This new one has a 320 kilowatt hour battery pack, 480 kilometers of range. Interestingly,
there's now a new power take-off, an MPTO mechanical power take-off. That is uncommon
in this segment, allowing direct compatibility with the traction battery for body solutions.
So conversions and bodybuilders and stuff like that. A refrigerated unit. You can do a power
take-off. Fleet operators across Europe benefit from toll exemptions for zero emission vehicles
and the ETGM gives them a new route to zero emission deliveries. California's Governor Gavin
Newsom launched the California Clean Fuel Reward, a new rebate program for EV trucks
funded by revenue from California's low carbon fuel standard. The program starts with $250 million
funding and the state expects more than a billion dollars in total rebates through 2030. The program
covers public and private fleets across California and applies to new electric, medium and heavy
duty commercial vehicles like Drayars trucks, electric semis, box trucks and more. California
says the Clean Fuel Reward will become the largest utility administered rebate program.
Rebates up to $120,000 per truck. Diesel trucks are the leading contributors to local air pollution
in California near ports and freight corridors where nearly 18 million Californians breathe air
that exceeds health standards. The program adds another layer to California's existing
projects. The scheme dispersing more than a billion dollars so far supported over 2,000 fleets
and put 11,600 clean vehicles on the road. Now here's a blast from the past if you're paying
attention. Drew Baglino was a former Tesla SVP. He's the founder of Heron Power and just launched
a new heat pump startup. Sadie Thermal Machines shares its headquarters in Silicon Scotts Valley
with Heron Power according to LinkedIn profiles and people familiar with the matter.
Several Tesla alumni have now turned up there. Now Baglino spent 20 years at Tesla before leaving
in 2024. He made his way to senior vice president of powertrain and energy. He oversaw electric
motors, batteries, power, electronics, thermal systems, power wall, power pack. He was the
inventor, named as an inventor on the thermal management's patents about dual coolant loops
in Teslas. One loop serves the battery, one does the drivetrain. It used three and four-way valves,
the so-called octo valve system, which debuted in the model Y. Cabin, battery, and motor
temperatures all in a package about the size of a small suitcase when it launched. Big invention
at the time. Tesla also discussed using heat pump technology beyond cars back in 2021.
Elon Musk and Baglino were on the earnings call saying that a home heat pump would be
much easier to build than reducing it all down for vehicles, way harder in a vehicle
as you're constrained on mass and volume and energy. He also said the residential opportunity
was aligned with Tesla's mission and now, Mr. Baglino is doing it. Now, Kateram has released
new video footage of its Project V electric sports car. Kateram is a name in lightweight sports cars.
It's been around a long time and their e-project is, by the looks of it, still going. The film
shows the car performing maneuvers like high-speed charging and braking. The first rolling prototype
made its public debut in 2026 in Tokyo. Following the original concept, we saw the Goodwood Festival
of Speed back in 2023. Now, a couple of years ago, they said they used a Yamaha supplied electric
motor, but then they said they were evaluating other motor and battery choices. Last month,
Kazuhou Takahashi took control of the project. He's Kateram's CEO and president and the founder
of VT Holdings. That's the Japanese firm that now owns Kateram these days. What they're aiming for
is a kerb weight of 1,400 kilograms, 268 horsepower, 0-62 5 seconds, and a 20-minute 20-80 charge.
A lightweight sports car, not a big continent crosser, but something that's nice and lightweight
and then you can head back to the pits, have a break, charge it up again, and go out and do
a few more hot laps. Sounds like that project continues. Good news. And that's your podcast
for today. Thanks to our premium partners, National Car Charging on the US mainland,
and Aloha Charge in Hawaii, and Test EV, Avalu's trusted partner for independent EV
battery health testing in Australia and New Zealand. Have a good and see you tomorrow.
And remember, there's no such thing as a self-charging hybrid.
The $10 Got a Habit Meal Deal. Swing by for half a Santa Barbara char with fresh sourdough and
fresh avocado, a five-piece chicken bites, your choice of a fresh select side, and a drink.
All for a fresh price. The $10 Got a Habit Meal Deal. Habit, fresh like that,
limited time only, price and participation varies, tax extra, terms at habitburger.com.
It's called Chat Concierge, and it's simplifying car shopping. Using self-reflection and layered
reasoning with live API checks, it doesn't just help buyers find a car they love. It helps schedule
a test drive, get pre-approved for financing, and estimate trading value. Advanced, intuitive,
and deployed. That's how they stack. That's technology at Capital One.
The $10 Got a Habit Meal Deal. Swing by for half a Santa Barbara char,
a five-piece chicken bites, your choice of a select side, and a drink.
All for a fresh price. The $10 Got a Habit Meal Deal. Habit, fresh like that,
limited time only, price and participation varies, tax extra, terms at habitburger.com.
That's the sound of busy. To a restaurant, all that shouting and banging might as well
be a symphony. It means the long days and longer nights are paying off. Sure, it's noisy,
but there's a worse sound. This, not busy. Busy means business, which is why Toast gives restaurants
the tools and tech they need to help them perform under pressure. Sounds pretty good, right? Toast,
built for busy.
About this episode
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz is set to return to the U.S. for model year 2027, after skipping 2026, with details on trims and camper-focused tech like regen-to-stop one-pedal driving and overnight climate power. Tesla’s Supercharger experience gets a new layer: virtual queues via the Tesla app, showing wait times and opening access to non-Tesla EVs. Ford’s Europe leadership argues electrification marketing should highlight personal benefits and include plug-in hybrids and range extenders, while Polestar three upgrades fast charging and compute.
