The Cadillac Optiq is a new car coming out in 2026. It will have different versions, including one that drives the back wheels and another that can drive all four wheels for better performance.
EPA range is how far an electric car can go on a full battery according to tests by the government. It helps you know if the car can meet your driving needs.
The Chevrolet Equinox EV is an electric SUV that is designed for everyday use. It combines the features of a regular Equinox with an electric powertrain.
The NHTSA is a U.S. government agency that makes sure cars are safe to drive. They create rules that cars must follow, including how loud electric cars should be so that people can hear them.
The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are rules that cars must follow to be safe. They cover things like how strong a car should be in a crash and how loud it should be to warn people nearby.
Incentives are special offers or benefits that make it easier or cheaper to do something, like buying an electric car.
Car
Kia EV2
The Kia EV2 is a new electric car that Kia is planning to sell in Europe. It's meant to be affordable and is part of Kia's push into electric vehicles.
The Kia EV3 is another new electric car from Kia, and it's going to be their smallest model. This shows that Kia is trying to make smaller, more efficient electric cars.
The Kia Picanto is a small car that's great for driving around the city. It's cheap to buy and easy to park, which makes it a good choice for people who live in busy areas.
The General Motors EV1 was an early electric car made by a big car company in the 1990s. It was important because it showed that electric cars could be a real option for people, even though it didn't last long.
The Polestar 2 is an electric car made by Polestar, which is a brand that focuses on electric vehicles. It's known for being stylish and having good technology features.
The Polestar 4 is a new electric SUV that combines luxury with being environmentally friendly. It's made by a brand that focuses on high-performance electric cars and is designed to be stylish and fun to drive.
The Polestar 3 is the top model from Polestar, designed as a high-performance electric SUV. It has the latest technology and features for a premium driving experience.
Rivian is a company that makes electric vehicles, like trucks and SUVs. They are known for their focus on outdoor and adventure features in their cars.
Steering wheel indicators are the lights that show when a driver is turning. They are built into the steering wheel for easier access and use, especially in sports cars.
The turn signal stalk is a lever you use to let other drivers know when you're turning or changing lanes. It's usually found on the steering wheel and is a common part of cars.
The Tesla Model S is a fancy electric car that can go really fast and drive a long way on a single charge. It's known for having lots of high-tech features and a sleek design.
A service manual is a book that tells you how to take care of and fix a car. It has instructions and pictures to help you understand what to do when something goes wrong.
The Tesla Model Y is a type of electric car that looks like a small SUV. It's popular because it can go a long distance without needing to be charged often and has a lot of cool tech features.
The Ford Bronco is a tough-looking SUV that can handle rough terrains and off-road adventures. It's popular again because it combines old-school style with new technology.
Volkswagen is a well-known car brand from Germany that makes many different types of cars. They are now working on electric cars and improving their vehicle software.
Vehicle software is the technology that helps cars run smoothly, like navigation systems and safety features. Volkswagen is changing how they get this technology by working with outside companies instead of doing it all in-house.
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Aviation
On EV News China today, we're talking BYDs down under China's NEV holiday traffic and X-Pung success in Europe
Sorry I've been away for a couple of days, I'm adding this to the catalogue
If you like to listen to the show, sometimes not even in the correct order or even on the day they are put out
I know people appreciate having the archive complete
My walking talking germ machine children came back from school or nursery, they got sick last week
I thought I dodged it, but I got rid of it over the weekend and lost my voice
And so back to work and adding these shows a couple of days late, sorry about that
We'll start with news of Cadillac's 2026 model year optic, adding a couple of variants and a new way of charging
So they've added a rear-wheel drive base version, which is always good
And the rear-wheel biased all-wheel drive version for high performance
Plus J3400 inlet for native supercharger access following the lead of the optic V, which already has it
The updated all-wheel drive has 440 horsepower and 498 pound-feet of torque
The new entry-level rear-wheel drive is still, I mean, think powerful enough for most people
315 horsepower, that's 332 pound-feet
The batteries stay the same, 85 kilowatt hours
EPA range really good, 317 miles EPA'd on that 85 kilowatt hour pack for the rear-wheel drive version
All-wheel drive, a bit of a decrease, as expected, 303 miles
GM not really talking about charging speeds, they might stay the same, 150 kilowatts on a Tesla supercharger
But of course you won't have to have an adapter anymore
If you turn up somewhere with a native J3400 connector on the end of that cable
An adapter would be needed to use a CCS plug, though
Chevrolet is next, they're recalling 23,700 equinox EVs
Equinox been a great seller for them, by the way
That is the majority of the cars they sold last year
The NHTSA said that they might not be loud enough
Which does sound an interesting story, but I guess it's kind of a serious consequence
Because people don't look for EVs yet, do they?
They're still so new that the low-speed warning sounds love them or hate them do a job
The NHTSA says that they don't comply potentially with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
So all EVs must make a noise-low-speed
Incorrect software calibration can prevent the vehicle from producing an external pedestrian warning sound
And produces a variable sound profile that it says could make it difficult for pedestrians to judge
Whether the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating, Chevrolet is developing a remedy
But the issue isn't sorted and...
But it will be a software update, so it's a software calibration and you would think
It'll be, when they've got the sound sorted out, a simple update
Germany is next in the news, wants to extend its EV tax exemption
The vehicle tax exemption for BEVs could be extended through 2035
The Federal Finance Minister, Lars Klingbeil, announcing a draft law after the measure had been uncertain
He said incentives are now needed to get more EVs on the road
Under the current law, the exemption ends on 1 January next year
Klingbeil's amendment makes the rule applicable to cars first registered by 31 December 2030
The Finance Ministry says the exemption is limited until 31 December 2035
To encourage early purchases and expects tax revenue losses of several hundred million euros
The upcoming car summit they're having in Germany may also discuss a programme for low and middle income households
Modelled on France's social leasing programme
Kia's EV2 is going to beat the Hyundai version to market by several months
Kia will unveil the EV2 early next year
As its entry-level electric model aimed at Europe production will be over here as well
It'll be in Slovakia at the former Kia Seed plant
The EV2 will not go on sale in Korea
Kia says the EV3 will be the smallest thing they sell
Because domestic demand favours larger cars with about a thousand Picanto sold every month
The CEO says though that their personal car is an EV9, the big one
So back to the EV2
The EV2 stems from the EV2 concept shown at Kia's EV Day in Spain
And will compete with those beef segment vehicles
That around £25,000 or €30,000
Think Citroën EC3
Think the new VW ID Polo
So a little more expensive than those 20 grand cars that are the Fiat Grandi Pandas
And the Renault 5s of the world
So a bit more expensive than those
Although Kia normally does really good monthly offers after a car is a little older
And so I expect to see them very competitively priced
Kia also plans an EV1 city car
That's down in the competition with the likes of the Elite Motor T03
The BYD Dolphin surf
And those kind of £15,000 to £17,000 vehicles
Neither the EV1 nor EV2 are actually on sale yet
But you can get an EV3 from around £33,000
Maybe a bit less, I'll check car wow after we record today
And update my knowledge on what they're selling for
But the EV3 continues to be pretty much my pick of the EV market in 2025
I just think if you're having one EV in your driveway
The EV3 does pretty much everything in that price range
So yeah, of course you can get cheaper cars and more expensive cars
They're way more capable, but I think it's a real, real sweet spot
Now let's talk Polestar
Posting a UK monthly record
Last month in September it had 2,758 registrations
That's triple the previous month
The year to date though, let's smooth all the figures out
Through to the end of September
Polestar has now registered 12,630 vehicles here in the UK
Which makes the UK pretty much the most important market for Polestar over here in Europe
They've reduced the starting prices though, that really helped
The Polestar 2 starts £2,000 less
And the Polestar 4 has had a big discount as well by about £2,000
So Polestar 2 £43,000
Polestar 4 £58,000
The updated Polestar 3, that's their top end one
Was introduced last week with improvements to the performance, the charging, the processing power
Deliveries of the upgraded model will begin in the UK of the new Polestar 3
The previous model is actually sold out
Starting price £70,000
That's $93,000 US dollars equivalent
About five to six months if you place an order now before delivery
Now let's talk Rivian next in the news
We'll add a more visible manual door release
Close to the electrically powered interior handles on the rear doors of its next generation SUV, the R2
This is after they say customers and employees raised possible safety concerns
People familiar with the matter, those so that they weren't asked to be identified obviously not
But electric handle designs are under particular scrutiny right now
After incidents where loss of power, whether that is something innocuous like a voltage dip on the low voltage system
There's all the 12 to 16 volt system
Can stop doors being opened, happen with Tesla, babies locked in cars and things like that
But also then obviously more serious issues with accidents or collisions, trapping occupants
And in some cases quite serious consequences as well if there is a vehicle fire
Bloomberg reporting Tesla door problems last month and the NHTSA opening an investigation within days
Somebody was wheeled out, who was the other one of the senior engineers
I'll notice the designer, Frans von Haushausen often talks in lieu of the CEO
He's been there so long, very very senior, saying yet we're redesigning the door handles, panic not
At Tesla, Rivian's change responds to a design last year of the R1 that moved the rear manual releases to a more harder to access spot
And you have to remove an unlabeled panel and pull a release cord
No, you don't want that unfortunately, the lower cast R2 schedule for deliveries early next year
I would say almost certainly will have a very obvious rear door mechanism and placement like the front doors as well
Egress in an emergency is not something that we need to be hindering for the sake of just because we can
Doesn't mean we should with electric motors and things like that
Tesla and the Model 3, the turn signal retro fit has been confirmed for Europe
They've been offering it in China, again you can put this one, actually two stories in a row
Of putting it in the box of just because you can doesn't mean you should
Not the first car to have its indicators on the steering wheel, Ferraris do it by the way
But of course unless you're using a yoke system with variable speed steering rack or effectively steer by wire
There'll be no rack, it is more difficult if you live in a country with lots of roundabouts as we do
Because the position of the indicators moves constantly all the time
And you want to signal your attention to exit the roundabout for safety
And so after a two year experiment Tesla has waved the white flag in the air and gone
You know what, you're absolutely right, indicator stalks were a solved problem
We tried to fix a thing that wasn't broken
So now not only do new Teslas come with the turn signal stalk
But if you did buy a Model 3 over the last two years, they'll put one back in
That is 660 euros that they will relieve you of to do that though, that's 775 US dollars
The fee covers the stalk, shipment to a local service centre and installation
All the refreshed Model 3s from 2023 lost that
Owners purchased it through the Tesla shop in the Tesla app
And the Model 3 service manual indicates the installations up to two hours to do this
It's only turn signal by the way, so same as Model Y
High beams, long and short press actions, windshield wiper controls, none of that moves
That's on the steering wheel
Because the turn signal GTs do move to a stalk though
And it is manufacturer installed, they do give you a replacement steering wheel centre
With the updated buttons that now don't have turn signals because it would be redundant
That's surprising, I mean, I guess because it's not, you know, doing anything else
And it's just an electronic up or down
Could you have both systems, both for buttons and the stalk?
Either way, no is the answer, they give you a new steering wheel
California is next in the news, they're taking action against Tesla as the insurance bit of the business
The California Department of Insurance announcing enforcement actions on Friday last week
Targeting Tesla Insurance Services and Tesla Insurance Company
Two legal entities that regulators say have repeatedly failed to show and follow the correct claims and handling laws
The department alleges the company's delayed claim payments did not respond properly to customers
Engaged in unfair practices and deprived Tesla drivers and policy holders of access to the benefits they were owed
Specific violations include unreasonable denials, delays of valid claims, inadequate investigations
And failing to notify customers of their right to appeal through the Department of Insurance
State National Insurance Company, which is not affiliated with Tesla, is also at the same time facing potential action
That is a story that I think will be of interest to anyone that puts all their eggs in the Tesla basket
Including their insurance company as well
Now, when we come back, we've got a lot more to talk about like electric Ford Broncos
And Ion Boost and more, stick around back in a moment
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Welcome back to the podcast
Now, thank you for bearing with my voice
Now, let's talk about Volkswagen next in the news
VW is shifting its core vehicle software to external supply
This is big news because Cariad was a big hope many years ago
Some argue that Cariad was what cost the former boss Herbert Dease eventually
His CEO position
It hasn't been without its struggles
I think I'll say that
The software bit of Volkswagen Cariad is now going to be
More of an internal part of the business that deploys other people's software
So, key software work will be done by the Rivian Partnership and the X-Punk Partnership
And the internal development will stop
Cariad was made in 2020 to centralise group software
And build a single software stack
But it just grew into this 6,000 strong employee unit
All different brands are pulled together
Different requirements, different cultures, different software problems
Major delays actually held back entire platforms
And key models like the electric mechanic by several years
Now to recover pace, VW threw in the towel
Did a deal with X-Punk, did a deal with Rivian
To do the new joint venture on the software company
Cariad will now be downscaled to handle things like legacy maintenance
Things like updates, software over the air, updates
And even integration of the Rivian developed platforms
Across some of the other VW brands as well
I imagine part of their job will be to take on some of the work of
Updating combustion software
Which we gather is a source of tension inside this new joint venture Volkswagen Rivian
With its co-CEOs, which can work
There are some big companies with two CEOs
And others have found that doesn't always work
The power struggle going on right now is VW say
Well, we're gonna do a few more combustion cars than we were planning to
And Rivian saying we got no interest in rewriting all of our software
For exploding combustion, you know, combusting fuels with air
Thank you very much, that is very, very old technology
So we don't want any of that, thanks very much
A source of tension, so any Cariad can take on some of those issues
Now, what about Ford's electric Bronco?
There is one, but not for you, and not for me
Pre-orders have opened the Bronco
Orders have opened at the Guangzhou Auto Show on October 1
So the $140 deposit will get you in line
One of the first cars built
This is perfect for camping and adventure
For early buyers, Ford offers added options
Like the option of a roof camping package
A pop-up super roof
That is a full-size, also inflatable mattress system
And seats that fold into the floor at the touch of a button
The roof itself raises via a button on the infotainment screen
And the camping tailgate then adds a table
A magnetic strip for things like knives and utensils
A bottle opener, adventure facilities
But yeah, this pop-up roof looks so cool
On the old electric Bronco
Which does look pretty chunky itself anyway
Man, if Volkswagen had done that with the ID bars
Even if no one bought them, it would have been so cool
In terms of brand perception
And people thinking, well that could be me one day
And the electric Bronco is built by Ford's joint venture partner
JMC, and sold exclusively in China
As a pure EV and as an ERAV as well
Two electric motors, one per axle
445 horsepower
LFP pack, that's a big boy as well
105.4
Made by BYD's Fin Dreams
Ford also filing a trademark
For the word ION boost
With the USPTO
The application lists
Electric batteries
EVs, batteries for battery packs
Electric drive systems
Electric motors for land vehicles
I'm looking at here
For drive shafts and transmissions
And differentials
Ford announcing years ago
That they might use the ION boost name
For battery technology
ECO boost is very famous in Ford World actually
And so ION boost would probably be
A bit like how GM started using the LTM platform
LTM was batteries for them
Then it became the LTM platform
And then GM with this new battery leadership
Well actually we should use batteries from all suppliers
Which means we can't be purely the LTM platform
That's our LG joint venture
So then that all got sort of pulled back a little bit
Which is awkward
It was a branding thing
That sort of backfired
But no one could really see coming
Because LG were all in
Is there only supplier?
Actually having multiple suppliers
Multiple chemistries, multiple even
I was going to say form factors
But sometimes that can be a pain
But it is entirely sensible
But yeah that's where Altium
Sort of died a little bit
And they got a bit tied up in knots on that
So yeah maybe Ford will just brand
All of their electric stuff ION boost
That's pretty cool
Now InstaVolt is next in the news
Now there is theft of cables
By idiots cutting a cable
For just a few pounds here and there
To get the copper and the metals out of it
It's happening for InstaVolt
The charging company in the UK and Germany as well
So they've added GPS trackers inside
Their newer cables alongside
The company Trackit 24-7
This has got live tracking inside
GP units inside the cables
They're not getting too many details away
On this because
Obviously they don't really want to know people
I let people know exactly how it is all
Working but if the cables are cut
They'll know within three seconds
And then where the cables go as well
So at that point you've either got to strip the cable down
In the cut parking lot
Or wherever you've done it
Which you're not going to want to do
Because thieves are idiots
And I just want to cut the cable and run
At which point
The cables are then being tracked
And so the rollout covers 2,000 UK charging points
And they're going to scale to 11,000
By the end of the decade
Good solution
If it works as reliable
Doesn't add massive cost
Good solution because
For the inconvenience and the hassle factor
Cut cables is just such an absolute nightmare
Now we'll finish off by talking about
A new pilot project
Pilot sort of pun half intended
Because Norway
Norway is the leader in EVs
They're at 98.3% pure Bev
Not even plug-in hybrids
Pure Bev
It's like basically it's an EV nation
Now
Of new cars
Not of the established car park
That'll take a while for the vehicles to age
And come off the road
But Norway is now done with the roads
And so it's looking upwards to the air
And a new pilot scheme
With electric aircraft in Norway
The Alia CX300
Will do 160 kilometre routes
That would take at the minute
They're being done by ferry
Lots of ferries in Norway
And that takes two ferries
Four hours
Doing it with electric aviation
Cuts it to 55 minutes
It would be Norway's first intercity
Electric flights
Not passenger flights at the moment
These are still tests
Part of a plan to replace hundreds
Of short haul
Fossil fuel flights and ferries
And convert dozens
Of daily island hopping links
To pure electric clean green
Aviation where possible
Backed by government investment
And charging infrastructure
At modifications at 44 airports
With electric vehicle adoption
Higher than anywhere else
Norway now has the time and space
To look at other modes of transport
And turn aviation electric
And that's your podcast for today
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About this episode
Cadillac's 2026 OPTIQ model introduces new variants, including a rear-wheel drive option and enhanced performance features. Chevrolet faces a recall of 23,700 Equinox EVs due to safety compliance issues with pedestrian warning sounds. Germany plans to extend its EV tax exemption to 2035 to boost electric vehicle adoption. The episode also covers Kia's upcoming EV2 and EV3 models, Polestar's sales surge in the UK, Rivian's safety updates, and Tesla's return to traditional turn signal stalks. Additionally, Ford's electric Bronco is revealed for the Chinese market, and Norway explores electric aviation.
