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DAILY: Rivian R2 First Reviews, Canada To Fund Chargers and VW Strikes Tariff Deal For Cupra  | 11 Feb 2026

DAILY: Rivian R2 First Reviews, Canada To Fund Chargers and VW Strikes Tariff Deal For Cupra | 11 Feb 2026

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About this episode

Rivian's R2 SUV prototype impresses reviewers like Doug DeMuro with its powerful dual-motor setup, 300+ mile range, and practical design features such as a power-operated rear window and ample storage. The R2 targets a $45,000 base price and aims for spring deliveries, offering a smaller, lighter alternative to the R1S with coil spring suspension and nearly 10 inches of ground clearance. Meanwhile, Canada plans funding for EV chargers, and VW secures a tariff deal for its Cupra brand. The episode also teases Volvo's new EV platform that could inspire low-slung wagons.

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Car

Rivian R2

"Welcome back to EV News Daily. Today, Rivian R2 first reviews Canada to fund charges and VW strik..."

The Rivian R2 is a new, smaller electric car that Rivian is making. It will cost less and be easier for more people to buy.

Car

Rivian R1S

"The smaller SUV targets a base price of $45,000. R1S, of course, starts at $80,000. There's no saying ..."

The Rivian R1S is a fancy electric SUV that can drive on rough roads and looks nice inside. It costs more money because it has lots of features and power.

Car

Tesla Model Y

"...ay, and if you are comping this comparable with a Model Y, then that might be your expectations on charging..."

The Tesla Model Y is a small electric car that looks like a tall car with lots of space inside. It can drive far on one charge and has special fast chargers to fill up quickly.

Car

Honda Crv

"And so, I think Tesla Model Y, maybe Honda CR-V possibly. So unibody construction, not body on frame."

The Honda CR-V is a small SUV that is easy to drive and very dependable. It is built in a way that makes it strong and safe without being too heavy.

Term

ground clearance

"And the ground clearance is there. It's almost 10 inches of ground clearance. Model Y, which some people say in all-wheel drive trim,"

Ground clearance is how high a car sits off the ground. Cars with more ground clearance can drive over bumps and rough roads easier.

Term

all-wheel drive

"Model Y, which some people say in all-wheel drive trim, you know, it could be kind of a utility vehicle."

All-wheel drive means the car sends power to all four wheels to help it grip the road better, especially when it's slippery or rough.

Concept

soft-roading

"a bit more soft-roading, possibly. You're not going off-roading in this, but either way."

Soft-roading means driving on easy dirt or gravel roads that aren't paved, but not really rough or rocky off-road trails.

Part

power-operated rear window

"A power-operated rear window. So the rear door and the rear window of that, it drops down. So you haven't got to open the tailgate and the piece of glass physically goes downwards in a downward direction inside the body of the door."

This is a back window that you can open or close by pressing a button, so you don't have to open the whole back door.

Brand

Fisker

"Or you can press a button inside the car and it will drop like Fisker did. May they rest in peace."

Fisker is a car company that makes electric cars with cool features and designs.

Concept

right hand drive

"But maybe right hand drive one day. Maybe, maybe right hand drive one."

Right hand drive means the steering wheel is on the right side of the car, which is normal in some countries.

Term

EV chargers

"Canada's federal government will invest 84.4 million Canadian dollars to install 8,000 new EV chargers nationwide"

EV chargers are like gas pumps but for electric cars. They give power to the car's battery so it can keep driving.

Term

range anxiety

"to help address range anxiety as the country pursues their EV transition."

Range anxiety means worrying that your electric car might run out of battery before you find a place to charge it.

Concept

EV transition

"to help address range anxiety as the country pursues their EV transition."

EV transition means moving from gas cars to electric cars that run on batteries.

Brand

Volkswagen

"Volkswagen's next in the news, they've secured the European Union's first tariff exemption for their Coupre Taviscan. Now the Coupre Taviscan, now obviously VW German company,"

Volkswagen is a big car company from Germany that makes many types of cars, including electric ones.

Brand

SAIC

"Tesla negotiated down BYD, also down SAIC for instance, got the 35% increase of tariffs on top of 10%."

SAIC is a big car company from China that makes many types of cars, including electric ones.

Brand

BYD

"Tesla negotiated down BYD, also down SAIC for instance, got the 35% increase of tariffs on top of 10%."

BYD is a company from China that makes electric cars and the batteries that power them.

Car

Ford F-150 Lightning

"...electric passenger cars. So Mustang Mach E, F-150 Lightning. Over here, we have the European Capri and Explor..."

The Ford F-150 Lightning is a big truck that runs on electricity instead of gas. It can do all the jobs a regular truck does but is better for the environment.

Car

Ford Mustang

"...houses Ford's battery electric passenger cars. So Mustang Mach E, F-150 Lightning. Over here, we have the E..."

The Ford Mustang is a famous fast car from America known for looking cool and going fast. Now, Ford also makes an electric version that looks like a Mustang but runs on batteries.

Car

Ford Capri

"... F-150 Lightning. Over here, we have the European Capri and Explorer built in Cologne."

The Ford Capri is an older, sporty car made in Europe a long time ago. People liked it because it looked good and was fun to drive.

Car

Ford Explorer

"...htning. Over here, we have the European Capri and Explorer built in Cologne."

The Ford Explorer is a big car that can carry many people and things. Some versions are made in Europe to better fit what people there want.

Car

Kia EV2

"...at and facing issues. Kia's next in the news, the EV2. The EV2 prototype actually did that L-shaped thi..."

The Kia EV2 is a new electric car that Kia is working on. It has a special shape in its lights and is meant to be a good, affordable electric car.

Term

WLTP

"And that's 24% off of what they say it's WLTP target is. That's not bad."

WLTP is a test that tells you how far a car can go or how much fuel it uses in a way that is the same for all cars, so you can compare them fairly.

Concept

EV winter performance

"In extreme cold, combustion cars suffer. Fluids and oils get more sticky. The tires get harder on all cars. So for an EV, to be down 25%, it's incredible. It put the prototype first in running time. It put the prototype first in range retention among all participants in the test."

EV winter performance means how well electric cars work in cold weather, like how far they can go and how fast they can charge.

Term

range retention

"It put the prototype first in range retention among all participants in the test."

Range retention means how much of the car's driving distance it can keep when conditions change, like in cold weather.

Term

EV charging 10 to 80%

"The EV2 did 10 to 80 in 36 minutes, in those sub-zero temperatures, by the way,"

Charging from 10 to 80% means how fast the car can fill up most of its battery, which is important because charging gets slower after that.

Term

prototype vehicle

"And this result, admittedly of the prototype vehicle, shows how far EV engineering has come."

A prototype vehicle is a first version of a car made to try out new ideas before selling it to people.

Car

Kia EV4

"The EV4 was also in the same test, by the way. EV4 is the European one they make in Slovakia. That has an 81.4 kilowatt-hour pack. And that did 390Ks against its WLTP of 594."

The Kia EV4 is an electric SUV made in Europe that has a big battery and was tested to see how far it can go compared to what the company says.

Term

kilowatt-hour (kWh)

"That has an 81.4 kilowatt-hour pack. And that did 390Ks against its WLTP of 594."

Kilowatt-hour is how much electricity the car's battery can hold; bigger numbers mean the car can usually drive farther.

Term

kilowatt-hour pack

"Standard range will be 42 kilowatt-hour pack. Long range and the GT versions will be the bigger battery pack."

The kilowatt-hour pack is the size of the battery in an electric car, which tells you how far the car can go before needing to be charged again.

Concept

national electric vehicle infrastructure money

"That's national electric vehicle infrastructure money."

It's money from the government to build more places where electric cars can be charged.

Concept

domestic content requirements

"The US Department of Transportation wants to raise domestic content requirements of the federally funded charges from the current 55% of domestic content."

It's a rule that says how much of the parts or materials used have to come from inside the country.

Concept

federally funded chargers

"The US Department of Transportation wants to raise domestic content requirements of the federally funded charges from the current 55% of domestic content. ... they can raise the content requirements to 100% of the vehicle charges."

These are places to charge electric cars that get money from the government to be built and run.

Term

power modules

"The actual power modules themselves, like the big circuit boards, if you like, the power modules and the advanced electronics come from global sources."

Power modules are parts inside chargers that help control and send electricity safely to the car's battery.

Term

EVs

"I just don't understand the political aspect of EVs. Who cares? Like, I don't really care if it's petrol, or diesel, or electric, or hydrogen,"

EVs are cars that run on electricity instead of gas or diesel. They use big batteries to store power and don't need fuel like regular cars.

Company

European Investment Bank

"LISIS and the European Investment Bank have signed a 600 million euro deal, a financing agreement, to put 24,000 zero emission vehicles in 10 countries"

The European Investment Bank is a big bank that helps pay for projects that make Europe better, like clean cars that don't pollute.

Term

zero emission vehicles

"a financing agreement, to put 24,000 zero emission vehicles in 10 countries, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and more,"

Zero emission vehicles are cars that don't pollute the air when they drive. They don't release smoke or gases that can harm the environment.

Brand

Stellantis

"It's a joint venture between Stellantis and a French credit agreement,"

Stellantis is a big car company that owns many car brands you might know, like Jeep and Fiat.

Car

EX60

"this new platform, which is only underneath the most recent EX-60. And Volvo say we designed it as a Volvo thing."

The EX60 is a new Volvo car made to run on electricity. It uses a special new design that Volvo created just for electric cars.

Car

Volvo S60

"...low-slung estates that we're famous for, like the S60, V90, the sedans and estate cars in an EV world."

The Volvo S60 is a nice, small car with four doors that is safe and comfortable to drive. It looks simple but stylish.

Car

Volvo V90

"...lung estates that we're famous for, like the S60, V90, the sedans and estate cars in an EV world."

The Volvo V90 is a big car with lots of space in the back for carrying things. It is very comfortable and has many safety features to keep you safe.

Car

ES90

"six current models are SUVs. The ES90, Saloon, has to sit a lot higher because it's a s..."

The ES90 is a fancy car with four doors that sits a bit higher so you can see better while driving. It has many nice features inside.

Concept

skateboard battery pack

"because it's a skateboard battery pack and all EVs that have a skateboard have a little bit of a height disadvantage."

A skateboard battery pack means the car's battery is flat and placed under the floor. This helps the car stay balanced but can make it sit a bit higher.

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