The Mercedes-Benz GLE is a nice, roomy SUV that feels very comfortable to drive. It's packed with high-tech features and is made to look and feel luxurious.
The Chevrolet Volt is a car that can run on electricity and gas, which means you can drive it for a long time without stopping to charge. It's a good option if you want to save on gas but still have the backup of a regular engine.
Vehicle to load means you can use your electric car to power other things, like charging your phone or running small appliances. It's handy for camping or emergencies.
Adaptive cruise control is a feature that helps your car keep a safe distance from the car in front of you. It can speed up or slow down automatically, making long drives easier.
LFP battery chemistry refers to a type of battery used in electric cars that is known for being safe and long-lasting. It may not hold as much energy as some other types, but it's cheaper and very durable.
Car
Polestar
Polestar is a brand that makes electric cars, known for being fun to drive and environmentally friendly.
The Chevrolet Equinox is a small SUV that many people like to drive because it has a lot of space inside and is good on gas. It's popular for families and those who want a comfortable ride.
Car
Cadillac Lyric
The Cadillac Lyric is a fancy electric SUV made by Cadillac, known for its luxury features and stylish design.
The GMC Hummer EV is a big electric truck that looks like the old Hummers but is better for the environment because it doesn't use gas. It's designed for tough off-road driving and has a lot of cool features.
The Cadillac Optiq is a new electric SUV that looks modern and has a lot of new technology. It's part of Cadillac's effort to make cars that are better for the environment.
The Nissan Leaf is a car that runs on electricity instead of gas, which means it's better for the environment. It's one of the most popular electric cars because it's affordable and easy to use.
SAE Level 2 means the car can help with driving, like steering and speeding up or slowing down, but the driver still needs to pay attention and be ready to take control.
The Lucid Air is a fancy electric car that can go really far on a single charge and has a stylish look. It's made for people who want a high-end car that is also good for the planet.
The Tesla Model S is a fancy electric car that can go really fast and has a lot of cool technology inside. It's known for being one of the best electric cars you can buy.
The BMW 3 Series is a small luxury car that many people love because it drives really well and looks nice inside. It's often seen as a top choice for those who want a fun and stylish car.
LIVE
The number one resolution for people last year was to save more money, but nearly half gave up by February.
Don't let that be you.
Download RocketMoney to reach your financial goals this year, track your spending, cut waste, and automate savings in one simple app.
RocketMoney shows you all your expenses and categorizes them, so you know exactly where your money is going and where you're overspending.
From there, the app cuts waste by canceling your unused subscriptions and lowering your bills.
No customer service needed.
With that money freed up, the app will automatically set some cash aside for your goals.
Whether it's an emergency fund, paying off debt, or saving for vacation, RocketMoney's got you covered.
Users love the app, with over 186,000 five-star ratings.
And, on average, users can save up to $740 a year when using all the app's premium features.
Make saving money a priority this year!
Go to RocketMoney.com slash cancel to get started.
That's RocketMoney.com slash cancel.
RocketMoney.com slash cancel!
One of the biggest challenges of earning a degree as a military veteran is transitioning your goals and experiences to your next phase in life.
National University gets it.
As a veteran-founded Yellow Ribbon School, they offer post-911 GI Bill acceptance,
dedicated military support and advising services, and credit for your military experience.
That's why 30% of their students are military-affiliated.
And you, education that serves those who served.
I didn't even realize I was wasting $415 a month until I downloaded RocketMoney.
I thought I had my finances under control until the app laid out all my spending and categorized it for me.
Takeout, shopping, and unused subscriptions were quietly draining my account.
And as a result, my savings took a backseat.
But RocketMoney doesn't just tell you what you're wasting money on.
It takes action to save you money.
First, the app looks at your income and monthly expenses
and calculates how much you can safely spend each day to stay under budget.
RocketMoney also finds and cancels unwanted subscriptions for you
and even negotiates better rates on your bills so you have more money in your pocket.
On average, RocketMoney members can save up to $740 a year when using all the app's premium features.
Users love the app with over 186,000 5-star ratings.
It's time to simplify your finances and take control of your money.
Go to rocketmoney.com slash cancel to get started.
That's rocketmoney.com slash cancel.
Rocketmoney.com slash cancel.
Welcome back to the podcast.
Today, Volvo's EX60 range revealed the Renault Twingo E-TEC and Equinox Leads for GM.
Plus, stay tuned.
Later in the show, I'll tell you about Sony Honda's second EV
before they've even sold their first one.
On EV News China today, we're talking about BYD overtaking Tesla
in Europe's two biggest markets.
GLE's new MBV and NEO's millionth car.
And if you join me later for a bonus show, it's called
Why Winning in Europe is Crucial for BYD.
It'll be live tonight for patrons and all Patriot exclusives go into the free feed after seven days.
If you want the content first, it's one of the member benefits.
Let's kick off and Volvo will unveil the EX60 in two weeks' time on January 21st.
A crossover it builds as its next-generation electric car and expects to sell in large numbers.
Even with four-wheel drive, the EX60 is claimed to manage 505 miles on WLTP.
It's 800 volt.
It's 400 kilowatt DC fast charging.
It's, they say, able to add 210 miles in a 10-minute charge.
That's if you turn up to a appropriately fast charger with between 10 and 20% range remaining.
On paper, that puts the EX60 neck and neck with the new BMW iX3,
that Neuer-classer platform that 500 miles at next generation of technology.
The EX60 also introduces fresh hardware under the skin.
Volvo calls the new underbody, chassis and suspension the SPA architecture,
an evolution of the SPA2.
That's what cars like the big EX90 and the ES90 are built on.
At its core, it's a cell-to-body battery layout.
Instead of building cells into modules, then into a pack that gets bolted under the floor,
Volvo will stack the cells directly into the body structure.
The battery casing becomes part of the car's skeleton, adding stiffness to the shell
and the cell compartment while trimming weight and bulk.
Much of EX60's software stack, motors, battery and power electronics have been developed in-house.
That tighter grip on hardware and code is meant to set the template for future electric models,
which will share SPA3 and its integrated battery.
Staying on Volvo, Thomas Ingenlath has resumed his post as Volvo's chief designer
nine years after leaving Gothenburg to go be the CEO of its offshoot Polestar.
The move puts the German stylist back in charge of Volvo's next generation models,
a role he first took in 2012 and I think Volvo's became, look, it's all subjective.
I know that.
The best looking cars on the road.
It's why I went out to buy a Tesla Model 3 and came home with the Polestar 2.
And I still look over my shoulder when I park the thing and walk away.
I'm of a certain age, I don't know, or a certain target audience.
What Volvo were making around that time really appeals to my eye.
During his first five-year spell at Volvo, Ingenlath led a redesign of the brand.
He reshaped the XC90, the V90 and the XC40, which set the company's current look.
He made two concept cars as well.
There was the Polestar 1, which came from the Concept Coupe, and then the Concept 40.2,
which became the Polestar 2.
In 2017, Volvo and Geely shifted Ingenlath from design into being CEO of Polestar,
as it was carved out as its own manufacturer.
Under his leadership, they moved from design-led Halo products, Polestar being the performance
bit of Volvo, which evolved from some touring car stuff in the naughties.
Polestar became its own thing.
After leaving the chief exec role at Polestar, he went on to become design advisor for the
big Geely Megacorp that owns everything from Volvo to Polestar to Zika and the London Black
Cab Company.
He's now returning to Volvo itself to steer the styling of its next-gen lineup, and in
a way, they're putting the band back together because he's teaming up again with Huck and
Samuelson.
Now, Samuelson was Volvo's chief exec during Ingenlath's first tenure as design boss,
but he stepped down to retire in 2022.
However, Volvo felt like they needed a change earlier last year, and so the old CEO went
and Samuelson returned.
After leaving Gothenburg to build an electric spinoff brand into its standalone thing, Ingenlath
now comes back to the mothership to define their next generation of electric cars.
Renault, next in the news, their new Twingo e-tech electric will make its public debut
at the Brussels Motor Show from tomorrow, January 9th through to the 18th, with orders
opening right now.
Built on the Ampere-AMPR small platform, the city car launches at €19,490 for the evolution
trim.
Before incentives, the Techno version starts at €21,000.
Both versions have the same motor, that's a 60kW motor, and the same battery, not doing
the old Kia Hyundai thing of doing different battery sizes.
27.5kWh lithium-ion phosphate, it's all very sensible, not going to be doing too many road
trips in this, but it's a Twingo.
Renault quotes a WLTP of 263km, AC charging at 6.6kW, but you can spec 11kW, it'll DC
fast charge at 50kW.
Hey, this is all about use case, right?
The Twingo supports vehicle to load at 3.7kW, that's deeply impressive by the way.
It also offers vehicle to grid capability, but a lot of people are saying that right
now, it's not like you can just go and tick a box on the spec sheet, and all of a sudden
your car is powering your home, so work to be done.
The Techno trim adds the Renault OpenR Link multimedia system with Google built-in, adaptive
cruise, stop and go, one pedal driving, and focusing on low running costs with simple
hardware, that's why they've gone for an LFP, battery chemistry for its durability, and
cost control rather than pure energy density.
After its debut at the Brussels Motor Show, the Twingo E-Tex blend of simplicity, durability
and of course low price will test how far European city drivers are ready to go on an
electric budget.
Price is key.
Monthly price is absolutely key in how Renault always do good offers by the way, so Renault
dealers are not going to be selling this for list price, there's going to be incentives
and offers depending on where you live around Europe, if you want a very small city car.
I think for us, we need to separate our cars a bit more, if that makes sense, into something
that's a small city car that I'll happily just jump into and smile and just have fun
in like a go-kart to go do some errands, and then probably an electric van this year which
is depressing because I don't want to sell the Polestar, but the kids are three and seven
and we live by the beach and they kind of have outdoorsy lifestyles and so it's probably
where we'll end up and try and split the cars a little bit, so something super small, something
much bigger, that is a job for a different today.
Anyway, General Motors electric vehicle sales are next in the news in the US and you won't
be surprised to hear they fell in the fourth quarter of 2024 deliveries dropped year on
year 42% to 25,219.
Underlining weakening demand in parts of the market,
now a rather bumpy transition following tax credit cuts.
The Chevrolet Equinox CV compact crossover was GM's top-selling model but only by a slim margin,
recording 5,111 deliveries, that's 20% of the firm's AV volume in the last quarter.
Close behind came the Cadillac Lyric GM's two-row luxury crossover,
including the high-performance Lyric V, that was at 4,345. GM's earliest,
Batric Electric Entities still on sale, like the Hummer EV and the Hummer SUV together,
still posting 2,500 sales, Cadillac's newer models, the OPTIQ V, three-row Cadillac Vistic,
all selling good numbers too, and the full-size Escalade IQ and the IQL added 2,085.
GM counts both under the Escalade IQ label. Whether 25,000 and change quarterly EV deliveries
mark a temporary detour or a structural stall for GM is going to hinge not on things like
the Escalade though, is it? It's going to be on the new Bolt, because the new Bolt and the new
Nissan Leaf, that $30,000 price point, the new Bolt coming in at $29,990, I think,
there may be plus or minus delivery, really important vehicle, and we'll see if that can
give the Equinox a run for its money. Mercedes next in the news, Mercedes-Benz using CES in
Vegas to unveil MB Drive Assist Pro. That's a system which combines navigation with SAE Level 2,
ADAS. The company says it enables partially automated door-to-door travel at the touch of a
button. Of course, Mercedes do have a Level 3 system on the road in Europe and America, this
isn't it. As with Tesla's FSD, it is a driving aid, not a formal autonomy. The driver must
take hands off the wheel, or may take the hands off the wheel, but must be ready to put the hands
back on the wheel. Using a smartphone, for instance, taking your eyes off the road, is strictly forbidden,
unlike the more advanced Mercedes system already out there. MB Drive Assist Pro will steer through
urban environments from parking space to parking space. It draws on 30 sensors, 10 cameras, 5 radar,
12 ultrasonics, and more. These feed the raw data to an on-board computer that works at
508T operations per second, built around NVIDIA's chips. The launch underlines Mercedes' split
strategy by region, because in China they're working with Momenta on the CLA, the battery
electric vehicle, whereas over in America and Europe later, they'll be using NVIDIA chips.
Costs $4,000, by the way, to add it to Mercedes' Benz electric vehicle, and you get that for
three years after which it becomes a subscription plan. Joy, because what we do need in life,
is more subscriptions. We'll take a break on that note, and we'll come back and do a bit of
Aussie news and Lucid and UK charging stick around back in a moat. The holidays are expensive. You're
paying for gifts, travel, decorations, food, and before you know it, you've blown way past what
you were planning to spend. Don't start the new year off with bad money vibes. Download rocket
money to stay on top of your finances. The app pulls your income, expenses, and upcoming charges
into one place, so you can get the clearest picture of your money. It shows how much to set
aside for bills and how much is safe to spend for the month, so you can spend with confidence.
No guesswork needed. Get alerts before bills hit. Track budgets and see every subscription you're
paying for. Rocket money also finds extra ways to save you money by cancelling subscriptions you're
not using and negotiating lower bills for you. On average, rocket money users can save up to $740
a year when using all of the app's premium features. Start the year off right by taking
control of your finances. Go to rocketmoney.com slash cancel to get started. That's rocketmoney.com
slash cancel. Rocketmoney.com slash cancel.
Rocketmoney.com
Rocketmoney.com slash cancel.
Rocketmoney.com
Rocketmoney.com
Okay, let's move on. And Lucid is going to make more EVs, but no more mid-sized saloons.
The interim CEO, Mark Winterhoff, telling Inside EVs that Lucid's coming mid-size platform
will support three distinct bodies, but none of the bodies they stick on that platform are going
to be, that's not a technical term, by the way, that they stick on top of it will be a four-door
saloon. I don't want to be in that segment, he said. The choice is striking. Lucid's first,
and for a long time their only flagship model was the Air, was a sleek four-door sedan,
one of the most technically impressive cars on sale today. Long range, high efficiency,
but really high performance, and has often been framed as a sort of model S that Tesla
could have made if Tesla were serious about really improving the model S. They have made it
better over the years, no doubt, but the model S is still essentially a little bit long in the tooth.
It is a different beast to what it was, but still, the Lucid Air, very, very impressive,
not without its problems. If you've seen Jason Fenske's video, he's a YouTuber,
I think he's more than a YouTuber, that's almost sounds derogatory. I'm of a certain age
where being called a YouTuber makes it sound like you're a 17-year-old with no direction in life,
but he's a content creator, and his channel Engineering Explained talked about his purchase,
or lease, with the option to buy at the end of three years of his Lucid Air.
Pretty significant problems, had 1.1 million views last time I checked.
Now, Mark Winterhoff spoke during a round table with reporters at CES. The firm is preparing to
launch a gravity-based robo-taxi developed alongside Uber. That will also roll out their new
mid-size architecture, and the platform will underpin three models. None will go head-to-head
with the sedan, so no more Model 3 or BMW 3 Series competitors. After launching the Air,
they will prove that their future is anywhere but with sedans.
Now, Great Britain's public network of EV charges got bigger last year. New figures from
ZAPMAP showed the number of public charge points rose by 20% from the previous year,
as 14,316 devices were added to the network. That took the total to 87,796 charges at 45,000
locations across the country. Growth was the fastest at the top end of the power range.
The number of ultra-rapid charges, rated at 150kW or more, increased by 41% last year,
giving drivers more options for quick turn-arounds. These high-powered devices now account for a
growing share of our charging network. Larger rapid charging hubs are spreading as well.
The number of sites with six or more rapid charges rose by 39% last year. There's now 748
locations with at least six or more ultra-rapids. Such hubs are built to handle heavier traffic
and to improve reliability by offering multiple bays in one place, limiting disruption when
individual units may be out for service. ZAPMAP's data suggests the UK is not just adding more
plug points but more capacity in terms of hub-style sites that resemble a modern filling station.
Staying here by the way, the British government is adding £18 million to its
plug-in truck grant. That's about $24 million. It seeks a surge in orders for electric lorries.
Now the scheme should close in three months time. The grant is aimed at hauliers and fleet operators
offering up to £120,000 per vehicle and sits within a wider £318 million package
for low and zero emission freight. Ministers hope the extra money will prompt operators to bring
forward their investment decisions before the deadline. There are some manufacturers to firm
up the UK order books. Now Chang'an is a Chinese maker. This is not a story for EV News China,
our spin-off podcast by the way. This is a story about Europe. Chang'an has begun exporting their
electric cars to Europe from Thailand, marking a new stage in its expansion and confirming Thailand's
role as a hub for Chinese EV makers. The first model to go abroad from its Thai base is the
DPAL SO5. In the last week of 2025, Chang'an shipped the first batch of Thai-built EVs. The firm has
not said which European market gets the vehicles but a website called World Cargo News which tracks
car carriers say the route of the car carrier is going to be the UK, then Belgium, then Norway,
then Germany. Not saying that it will offload right-hand drive versions but it could do, couldn't it?
To the UK first, Chang'an is following a path taken by the likes of BYD,
which also began exporting EVs from Thailand last year. Building in Thailand lets Chinese brands
sidestep EU special tariffs on EVs made in China and helps them meet Thailand's new EV rules,
which tie incentives to local manufacturing. Now, Volkswagen is giving their electric van
and people carrier more range, faster charging and four-wheel drive. That is the e-transporter
and the e-caravell. They now use a 700, sorry, not a 700 kilowatt hour, a 70 kilowatt hour.
That would be amazing, wouldn't it? 70 kilowatt hour battery. Volkswagen says it's 13% more range
on the previous version, 125 kilowatt DC fast charging, 30 minutes to get to 10 to 80. We do
love a 10 to 80. Thank you, Volkswagen. We always encourage the car makers. Just give us a 10 to
80 number. Don't do 20 to 80. Don't fudge it. Thank you. Oh yeah, I was going to say thank you
where it's due. We get a 10 to 80. We love it, don't we? The battery remains in the vehicle
floor, obviously. It's the same. Same vehicle, just a bigger battery and more real-world range,
no sacrificing practicality. The output for the motor stays the same. I think it's just a battery
upgrade on this. From early 2026, there'll be a four-motion, which is their marketing term,
the four-motion all-wheel drive system, which combines the existing rear motor with a new front
motor on the front axle, which will add four-wheel drive traction for customers who need it. The
technical tweaks are modest, but they will be welcomed. Finally, Sony Honda Mobility has added
the joint venture revealed a new, still unnamed car for now dubbed the Ophelia Prototype 2026.
The vehicle appears to be an SUV version of the Ophelia One, a vehicle that isn't yet with customers.
The company says the new SUV carries over the technical package and innovations of the Ophelia
One, which I presume by that they mean the fact that it comes to the PlayStation 5
inside it, which is cool, right? If that's what you want. The fastback shape is meant to provide
more interior space and easier access than the original car. Not that we know if the original
car has been a success or not, because it's not even on sale, but it will hopefully this year
arrive on California's roads at least, I think, in that first market for 100,000 plus dollars.
But good to know that we've got the second one from them already. And that's your podcast for
today. Thanks to our premium partners, National Car Charging on the US mainland and the Loha
Charge in Hawaii, and Test EV, Avalu's trusted partner for independent EV health testing
in Australia and New Zealand. Have a good one. See you tomorrow. And remember,
there's no such thing as a self-charging hybrid.
The holidays are expensive. You're paying for gifts, travel, decorations, food. And before you
know it, you've blown way past what you were planning to spend. Don't start the new year off
with bad money vibes. Download rocket money to stay on top of your finances. The app pulls your
income, expenses, and upcoming charges into one place, so you can get the clearest picture of
your money. It shows how much to set aside for bills and how much is safe to spend for the month,
so you can spend with confidence. No guesswork needed. Get alerts before bills hit. Track budgets
and see every subscription you're paying for. Rocket Money also finds extra ways to save you
money by cancelling subscriptions you're not using and negotiating lower bills for you.
On average, Rocket Money users can save up to $740 a year when using all of the app's premium
features. Start the year off right by taking control of your finances. Go to rocketmoney.com
slash cancel to get started. That's rocketmoney.com slash cancel rocketmoney.com slash cancel
About this episode
Volvo's upcoming EX60 electric crossover is set to make waves with its impressive 505-mile range and innovative cell-to-body battery design. The episode also covers Renault's Twingo E-Tech, which emphasizes affordability and practicality for city driving. General Motors faces challenges with a significant drop in EV sales, while Mercedes unveils its new MB Drive Assist Pro system. Additionally, Lucid shifts focus away from sedans, and the UK sees a surge in public EV charging infrastructure. The episode wraps up with updates on Volkswagen's electric van and Sony Honda's new SUV prototype.
