The “6e” is the name used in the podcast for a Mazda model the host has been driving. It’s being talked about as a car that feels interesting during their test. The episode doesn’t provide more detail beyond that mention.
The host is talking about the first-generation Mazda MX-5 (Miata). It’s a small, fun roadster, and the early cars are known for their pop-up headlights—so it represents the “classic Mazda” they’re comparing the new car against.
Pop-up headlights are headlamps that are hidden behind the bodywork and then lift up when you turn them on. They’re a distinctive design feature on some older sports cars, and here they’re used to anchor the host’s “this is what a Mazda should be” memory.
This is an electric-car efficiency number. It means how far the car goes on one unit of battery energy—higher usually means it’s more efficient and costs less to drive.
Mazda is a Japanese car brand. The speaker is basically saying Mazda’s cars don’t all feel like they come from the same “family,” so it’s harder to describe what Mazda’s identity is right now.
Kia is another car brand. The host is comparing it to Mazda, saying Kia tends to make many of its cars look like the same design idea scaled up or down.
A hybrid car uses two power sources—an engine plus an electric motor. The car can switch between them to improve efficiency compared with a petrol-only car.
The Mazda MX-30 is Mazda’s first-generation electric car. The host liked the look and feel, but says it didn’t do as well as it should—especially in how efficiently it uses battery power.
Chang-An is a big car company from China. Here, the host says Mazda is working with them to help build EVs faster, which can affect how the finished car turns out.
The Mazda 6E is Mazda’s newer EV plan mentioned in this segment. The host’s point is that it’s being built using a Chinese partner’s base, so it may not feel as “Mazda” as people expect.
Alipay is a payment app used in China, kind of like a digital wallet. The host is saying the price they’re talking about is in Chinese money handled through that app.
Le Mans is a famous race track in France. The biggest event there is a 24-hour race, and it’s considered one of the most important races in motorsport.
The Dacia Spring is a budget electric car. The hosts are talking about how much cheaper it’s gotten, making it one of the lowest-priced EVs you can buy in the UK.
Leap Motor is the company that makes the Leap T03 electric car. In this segment, they’re mentioned because their UK pricing changed after a grant was increased.
A grant is financial support that reduces the effective purchase price of a car. Here, the “Leap Grant” is described as being increased (and then “trebled”), which directly affects how cheap the Leap T03 can be marketed in the UK.
Car
Leap T03
The Leap T03 is a cheap electric car from Leap Motor. In this discussion, it’s mentioned because it briefly became the cheapest EV in the UK before another car (the Dacia Spring) dropped its price.
The T3 is mentioned along with a deal where it was described as the cheapest car for a limited time. The podcast is focusing on the price and timing rather than how the car drives. It’s included because it’s part of that bargain discussion.
To “undercut” means to make your price lower than a competitor’s. Here, Dacia is described as dropping its EV price to beat Leap Motor’s cheapest-EV claim.
A used EV is an electric car that someone owned before you. They’re talking about how much you can spend and still get a decent electric car.
Term
one-year-olds
“One-year-olds” means cars that are about a year old. They’re pointing out that these newer used EVs can be relatively cheap compared with buying new.
Term
Bring the Spring campaign
This sounds like a campaign to encourage bringing a particular cheap electric car (the Dacia Spring) to the UK. They’re saying they pushed for it, but the results weren’t as good as hoped.
Term
AMI
AMI here is mentioned like a government or industry program connected to EVs. The hosts are saying it didn’t work out well, but this snippet doesn’t spell out what AMI stands for.
Liquidators are people who sell off what’s left of a company, usually after it fails. If they’re selling cars, it can mean lower prices, but you may need to think about future support and parts.
Concept
company went bankrupt
Bankruptcy is a legal process where a company can’t pay its debts and may be liquidated or reorganized. For car buyers, it can change how vehicles are sold, how parts and support are handled, and whether warranties or service programs remain reliable.
Right-hand drive means the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. That matters in countries like the UK, where most cars are built this way.
Concept
long-term think
They’re talking about buying a car hoping it will be worth more later. The host doubts whether a cheap EV from a bankrupt brand will become valuable like older cars sometimes do.
A lease is like renting a car for a fixed period. You pay a monthly amount, usually with some money up front, and there are rules like how many miles you can drive.
Car
MG S6 trophy long-range
This is an MG electric car. The host is talking about a long-range version and how much it costs on a lease, pitching it as a practical family EV deal.
The Audi S6 is a faster, sportier version of a regular Audi A6. It’s designed to feel more powerful when you drive. In the podcast, it comes up as a specific car someone found, with extra details mentioned.
“Down” is the money you pay upfront to start the lease. Paying more up front can make the monthly payment smaller, but you’re still spending that money immediately.
Term
77-kph battery
They’re talking about the battery size. For EVs, the important number is usually in kWh (how much energy the battery holds), which affects how far you can drive before recharging.
Leases usually come with a mileage allowance. If you drive more than the stated miles per year, you may have to pay extra when you return the car.
Car
BMW iX1
The BMW iX1 is BMW’s electric version of a small SUV. They’re talking about finding a used one that’s only a couple of years old and has relatively low miles, making it a strong value compared with the original price.
Volkswagen is a big German car company. The speaker mentions it because someone from Volkswagen had an opinion about how car companies should think about journalists and what people actually buy.
Steel wheels are the simpler, cheaper kind of wheels made from metal. The speaker is using them to describe the kind of car journalists talk about a lot.
The 5 E-Tech Electric is an electric car version of the Renault 5. It uses a battery and an electric motor. The podcast mentions it in a context that’s more about the car’s appeal than detailed specs.
The Renault 4 CV is an older, classic car model from Renault. It’s the kind of vehicle people talk about for its history and character. In the podcast, it’s mentioned in a happy, nostalgic context.
If you can’t charge at home, you have to rely more on public charging. That means you’ll likely plan charging stops more carefully, especially for longer trips.
Frequent short drives can use more energy than you’d expect, because the car may not fully warm up or settle into its most efficient mode. That can mean you need charging more often.
Concept
longer trips
For longer drives, the EV’s real-world range matters, but so does where you can charge and how fast. If you don’t charge at home, planning the route and charging stops becomes a bigger deal.
Skoda’s ENYAQ is an all-electric SUV. The “80” is basically the version with a bigger battery, which usually means you can drive farther before needing to charge.
The MG5 is an MG electric car (a hatchback). Since the buyer doesn’t have a home charger, the big issue is whether it can comfortably handle both short local trips and longer journeys using public charging.
Car
Skoda ENYAC
The Škoda ENYAQ is an electric SUV. They’re saying it’s a well-rounded choice, but they weigh it against other EVs depending on battery and drivetrain details.
A facelift is when a car gets updated partway through its life—usually styling changes and sometimes tech improvements. They’re saying the specific ENYAQ they’re comparing may be an earlier update.
“New battery tech” means the car’s battery is from a newer generation. Newer batteries can charge better and work more efficiently than older ones.
Term
different drivetrain
A drivetrain is the set of components that deliver power to the wheels (for EVs, that includes the motor(s), reduction gear, and related control hardware). The hosts imply that a later ENYAQ with a different drivetrain would be a better pick than the earlier one.
The Kia EV6 is an electric car that’s designed to work well for longer trips. They choose it because it makes charging easier and faster compared with the alternatives they’re discussing.
“Kilowatt charging” is how strong the charger is. More kilowatts usually means you can add energy faster, as long as the car and charger can work together.
“800-volt” means the car’s electrical system is set up to use higher voltage. That usually helps it charge faster when you’re using the right fast charger.
A trim level is the “version” of a car. It’s how the manufacturer groups features and options, so two cars with the same model name can still be different depending on the trim.
0-62 time is a simple performance number: how fast the car gets from a standstill to 62 mph. Faster 0-62 usually means quicker acceleration, but it depends on the exact car and configuration.
Here, “spec” means the exact setup of the car—what features and options it has. Even if two cars share the same model name, their specs can differ by country.
“UK models” means the cars sold in the UK, which can be set up a bit differently than the same car sold in other countries. That can be due to local rules and what equipment the manufacturer includes there.
“Residual value” is what a car is expected to be worth later on. If a car is expected to hold value well, companies may choose options that help it stay desirable.
“Market preferences” means different places want different features. So the same car model can be offered with different options depending on where it’s sold.
The Kia PV5 is a Kia vehicle. The hosts are saying they liked one specific color combo they saw at launch, but when it came to the UK, the available choices were more limited.
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is an electric car meant for city driving. It uses a battery instead of petrol. The podcast mentions it because the speaker has owned one as part of their EV mix.
The ë-C3 is an electric version of the Citroën C3. It runs on a battery instead of petrol. In the podcast, it’s mentioned because the speaker is waiting for one on lease and expects to like it.
The BMW i3 is a small electric car made for everyday driving, especially in cities. It uses a battery instead of petrol. The podcast mentions it as one of the EVs the speaker owned.
The Ford Explorer is a larger family car in the SUV category. It’s designed to carry people comfortably and handle normal driving needs. It’s mentioned because it’s one of the cars someone has owned or discussed.
The Volkswagen Passat is a family car that’s meant for comfortable everyday driving. It’s typically chosen for practicality and space. The podcast mentions it as one of the cars someone has owned.
The Kia Niro is a small crossover car, and there’s an electric version called the Niro EV. It’s designed to be practical for daily driving. The podcast references it as a car the speaker has owned.
The e-Niro is the electric version of the Kia Niro. It’s meant for everyday driving and uses a battery. The podcast mentions it because the speaker owned one and is sharing their experience.
The Tesla Model Y is an electric SUV, meaning it uses a battery and an electric motor. It’s built to carry people and gear with a bit more space than a typical sedan. The podcast mentions it alongside other EVs and charging experiences.
The Ioniq 3 is mentioned as an electric car in a list of EVs. The podcast is using it to compare experiences across different electric models. No extra details are given beyond that it’s part of the speaker’s EV history.
The ë-C3 Aircross is an electric SUV-style car. It uses a battery instead of petrol. The podcast mentions it as one of the EVs in the speaker’s overall lineup.
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Hello and welcome to the Kilowatt Half Hour,
a podcast about the world of EVs brought to you by the team at electrifying.com.
Well, hello. This week on the Kilowatt Half Hour,
we're going to be chatting about the Ferrari Luches sell-out success.
We will reveal Britain's cheapest car,
and we're going to cast our expert eyes over the best seven-seat electric cars.
We also, of course, will be answering your buying questions
and listening to what you had to say about the last episode.
Hello, both of you. How are you?
Good, good. Yeah, a bit cooler than last week.
A little cooler than last week, yeah, and marginally cooler.
And I think this time next week, we're not going to be cool, are we?
OK, we'll take it.
So what's been going on? Batch, what have you been driving?
Oh, straight in.
Well, I've been driving the new Mazda 6E, actually.
Bit of an interesting car, actually.
It's a car that's left me very perplexed, actually.
Yeah, so I drove on the UK launch.
It's a very good car.
It's just you've got to put out of your mind
what you think a Mazda should be like.
That's what I will say about this car.
So if you've ever driven a Mazda...
Can I speak?
I have, actually, no idea what a Mazda should be like.
Because in my mind, the Mazda is still my favourite.
Well, one of my probably top-favourite cars of all time,
the Mk1 MX-5 with the pop-up headlights.
That, to me, is a Mazda.
Well, there we are.
So I have nothing to put out of my mind other than that,
which leaves me to be thinking that I might be a little disappointed.
Well, I think you will be,
because you need to cast that Mk1 MX-5 out of your head, Ginny.
And get used to...
Have you been told that for years?
Still hanging on to it.
Well, you need to get used to a new reality, really,
because this Mazda 6E doesn't drive or feel like a Mazda at all.
So Mazdas, traditionally, have got like a sporty feel.
They're quite engaging, nice steering, what have you.
And, of course, their interiors are always lots of buttons,
lots of knobs, small little screens on top of the dashboard
so you're not distracted.
Whereas the 6E, there are no buttons whatsoever.
Huge, great big touchscreen on the dashboard.
And it drives quite kind of meh, really.
But the pricing on it is very good.
It looks very good.
And the efficiency, you'll understand this, Ginny.
The efficiency on this car is pretty extraordinary.
So I was driving it in the heat wave last week.
30 degree heat.
Fans on, you know, the air conditioning on full blast.
Cooling seat on as well.
Over 180 miles.
I average 4.4 miles per kilowatt hour.
OK.
It's got a redeeming feature then. We like that.
It has.
That's very good.
I'm sure it's got loads of redeeming features.
I think just...
I don't know about what you think, Mike,
but for me, Mazda is just one of those brands out there
and there are a handful of them.
I'm just struggling to see what they're about now.
What their identity is.
And in a world where we've got so many new brands coming in
and, you know, the car industry has been through such a big shake-up.
For me, what a brand is.
It's so important that it matters more than ever before.
I mean, it's always been quite a sort of schizophrenic brand, hasn't it?
It's always been like, you know, one car looks nothing like the other,
drives nothing like the other one.
It's almost like a random collection.
It's like a sort of the sort of takeaway place, you know,
around me and the corner that does pizzas, kebabs,
and, you know, various other sort of things.
It's a little bit like that shop in so much as they've always felt quite different.
But yeah, it's not cohesive.
It's the opposite of Kia, isn't it?
Where everything looks exactly like a small, bigger version of the same car.
Mazda are just like...
Well, they're a tiny car company compared to everybody else.
2021, that's for £18,000, Kia EV6 GT, goodness me, 60,000 miles, 2020, £18,000 or the MG5
with £10,000, 2025 for £20,000.
All seem great options but wonder which one you would go for.
Any advice, greatly appreciated.
Well, a wide selection of the cars there Fraser, I think it's fair to say.
I kind of have a guess of which one Ginny's going to go for there.
I'll go last and you can, you know, we'll wait and see.
We shall wait and see.
Go on, feel free.
Well, the MG5, I mean, that is a great price.
Listen, it's 10,000 miles, it's only a year old and that's £20,000.
It doesn't bring you much joy though, the MG5.
So I would actually go for the Skoda ENYAC.
It ticks every box, doesn't it really?
Okay, interesting, good, good.
Mike, which one would you recommend?
Well, do you know what I would suggest the Kia?
Yeah, only because if you're doing a long journey,
it's got that lovely 800 volt system, really fast charging.
You've got longer warranty on the Kia.
I mean, it's got a chunk of miles on it, £60,000, but that's not a huge amount.
It's still got a lot left in it on the warranty and everything.
I mean, the ENYAC is lovely but that is a pretty facelift one
and pretty kind of new battery tech one.
So I would say that's, I think that if it was a slightly later ENYAC
with the different drivetrain in it, I would go for that.
But I would say of those four, yeah, I think the EV6 would be on my choose.
I would concur, actually, for exactly that reason.
For the longer journeys to Scotland, like here EV6,
is it up to 240, 260 kilowatt charging?
Because of that 800 volt architecture, I think.
And also, if you're not on a charger in London,
that's also brilliant just for topping up.
So whenever you go to top up, you know, you probably go somewhere once a week
and you know, top up again fast charging for me,
I think is increasingly becoming something that I'm much more concerned about actually than range.
Second choice would obviously be the ENYAC because I love it dearly.
But I'm completely with Mike that I think it needs to be that sort of next generation tech.
But yeah, and also I just think the EV6 is a great looking car.
You're going to get that nice feeling when you go outside and you see it and you go,
ah, that's my car, it's going to make you smile.
The only thing, the only thing I would question Fraser is,
I mean, you know, I'm not casting any aspersions,
but do you really need the GT because it's got a million horsepower, hasn't it?
So you could probably save even more money just by going for a GT Line S or something like that.
I don't know.
So let us know what, you know, your final thoughts Fraser, I don't know.
It must be a GT Line where it's got to be.
I can't be the kind of full on, you know.
Oh, it's not. I don't think it's the GT.
No, I don't think it's that.
I think it must be a GT Line.
Not for that.
Yeah, it's got to be.
It's the trim level, isn't it?
I think rather than the actual.
Oh yeah, not the 0-62 in three and a half seconds one.
It's definitely.
If it is, I'll have it.
Yeah.
18 grand.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Fine.
Okay.
We've got a second.
We've got a second.
Honestly, we've got so many brilliant comments this weekend that we could have filled a
kilowatt three hours.
But anyway, this is, this is the second reader question we've had of the week.
This short and sweet, but it's worth asking.
Craig Williams via podcast electrifying.com says, Hi guys.
Why do car manufacturers change the spec for UK models?
Surely it would work out cheaper for them not to do this.
That's for Craig.
I think what Craig's referring to is the fact that sometimes you look at an equivalent
trim, maybe in France or Italy or Spain, Spanish market, whatever.
And you say, hang on, that's got, that's got these, these got these.
Why can we don't have that on ours?
There are sort of small variations between trim levels, I think.
And a lot of the times it's manufacturers who a lot of people might not know this, but
you know, a year, six months before production starts, car manufacturers agree the trim and
the specification of their cars that the factory going to build for them, sort of independent
of what other nations and other markets are doing.
So you often get something that's tailored for to reach a certain price point or something
that the RV, the residual value setters really like to look for in a car that they'll put
on.
And also stuff like, you know, heated seats don't mean a lot to the Spaniards because
they don't really need them.
Whereas in, you know, kind of Northern European markets, they much do.
So that's why they change, but it is frustrating.
And right hand drives, another issue as well, because often you get really nice interior
trim colors on the left hand drive cars.
But because they've got to make the moldings and everything for right hand drive cars,
you get a limited palette.
So often, you know, I find that quite frustrating to somebody who likes zany interiors to find
that they don't have them.
But yeah, so that's kind of the reason why Craig is frustrating.
It's to do with like market preferences as well.
That's what they do.
So they, you know, because the majority of cars sold in the UK come through effectively
importers, you know, that's what they all are.
And they get a big list of things that they can choose and they go with the safe stuff
is, you know, sadly often the truth.
I know I get really frustrated with with Kia, actually, because they tend to spec the really
kind of darker black, gray, dark colors.
And actually, there are some great colors like that.
I remember on the PV five, there's a fantastic green color with a brown interior that they
had in the launching career and it looked amazing.
Then spec it in the UK.
So, yeah, we need to write to all the, it's probably the brand directors, isn't it?
Oh, the sales, yeah.
I get what it's like to those people.
Come on, be a bit more adventurous with your with your choices for us, but they won't sell
them.
That's what they'll say.
People won't buy them.
Yeah.
Well, I think though, in the same vein as the steel wheels comment earlier on, I think
brown interiors is a very motoring journalist thing, isn't it?
And I'm not entirely sure whether actually the man on the street wants a brown, brown
interior.
But I'm with you, Jenny, I'm with you.
Yeah.
And go back to the Enyaq and our electric version from a couple of weeks ago.
Yeah, my Jason, my regular taxi driver who has joined the EV world a few weeks ago and
he's now ferrying passengers around in his Enyaq and it is that lovely electric blue
color and it's got a brown interior and it looks amazing.
It's lovely that cognac interior is really nice.
Yeah, and my buzz has got a white interior, which they deleted after about six months,
but because it's totally practically daft, but I love it when I get one.
Right, let's go on to the how many EVs have you owned?
Because we were talking about the fact that we, you know, increasingly we've got people
out there who are really, you know, up to massive amounts of EV knowledge of own loads
alongside these people coming to it for the first time.
So we had some brilliant emails in and goodness me, some of you have owned a lot.
So this is a really nice one to say, Maisie Guatha at Maisie Guatha, I think.
I started my EV journey in 2017, had an eclectic mix of EVs, a 2015 Renault Zoe,
a Mitsubishi IMI EV.
IMF.
IMF.
IMF.
IMF or IMEV or something.
IMEV.
IMEV, MOVE, MOVE, any one of those.
Mercedes B250 is sick.
Word.
I know.
My goodness.
That is eclectic.
Say up me, electric 2022 Renault Zoe, currently waiting on a Citroen EC3 on a two year lease
and you will love it because it's so comfy.
Oh, this bit is a 69 year old chop.
I know that my next EV may be my last but never say never.
Thanks guys and batch.
Oh.
And it was just what it said.
Just reading them, just reading that.
There was no context to that.
It just said thanks guys and batch.
And there's a smiley, there's a smiley thing.
Oh, don't say that.
It's a 69 year old chop.
You are only just getting started.
You're going to have loads more to that list.
Yes, for sure.
Shall I take the next one?
Let's rattle through.
Come on.
Oh, great.
SNZT778.
We are on our fifth EV, starting 2017 with an i3, then had another i3.
S and the Model 3 IONX6 and we now have a Ford Explorer.
Also had a Passat GT8 and a Skoda Superb FEV as well.
So depending on what you count, we are number five or number seven.
That's number five.
Don't count, not counting FEVs.
Sorry.
It's hard.
You've got to draw a line.
Shall I do this one batch or do you want to do it?
No, you go for it.
I want to see how you pronounce the place.
You go for it.
That's why I chose this one.
Gary Kono.
Hello, you lot from Drahida Island, which I think is correct.
Very good.
Drahida?
Or is it Draheda?
Let us know.
Gary is going to definitely let us know.
Love the podcast and the reviews.
So far I have had E-Niro 2021, Niro EV 2022, EV6 Earth 2024, EV6 Earth 2025 and I have
my EV4 GT line in order for 2026.
I've also had a Cooper-Born 2022 and another Cooper-Born 2025.
So seven in total.
You like KIAs?
Do you work for KIA?
Gary, come on.
I think Gary needs a fisk erosion in 2028, doesn't he?
So far, we have got two fives and a seven.
Are we going to top that?
Well, I think you should do the next one.
Yeah, Michael Legend 98.
He has had, so far, a Tesla Model S70D, brackets free charging.
Renault Zoe on a £99 per month with a free charger.
Tesla Model 3 performance, Kia Soul, Hyundai Ioniq 39 kilowatt, 2021 Audi e-tron 55 launch
edition, 2025 VW ID7 GTX touring and a 2026 Citroen EC3 Aircross Max.
That's eight in total.
My goodness me.
I feel tired just reading all that out.
Yeah, but I'll tell you what, in the Hold My Beer tradition, Mark Cornwall 8132 says
I've had nine since 2012 and they are Peugeot Ion, Kia Soul EV 27 kilowatts, Kona 64 and
Nero, a Soul 30, a Soul 64, an Ioniq 5, Tesla Model 3 and a Twizy.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
Is there a prize?
No, probably from the SMMT for buying so many cars.
I think we should come up with a prize.
I think, let's put a date on this.
We're going to run this competition until the end of July and then there will be a prize
for the person who tops the leaderboard, but you've got to do it in the spirit because
you could just tell us anything, couldn't you?
Yeah, we don't need to see V5s, but we just need to be a degree of honesty.
But these all strike me as an honest list.
If some of the sites can say that I've owned 10 Model 3s, then I'm not going to believe
them.
We're not going to believe them.
Come on, let us know.
Drop us a comment.
Any email.
So, podcast.electropine.com or you can leave us a comment and we do, of course, read them
all.
Good, bad and ugly.
Oh, we're going to talk gearboxes again, Mike.
Can this be the final lot now?
It's a final week, honestly.
I wish I hadn't mentioned it the first time.
Anyway, there's so many comments about it, but I managed to filter them down.
I've just out of just 34 and three against and then that's it.
We're not going to discuss it ever again.
So, okay, so I'll do the against ones.
All right.
Edgar Renge says, I like manual gearboxes as well, but in an EV, no way.
That's nonsense.
Such as fake engine noise.
It's for classic cars.
Yes, leave it there.
Kevin Meyer, 7571 says, I agree with Mike.
Why is that?
A gearbox is just there to compensate for the weak asthmatic internal combustion engine.
And finally, at Muzzah Sea says, for those who suggest one should learn to drive, one
should learn to drive in a manual.
Do you suggest that we should learn to crank hand crank car as well?
This is the 21st century.
Wow.
So those are the three in favor of not, sorry, against having manual gearboxes in EVs.
Batch.
Well, there are some strong disagreements here.
I mean, there are some very vociferous arguments for gearboxes.
DC Various Vids 8082 says, yes to manual boxes, autos on higher vehicles only.
I've driven EVs, but oh, how I miss a manual gearbox.
Brackets, a real one, not pretend.
At Chris Blacklock 9468 says, as a longtime manual transmission driver, I would like to
see manuals in some electric vehicles.
For me, it's the clutch that is important, not just the shifting.
The ability to completely unhitch the drivetrain from the wheels at any point can save a slide,
or the ability to feather in power with the clutch.
I don't doubt this.
It's getting technical here, aren't we?
Feather in power.
Sorry, is this from Jackie Stewart this email?
I don't doubt this could be done possibly by an electronic clutch that works more like
regen braking might be an interesting idea.
And Adam Schrill 33 says, driving a manual is a skill and needs to be retained.
I learned in a car that needed double declutching, and that skill will stay with me for life.
I would love a manual EV.
It would be quicker and more efficient than an auto.
Would it?
There we are.
I don't know.
Yeah, more complicated.
Stay by wire.
Just talking.
They're for any Ferrari steer by wire gearbox.
It's brilliant.
It's brilliant.
Absolutely class-leading.
Okay.
Anyway, what's happened to Ford?
There we go.
That's a question we've asked ourselves many times over the years.
And you've had a lot to say about it.
Bevolution UK, I think it's devastating how far Ford has fallen.
Once the bread and butter of Britain's road and now just revised VWs and now Renault's.
This is, of course, the forthcoming Fiesta EV.
The Jenny is a crudely converted model.
Such a shame.
I'd love to see them come up with models of its own again with excellent dynamics and edgy looks from the late 90s, early noughties.
Wouldn't we all?
And we have some images of what they could look like.
So, yeah, if you haven't, you know, make sure you head over to Electron because we will get that story up.
I, Super Ted, maybe they'll go on the new Fiesta, the Fiesta 5.
See nearly all of it will be a Renault 5.
It wouldn't make sense.
Built at 151.
My second car was the Mark 1 Fiesta and I loved it.
I still held that hope that Ford can do something good with a Renault base.
I really want a four-wheel drive fake gears and a noise mad RS version.
It would be worth the insurance costs.
Agreed with that.
Steve CMC said here in Australia Ford essentially sell three cars and two of them the Ranger and the Everest of good sellers.
But people are waking up to the fact they're a lot reliability from a reliability point of view.
I personally would never buy a Ford now.
They are irrelevant as passenger cars and Dave Lawrence 5.4 sadly agrees.
Since 2015, I've owned three Fiesta STs, two Focus STs.
I can honestly say that I'm flabbergasted.
What a brilliant word.
Flabbergasted where Ford is going.
What I do know is that if they carry on like this, they will go down the pan as I for one have no interest anymore with what Ford is doing.
Anyway, enough ranting.
No, we can never get enough ranting.
Great podcast guys. Love your YouTube channel.
Thank you, Dave.
Oh, quite a lot of strong feeling there.
Should we see if anyone's got anything positive to say about Ford just to bounce it up?
Do we get any positive comments, Mike?
I didn't find any.
OK, all right.
Well, if you want to send a positive comment about Ford, let us know and we'll read it next week.
But I agree with all of them, really.
There you go.
There you go.
Have we got time to do apps or do we need to wind up?
I don't know how we're doing on time.
Oh, we're the kilowatt 45 minutes, but let's check some apps in and do a few apps.
Let's do that.
And also then we'll end on our suggestions for the EV group test.
So come on, let's do a few app ones.
I'll do the first three app ones.
OK, app Null Hill says apps, apps, apps.
You are so correct.
I love my smartphone as much as everybody else, but it's getting ridiculous.
Just two cases in point, my smart thermostat and my smart dehumidifier.
Give me a break.
They're very good devices.
The thermostat looks like a piece of jewelry on the wall, but after playing with the apps for the month,
I completely forgot about them.
I don't need a smart speaker to turn on my light or flush my toilet.
I mean, my fridge has got an app and every time we leave the door open,
just to kind of get the bottle of milk out, it pings me on the app to tell me the door's open.
Too many apps, I would say.
Neil Williams 218 says in terms of apps on test cars that are getting swapped between the team,
because we mentioned that it's not always practically practical for us to kind of download the apps
and do it for each car.
We've only got them for a few days.
He says, consider setting up a generic email address to register them all against.
In theory, you'll be able to reuse the accounts when you get another car of the same brand.
Yes, it might need a company card link to it rather than the specific team member,
but it could make things easier.
Do you think we suggest to Ben that we could put the company Amix card on to all these accounts, Ginny?
I think we know what Ben's answer would be, Ben the Money Man.
Tasneem Chowdhury says, if the press loan car included a mobile phone that has the app set up
on the travels with the car, it can reduce the friction of setting up the app
and go straight to using it for the short-term loan.
Didn't Leap Mode to try that on a couple of cars?
There was a phone in the glovebox with the app installed and everything to try and do that,
but I don't think we could get it to work.
I don't think they'd trust Motoring Journalists, not Steel.
You'd be buying a phone for every booking, wouldn't you?
Yeah, or lose it. That's what we're all really good at, losing things from cars.
Yeah, so that's where we are on apps.
And okay, Batch, as the meister of the twin test, what suggestions have we had in?
Yeah, we have had a few good ones actually.
John Kel H523 says, can you do a quad test?
Goodness me, can you imagine two versions of me and two versions of Nicola?
No, that's not a good thought.
Can you do a quad test between the Volvo EX60, Polestar 3, Porsche Cayenne and the BMW iX5?
Well, of course, as soon as we can get our hands on that iX5, we will be doing some form of group test.
Of that, you can be of no doubt.
Jordan Layton9910 says, please triple test the Geely EX5, the JQ7 and the Leap Mode at B10.
Well, funny you say that. I mean, that is something that's on our list.
That's a good Chinese kind of EVs that we haven't really spent a lot of time on in terms of a group test.
So yeah, that's definitely a great idea.
And then James BB70 said, suggested before, but a head to head with the BYD Seal and the MG IM5.
It would be an interesting test.
Yeah, definitely.
I feel like we need to do that. I feel like we do. I think that's a really good one.
Yeah.
Shall we organise that? Let's organise that one. I think that'd be great.
OK, just for you. Just for you.
Just for you, James.
And I think on that, it is time to say goodbye.
Goodbye.
As always, let us know what you've been thinking about while you've been listening this week.
Podcast at Electrifying.com.
Drop us a comment.
Please like and subscribe and share and do all that stuff,
especially if you're listening on your podcast platform,
because it helps to get the word out about the kilowatt half hour-ish.
But for now, it's time to say goodbye.
Goodbye.
Au revoir.
Oh, very poncy.
Auf Wiedersehen.
Ciao.
Have a good urgy.
Wong.
Wong.
Hedor.
Favel.
Are you talking to Alexa now?
I don't know.
I'm just conscious we've got a global audience.
I think we need to be more global.
All right.
OK.
Bye. Goodbye, everyone.
Goodbye.
See you next time.
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About this episode
Mazda 6E impressions kick things off, with the hosts debating whether the new EV feels like a “real” Mazda—no buttons, huge touchscreen, and a more “meh” drive despite impressive efficiency (around 4.4 mi/kWh in hot weather). They swap notes on going car-light (electric push-bike week) and app frustrations with connected EVs. News highlights include Ferrari’s “Luce” selling out in China fast, plus a UK price shock for Dacia and a roundup of the best seven-seat EVs. Buying questions and listener feedback close out the show.
This week on the Kilowatt Half Hour, the team dives into the biggest stories from the world of electric cars. We discuss the Ferrari Luce’s surprise sell-out success in China, reveal why Britain’s cheapest EV has just become even more affordable, and ask whether now is the perfect time to snap up a bargain Fisker Ocean.
There’s also a look at the best seven-seat electric cars on sale today, plus what we’ve been driving – including the Renault 4, Mazda 6e and a rather different take on electric transport.
As always, we answer your questions, from choosing the best used EV for £20,000 to why manufacturers give UK models different specifications. We also celebrate a new pair of “EV Virgins”, share an incredible AI vision of a retro-inspired electric Ford Fiesta from a listener, reveal Mike’s latest bargain lease and used car picks, and read through your comments on manual gearboxes, Ford’s future, car apps and just how many EVs you’ve owned over the years.
If you’re thinking about buying an EV, already own one, or simply love keeping up with the latest electric car news, this is the podcast for you.
