Episode 10: We Live On The Wrong Side Of The Lithium Curtain [With Guest Kevin Williams]
About this episode
Kevin Williams joins Tran Girlismo to compare EV reality in China versus the U.S., starting with charming but doomed personal EVs like his dead Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the hosts’ experiences with Leafs, i3s, and other quirky EVs. The conversation quickly turns to why Chinese EVs feel ahead: better software/UX, younger engineering teams, and tech-company playbooks (phone makers building cars). They debate Western EV cancellations, dealer and culture-war resistance, and the likelihood of Chinese brands entering North America anyway. They also dig into real affordability math—$773 monthly payments, long loan terms, and EV inventory sitting on lots—plus China’s battery-swap ecosystem and what it could mean for range anxiety.
Hello everyone, and welcome to breaking big two-digit barrier! On this episode, I catch up with my old coworker and fellow (current!) automotive journalist Kevin Williams of InsideEVs! On this episode we reminisce about having a healthy industry... and then break into a discussion about how goddamn cooked America is in the Global Cold War Of EVs. China's kicking our ass, y'all. We then discuss the new average monthly payment, per Edmunds, of $773 for a new car. Which is fucking insane, right????
Sorry about the funky audio on this one, we made a mistake with our recording setup on this guest episode and had to use a backup track to have an episode, so Jordan and I sound like we're calling in from a WWII field telephone. For the proper listening experience on this episode, I recommend blasting this on a '93 CRX HX two-speaker sound system as you sit in traffic on the 610. Because of the audio issues, I will be reading out name-reading tier subscribers next episode, I apologize for the delay!!
Check out Kevin's TikTok for videos from his upcoming China trip, too! You can also follow him on Bluesky!
Also: If you want to get a Tran Girlismo shirt or a bumper sticker, you can here - preorders are open through April 20th!
Referenced Stories:
Pride Month Features @TheDrive
Kevin's i-Miev @TheDrive
Kevin's Coverage Of The Slate Truck @InsideEVs
Bradley Brownell's Nissan Leaf @Jalopnik
Kevin's Review of the BMW i7 @Road&Track
I Went To China And Drove A Dozen Electric Cars. Western Automakers Are Cooked @InsideEVs
Jim Farley: China Can "Put Us All Out Of Business" @Motor1.com
Stellantis Talking With Leapmotor To Build Chinese EVs In Canada @CarAndDriver
Skechers Shape-ups
Kevin's Coverage Of Chinese EVs In Canada @InsideEVs
Kevin's Review of the Xiaomi YU7 @InsideEVs
Kevin's Review of the Volvo EX30 @InsideEVs
Kevin's Reappraisal of the Vinfast VF8 (hint it's still bad) @InsideEVs
Kevin's Review of the Nio Firefly (battery-swapping car, video) @InsideEVs
Kevin's Review of the VW ID.Buzz @InsideEVs
THE ID.BUZZ HAS NO REAR CUPHOLDERS @InsideEVs
Republicans Forward Legislation In Congress To Ban Chinese Cars Forever @Reuters
Bernie Moreno's Blockchain Car Title Company @Cleveland.com
$773 Monthly Payments @Edmunds
Mitsubishi Imev
"I remember you obviously reporting on your Mitsubishi IMEV. Rest in peace."
Alpine A110
"this is actually really doable because I had a garage, like a 110 outlet, but I could charge overnight."
Dodge Charger
"... a used BMW i3 right this second if I could put a charger in on the front of my house. No, we gotta get you..."
Mazda MX-5 / Miata
"I ended up using it a ton when my, when my Miata died, he was just like, he's like, it's not, it's..."
Cadillac De Ville
"Like I told somebody, this feels like a Cadillac de Ville in a weird way. It's a lot."
Ford F-150 Lightning
"They killed the, what is it? They killed the Lightning. They're gonna make it a gas powered e-rev truck ..."
Porsche Cayenne
"...e, okay, I can like see you like. That's what the Cayenne looks like. The electric new Cayenne."
Dodge Hornet
"just go to the Reddit forums for the Hornet Ornors. Like, it's dire."
Porsche Taycan
"and just going, oh, the best version of the Taycan is like, and I'm gonna just keep going back and f..."
Volkswagen Id4
"...ut any baggage behind when they started, like the ID4 on the inside was like, I'm like, why did you try..."
Chevrolet Blazer EV
"You know? Yeah, I've also driven a blazer EV. Kevin."
Ford Maverick
"...think about like going, I was looking at a hybrid Maverick back when those first came out,"
Tesla Model S
"...o you think it's more like Tesla Model 3 or Tesla Model S? I was like, well, we envision it closely"
Tesla Model 3
"And I was like, do you think it's more like Tesla Model 3 or Tesla Model S? I was like, well, we envision i..."
Tesla Model
"And I was like, do you think it's more like Tesla Model 3 or Tesla Model S? I was like, well, we envision..."
Dodge Challenger
"...rying to come in 10 years ago with like a Hellcat Challenger company competitor, I bet there'd be a bunch of p..."
Jeep Wrangler
"...t's like a very, it's like a cross between a Jeep Wrangler, a Land Rover Defender and like a Suzuki Jimny,"
Land Rover Defender
"it's like a cross between a Jeep Wrangler, a Land Rover Defender and like a Suzuki Jimny, but cuter than all of th..."
Suzuki Jimny
"...Wrangler, a Land Rover Defender and like a Suzuki Jimny, but cuter than all of them at the same time."
Cadillac Escalade
"Like the amount of like, I've seen like new escalades and shit just like throw rods for no reason."
Ford Explorer
"...r the one that drove, that killed me was I had an explorer and it was like an explorer limited."
Honda Civic
"...use as much as it is still a Honda, it is a Honda Civic hybrid. But."
500e Fiat 500 E
"...se, like. Yeah, I feel, I almost feel bad for the Fiat 500 E though. Almost."
Volkswagen Id Buzz
"...y don't need to, but I kind of feel bad about the ID buzz. I know."
Renault Twingo
"...ni itself is a Chinese car. Like even the Renault Twingo, the new Renault Twingo resurrection,"
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