Gas is Stupid Expensive. So Why Aren't Electric Cars More Popular? Ep 124

EV adoption means how quickly electric vehicles are being purchased and used by consumers. The segment frames it as slower than expected despite high fuel prices, which should make EVs more attractive on cost.

JD Power is a well-known automotive research and consumer insights company. In this segment, the host is speaking to JD Power about what customer feedback and sentiment data say about electric-vehicle adoption.

Fuel prices refer to the cost of gasoline (and sometimes diesel) at the pump. The host uses rising fuel prices as a key reason EVs should be selling better, but notes that EV adoption is still lagging.

The Subaru Trailseeker is a Subaru model that’s being compared on price to another Subaru option (the Outback Turbo) in the discussion. That kind of comparison usually matters because it helps buyers decide which trim or model best matches their budget while still offering similar capabilities. Podcasts often bring up the Trailseeker when talking about value and how closely it overlaps with other Subaru choices.

The Subaru Outback Turbo refers to the Outback wagon with a turbocharged engine. Here it’s mentioned as the gas-powered comparison point to the Subaru TrailSeeker, with the host arguing the EV can deliver similar day-to-day capability while potentially costing less to run.

A home charger is an EV charging unit installed at or near your house, letting you charge overnight. The host frames it as the biggest advantage because it turns charging into a routine, low-effort habit rather than a trip to a public station.

The Dodge Charger is a full-size American sedan that’s known for strong performance and a long-running muscle-car heritage. It often comes up in discussions about how people pay for and charge vehicles or power solutions because the name “Charger” can overlap with charging terminology. In a podcast, it’s likely mentioned as a recognizable model name that listeners may associate with “charging,” even though it’s a car line rather than a charging device.

Range anxiety is the fear that an EV won’t have enough battery to reach the destination (or a charging station). The hosts argue that, even though EVs have improved, this fear persists as a perception problem rather than a real-world limitation for many drivers.

The Nissan Leaf is an early mass-market electric car that helped popularize EVs in the U.S. The hosts mention the Leaf “first gen” to illustrate how early EVs were associated with shorter real-world range and stronger range-anxiety concerns.

In EV ownership, a learning curve refers to the adjustment period where drivers learn how to plan trips, estimate usable range, and integrate charging into daily life. The hosts connect it to why some buyers initially expect range to be a problem, but later find it manageable in real-world use.

Public charging is charging an electric vehicle using chargers that are available to the general public, typically at places like highway corridors, shopping centers, and parking lots. It matters because it determines whether EV road trips are practical without relying on home charging.

Charging networks are companies or platforms that operate and manage groups of EV chargers, often with their own payment systems and app access. Partnerships between automakers and specific networks can affect what chargers drivers can see or use in practice.

This is the idea that EV charging can seem scarce even when it isn’t, largely because of visibility and information gaps. If drivers don’t see chargers the way they see gas stations, they may assume charging isn’t convenient or common.

The North American charging standard refers to the common connector/protocol used for EV charging in the U.S. and Canada, which helps reduce “will my car fit this charger?” confusion. When most automakers align to the same standard, it becomes easier to use chargers across many brands and locations.

Tesla’s Supercharger Network is Tesla’s fast-charging system, known for dense station placement and generally consistent user experience. Access to it can make EV ownership feel more “gas-station-like,” especially for drivers who worry about finding chargers on trips.

The “education” gap refers to how many EV shoppers misunderstand practical charging realities—like how often public chargers appear and how accessible different charging networks are. This can directly affect purchase decisions even when charging infrastructure is improving.

An electric vehicle consideration study is a consumer research effort that measures how likely people are to consider buying an EV and why they might reject them. In this segment, it’s used to quantify the role of charging-frequency concerns in EV rejection.

“EV rejecters” is a category from the study for consumers who were shopping for a new vehicle but decided against EVs. The segment highlights that a common reason is the belief that public charging isn’t frequent enough.

A public charger is an EV charging station available for general use outside your home or workplace. The episode frames “public charger frequency” as a key factor in whether shoppers feel comfortable buying an EV.

A “Stage two” charger is a higher-power Level 2 home charging setup for electric vehicles. It’s faster than most standard outlets and is typically installed at a residence so you can recharge overnight and start each day with a fuller battery.

Charging reliability is how consistently EV chargers work when drivers arrive and how often charging actually succeeds. It’s a key factor in real-world EV adoption because broken chargers or frequent failures can turn a simple trip into a stressful backup plan.

“Charging success for consumers” is a performance metric describing whether EV drivers can actually get power when they plug in. It’s closely tied to reliability and can be influenced by charger uptime, software/communication issues, and maintenance quality.

In this context, “co-locate” means placing EV chargers in the same area as other useful businesses and facilities. The speaker’s point is that charger placement should be planned around amenities so drivers can use the time productively.

“Convenience charging” is the idea of charging during everyday errands and activities rather than treating charging as a separate trip. The speaker frames it as charging while you’re already stopped—like at a grocery store or restaurant—so the charging experience feels integrated into normal life.

“Level 2 charging” refers to a common public and home EV charging setup that uses alternating current (AC) and typically delivers more power than a standard outlet. It’s designed for longer stops—like at home, work, or while you’re shopping—so your car can add meaningful range during that time.

A “destination type charging experience” describes charging stops that are meant to be part of a trip or an outing—often at places people want to visit—rather than quick, utilitarian stops. The speaker contrasts this with “road trip stop” charging, implying different expectations for time, amenities, and overall experience.

“Stage three chargers” is likely referring to a high-power fast-charging level (often discussed as Level 3 DC fast charging). These chargers can refill an EV much quicker than standard home or slower public chargers, which is why they’re often placed at places people already visit for a while.

Destination chargers are EV charging stations placed at locations where drivers naturally spend time—like restaurants, hotels, or movie theaters. The strategy is to match charging to “dwell time,” making charging feel less disruptive than charging while you’re just passing through.

Fast charging is a method of charging an EV at high power so the battery can gain charge quickly. In the segment, they describe typical fast-charging sessions as taking about 30 minutes to move from roughly 20% to 80%, which is a common planning window for charging stops.

Charging from about 20% to 80% is a common EV fast-charging planning range because it balances speed and battery protection. Many EVs charge quickly in the middle of the state-of-charge window, then slow down as the battery approaches full.

“Infrastructure education” here means helping consumers understand how EV charging works and what to expect from charging networks and station types. The host argues that misconceptions about EV capabilities and charging can slow adoption even when the hardware is improving.

In this context, “misconceptions” refers to incorrect beliefs about EVs—such as what they can do, how charging works, and whether charging is practical. Addressing these misunderstandings is framed as a key lever for increasing EV adoption.

The affordability component is the idea that EVs often cost more upfront than comparable internal-combustion (gas) cars, which suppresses demand. The speaker argues that lowering EV prices is crucial to expanding the customer base.

ICE vehicle is shorthand for an internal-combustion-engine vehicle, meaning a car powered by gasoline or diesel. The speaker contrasts ICE vehicles with electric vehicles to explain why EVs are perceived as more expensive overall.

The Chevrolet Bolt is an all-electric compact car from General Motors, known for being one of the more affordable EV options in the U.S. Mentioning it here highlights how automakers are trying to bring EV pricing down to reach more mainstream buyers.

The speaker uses a “19 percent overlap” to describe the small portion of consumers who both want EVs and can afford them. It’s a market segmentation argument: interest alone isn’t enough—buyers also need the budget.

The Kia EV4 is an electric vehicle (EV) model from Kia, discussed in the context of EV options available in Canada. It’s the kind of car that shows up when people compare EV models by name, pricing, and availability. Podcasts often mention it to help listeners understand what EVs are on the market and how they fit different needs.

The Subaru Uncharted is a newer Subaru model that’s being referenced alongside other EV and crossover-style options in the conversation. It’s likely brought up as a “new entry” in Subaru’s lineup, meaning it’s intended to attract buyers looking for a specific type of vehicle. In a podcast, it’s commonly mentioned when hosts compare what’s available and how models are positioned by name and purpose.

The host argues that used electric vehicles will expand EV adoption by lowering the purchase price barrier. They connect this to earlier incentives that drove leasing, meaning many EVs will soon return to the used market.

In this context, “incentives” refers to government or policy programs that reduce the effective cost of buying an electric vehicle. The host says these incentives encouraged leasing, which then increased lease volumes for EVs.

Leasing is a financing structure where you pay to use a vehicle for a set period rather than buying it outright. The host claims EV incentives led to more leasing, which later increases the supply of off-lease EVs available for used purchase.

“Electric vehicle affordability” is the idea that EVs need to be priced within reach for mainstream buyers, not just early adopters. The host argues that the used EV market is improving affordability by offering “newer used” EVs at better prices.

In an electric car, the battery’s usable capacity slowly declines with age and charging cycles. The host is saying that off-lease EVs that are only four or five years old may still have around 90% of their original capacity, so range and performance can remain relatively strong compared to older “bad battery” stories.

The host is referencing early EV-era battery degradation concerns—specifically stories from around 2015 where people claimed a few-year-old EV had “only got 60 battery.” The key idea is that battery technology and thermal management improved, so modern EVs generally degrade more slowly than early-generation fears suggested.

GPS units use satellite positioning to determine a vehicle’s location and movement in real time. For track driving, that location data can be used to map where you are on the circuit and correlate it with speed and lap timing.

A driving performance optimizer is a device or software system that helps drivers improve lap times by collecting vehicle and track data. In this segment, it’s described as using a large in-car screen plus an external camera to log performance metrics while you drive.

In track driving, “lines” refers to the path the car takes through a corner—where you enter, how you arc through, and where you exit. The optimizer uses recorded data so you can compare your line choices lap to lap and see where you might gain time.

Lap times are the measured duration for one full circuit around a track. The segment describes the device recording lap times and displaying your best time compared with the current lap so you can see improvement in real time.

A head-up display (HUD) projects key driving information onto the windshield so you can see it without looking down at the instrument cluster. On track-focused devices, it can show guidance like speed, lap timing, or performance deltas in your line of sight.

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is a hybrid car with a battery you can charge from an external power source. That lets it run on electricity alone for short distances, then switch to the gas engine (and/or combine both) when the battery is depleted or when more power is needed.

A dual clutch transmission (DCT) uses two separate clutches—one for odd gears and one for even gears—so it can shift quickly with minimal interruption. In a plug-in hybrid, the DCT’s behavior during low-speed driving and transitions can feel especially smooth because the electric motor can handle the “in-between” moments.

When an electric motor powers the front wheels, the car can use electric torque to move the vehicle at low speeds and during clutch/gear transitions. That reduces lag and helps the drivetrain feel smoother in stop-and-go traffic because the electric system can respond instantly.

EV mode is the driving setting that prioritizes electric-only operation. In this segment, the host says the car can run in EV mode for a limited distance, which is typical for plug-in hybrids: enough for local commuting, but not meant to replace full gas driving for long trips.

0–60 mph (or 0–60 time) is a common performance metric measuring how quickly a car accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph. It’s useful for comparing how quickly different cars deliver power, especially when a hybrid’s electric assist can improve launch feel.

A twin-turbo V8 uses two turbochargers to force more air into a V8 engine, which boosts power and can improve throttle response. The “twin” part means there are two turbos working to spool up and support higher boost across the rev range.

The red line is the engine’s maximum safe operating RPM range. Past that point, the engine can be damaged, so drivers typically avoid sustained operation at or above it.

“Stepping out” describes oversteer behavior where the rear of the car loses grip and moves outward relative to the front. It often happens when torque is applied and traction at the rear tires can’t keep up.

A mechanical all-wheel drive system typically uses a drivetrain (like a transfer case and driveshafts) to send power to both axles. The speaker contrasts this with an electric setup where front and rear motors can be controlled independently rather than by a single mechanical coupling.

“Sportier settings” refers to driving modes that change how the car responds—commonly throttle mapping, steering feel, stability/traction intervention levels, and sometimes regenerative braking behavior. The speaker implies the car remains controllable even when these systems are made more aggressive.

“Combined horsepower” is the total output when multiple power sources are added together—such as an internal-combustion engine plus electric motors in a hybrid. It’s a way to express the overall peak power the car can deliver.

Aerodynamic “bits and pieces” are body features designed to manage airflow—like wings, splitters, diffusers, and vents. They can reduce drag, increase downforce, and improve stability at speed.

Lamborghini is an Italian supercar brand known for bold, easily recognizable styling and high-performance driving dynamics. In this segment, the host uses Lamborghini as an example of how a new model can look different while still feeling “familiar.”