A plug-in hybrid is a car that can run on both gas and electricity. You can charge it by plugging it in, and it can drive some distance using only electricity before using gas.
The Tesla Model Y Performance is a fast electric SUV that can go really quickly and has lots of tech features. It's a version of the Model Y that is made to be sportier and more powerful.
The Tesla Model 3 Performance is a fast electric car that can go really quickly and is fun to drive. It's a special version of the Model 3 made for better performance.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an electric car that looks cool and can charge its battery quickly. It has plenty of space inside and is fun to drive. People like talking about it because it's a good example of a modern electric car that's easy to use every day.
The Tesla Model 3 is a car that runs only on electricity, so it doesn't use gas. It's known for being easy to drive and having a long battery life, which means you can go far before needing to recharge. People talk about it because it's helping more people switch to electric cars.
The BMW i3 is a small electric car that can charge quickly and drive far on a single charge. It's designed to be eco-friendly and easy to drive in cities.
The Volvo V60 is a type of car that looks like a station wagon and is known for being safe and comfortable. It can use different types of engines, including ones that use both gas and electricity.
The Ford E-Transit is a big van that runs on electricity instead of gas. It's used by businesses to carry goods and helps save money on fuel while being better for the environment. People talk about it because it's one of the first electric vans from a big company.
The Ford e-Transit Custom is a big van that runs on electricity instead of gas. It's used by businesses to carry things and helps the environment by not making pollution.
The Lucid Air is a fancy electric car that can drive very far on a single charge and is very fast. It has a lot of cool features inside to make the ride comfortable and enjoyable. People talk about it because it shows how electric cars can be both powerful and luxurious.
The Chevrolet Volt is a car that can run on electricity but also has a gas engine for longer trips. This means you can drive on electric power for a while, and if the battery runs out, the gas engine helps you keep going. People talk about it because it was one of the first cars to do this.
Solid state batteries are a new kind of battery that use solid materials inside instead of liquids. This makes them safer and able to store more power for electric cars.
The MG4 is a small electric car that's not too expensive and good for driving around the city. It can go a good distance on a single charge and has useful features for everyday use. People talk about it because it's a cheaper way to get an electric car.
The Kia Stonic is a small SUV that's easy to drive and has a nice look. It can come with a stick shift, which some people like for more control. People mention it because it's a practical and affordable car for city driving.
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Speaker 2: I'm Alex, he's Jim, and this is the Charging Status EV Podcast. How you doing, Jim? I'm not too bad, not too bad.
Speaker 1: Alright, how are you? your free Gregg's coffee that I sent you the other day.
Speaker 2: ⁓ the other week? That was good. Yeah, I'm ashamed to admit, the guy in my local Greg, he knows my order now. It's not a good thing to be, not a good place to be at really in life.
Speaker 1: I used to have this thing, you're probably way too young for ⁓ Alan Partridge, but... ⁓ yeah, so where we lived in the travel tavern, there used to be a travel lodge just outside Bristol where I'd walk in and the people in there knew my first name. And I thought, that is depressing. Like, all the hotel chains as well. Travel lodge.
Speaker 2: But I'll see you. Yeah, it's not a good place to be at, it?
Speaker 1: No, no, particularly. I mean, they're a bit better nowadays, but there used to be some really dreadful travel. I stayed in a travel lodge near Liverpool Street. one by a little post office at Liverpool Street.
I think it's called Liverpool Street, but it's actually just off Middlesex Street. Some people listening to this might know the one I'm talking about. And I stayed there for the night of a Christmas party.
It was the only one that night that was under like 250 quid or something. And I went up to the room and there was some poo on the duvet. And then I pulled the duvet back and there was another poo stain on the sheets.
And I went down to reception and said, the bed is filthy in my room. Could I have another one? And he said, we haven't got any more rooms. Can I give you some sheets or something? I said, what, you want me to go and like change the bed?
Speaker 1: And he said, well, yeah, really. mean, we haven't really got any other rooms. And I said, there's shit in it. And he's like, sorry. ⁓ I'll send someone up.
Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, I don't have high standards when it comes to hotel rooms, but I don't really want excrement in this thing that I'm going to sleep in. Yeah. Call me old fashioned.
Speaker 2: Really? Well yeah, if you're staying in travel lodges, ⁓
Speaker 1: I mean, we stayed at that bloody easy hotel, didn't we, in Milton Keynes? That was your recommendation, actually.
Speaker 2: I must clarify, we didn't stay there. We stayed in separate rooms.
Speaker 1: Yeah, very much as you tried. we did stay in our own rooms.
Speaker 2: They're very basic, they? If anyone stayed at the Easy Hoat-
Speaker 1: choice seemed to be, you want a room that smells of excrement or weed? They seem to be the two fragrances in that particular venue.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. They should have the fragrance system that you find in the Moda 7 that we drove last week, but...
Speaker 1: They should. Which one would you go for? Would you go for dark temptation or what was it? Forest?
Speaker 2: I've no idea which, cause I, in my video, I took out the pods and gave them a good whiff, but I've no idea which one was which. One smelt like some women's perfume, which I was smelt quite nice. And the other two didn't smell. Yeah. This one smells like women.
Speaker 1: That's our title for this episode, by the way.
Speaker 2: ⁓ dear. Yeah, last week we drove the Imoda 7 and another Imoda, ⁓ a different Imoda 5, but we can't really talk much about that one. But we were both surprisingly impressed. We didn't actually talk after we drove, I think, because I was filming all day and you had to disappear off. But I was really impressed with that car.
Speaker 1: I thought the Imoda 7 was absolutely brilliant. it's like the evolution of like the JQ, the Imoda 9, JQ7. they always, I've said it in the video, but with their cars, feels like every time you're getting into one, they've listened, almost like they've watched your video and all the things you've said you don't like, they're fixed.
Speaker 1: It's unbelievable like that, how rapidly they can improve stuff. And as a overall value proposition, when you compare that to cars like in its class, it feels like it's absolutely the next rung up the ladder or possibly even one and a half rungs up the ladder.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah. No, I agree. Seats were comfy. The whole ride was really refined. I couldn't really think of anything wrong with it apart from there possibly wasn't enough physical buttons for the climate control, which is a usual complaint that we all have, but it's a solid car.
It looks cool. Bags of technology, nice design. I like the new steering wheel they've gone with. but it had, they had fragrance. that's, had three little fragrance pods that will possibly have more. You can choose from three different scents, which smell varying different levels.
And then you can have that come through the cabinet. It smells quite nice because I'm not sure how well that will age over time, if you know what mean, but it's a nice feature that luxury cars have for sure.
Speaker 1: Yeah. Now that's obviously a plug-in hybrid and this is an EV podcast. Although we forget that quite often. How do you think an EV version of that car would go down? And do we think they're as far along with their EV drivetrain as they are with their hybrid system?
Speaker 2: The only EV cherry products I've driven is the JKU E5. haven't driven the Emoda E5 yet. And I thought the JKU E5 was really good. Yeah, it did. It obviously felt like a cheaper car because it wasn't that expensive.
But it was decent for what you pay and it's a nice design as well. I do think that they're at a good level with their EV stuff. just don't think they're looking to sell or pushes EVs as hard as other manufacturers at the moment.
I think they've had a lot of success with plug-in hybrids, obviously. ⁓ They're number four again last month for the JK7. The figures just got released as a recording. they're obviously riding that wave of the plug-in hybrid hype, I guess, at the moment.
And that's the most popular segment of the market, nearly, I think. So I think their EV stuff is possibly quite good. I think they're just focusing on plug-in hybrid.
Speaker 1: I wonder how much of that is shared across the other Chinese brands as well. mean, it seems that they, well, I know that they are producing things for BYD. ⁓ Even though I think BYD have claimed that they're producing stuff.
I've often noted the fact that they've both got a super hybrid system that seems to be the same style of engine. and battery, et cetera. ⁓ And we know that little driver information display, possibly not the one from that car, but the one that's in some of their others is in BYDs.
Speaker 2: I thought the one in the Emota 7 was really really high resolution.
Speaker 1: It was a lot better. I still don't particularly like it. I like the infotainment screen, but the driver information display, just, and I feel like it's stuff that could be resolved with software rather than anything else. But obviously in some, in like some of those BYDs, just doesn't.
Speaker 2: then Yeah, we've mentioned that before. It's a light blue background with dark blue text and it just doesn't quite read as well. The only thing I noticed in that car, which I forgot to mention in the video, is the MPG figures are so complicated.
Speaker 1: ⁓ yeah, no, there's always, you've got like three numbers, haven't you?
Speaker 2: couldn't wrap my head. I didn't have the time to figure out what that all meant. Unfortunately, it's different if you go to these events and you're a written journalist, you've got seemingly a lot of time. You just drive the car, make some notes and you can notice the other stuff. if you're filming, 90 % of the time you're filming and shooting things.
Speaker 1: We had the cars for, well, you've had one for a long time, didn't you? But I had, I think I had the cars for like an hour each. And yeah, which is why, you know, the videos I often do at those, a Moda JQ launches are, I've do it from the driver's seat more or less.
If there were two cars anyway, there'll definitely be one from the drivers. the driver's seat and then I just chuck a load of b-roll over the top. But it serves a purpose doesn't it? I think you can get away with it on a first drive.
Speaker 1: They always annoys me as well. Not annoys me, but you do feel jealous when you see the written guys and they're sitting there enjoying a coffee sort of later on and then they pop out in the car, have a little drive, make a few notes and then sort of amble back in.
And like, oh, what time's lunch? I don't know. I'm going in a minute. And you're like, it's 11 o'clock. And then you get the others where they turn up with like a film crew and stuff sometimes, don't you?
Obviously some of the big channels. You think, ⁓ if only.
Speaker 2: Yep. If only. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know if it's just me. I find it, it must be just like a, like a brain thing. I find it quite hard to put down thoughts about a car in written form. I much find it easier to do it on video. It's just plenty of strength, I guess. Like I've, there's a few people from AutoCar who I read their reviews and they're like, like, how did you notice this? Or how have you conveyed this in such a nice way, but it's just different skill sets, isn't it?
Speaker 1: That's it. Yeah. mean, they're masters of the written word, aren't they? ⁓ you know, I'm here for the pair growth and good looks and you for the, I don't know, sausage roll consumption. ⁓
Speaker 2: I'm not really sure what my unique proposition is, but...
Speaker 1: I think it's your lack of height. do, yeah, you should, you know what I said to you a long time ago about doing those entertainment videos. Yeah. Of which I have got a clip of your entertainment video in my video and a link in the video description, by the way.
Speaker 2: Appreciate that. I appreciate that. Thank you.
Speaker 1: do some under chassis stuff, like under the car shot. Yeah, because obviously you could do that quite, quite easily. You were taking some flack for your height again on Twitter the other day from people that don't know you.
Speaker 2: I have to deal with that every day of my life. But yeah, I did my well.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it's fine. Like I know you very well obviously, the abuse is just natural and it just flows. But when someone doesn't, you know.
Speaker 1: fact, Chris Harris the other day again, by the way.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I get it now about once every six weeks, I'd say. ⁓ and I don't think it's the same person, but I do enjoy that.
Speaker 1: the fact that he's possibly fatter than me. Yeah, I'm fat Chris Harris. ⁓
Speaker 2: You Yeah, brilliant. But yeah, we obviously drove two hybrids last week and then we've got two Petra cars to drive tomorrow. So we're not really doing much ⁓ EV stuff lately,
Speaker 1: I've just had an EV this week though. I've had the Tesla Model Y performance.
Speaker 1: and I thought it was pretty fab. I liked it a lot. ⁓ yeah, I mean, spoiler alert, I did also drive a very, very important EV yesterday that I can't talk about until Tuesday. And I think this is coming out on Saturday. ⁓ but what I, if I don't reveal the name of it, I can say that it was phenomenal. And it's
Speaker 1: similarly priced to the Tesla Model Y Performance and oh boy.
Speaker 1: Yeah. So my video will be out on that one on Tuesday morning. if you want to know what that is, check it out on Tuesday morning.
Speaker 2: Right. Yeah. I, ⁓ I haven't, had the model Y performance a few, must be last month. think I've lost track of where we are. And I thought, I thought it was really good. I love the design of it in the red paint looks incredible.
and I just thought to drive the model three performance was a, was a lot better, ⁓ cause it's a lot more chuckable, a lot more nice to drive. Whereas the, the Y performance doesn't feel pointless. It just feels like a little bit.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's interesting you say that. Cause I went into it thinking it was pointless. And at the end of it, I was thinking, actually, maybe, maybe this is the point, which is that when you're in sort of comfort mode, standard mode, whatever it is, standard mode, it is just a Tesla Model Y.
When you want it to be something else, my word, it can be something else. And it is possible to get it a little bit twitchy. You you can have a little bit of fun in it. It's not an IONIQ 5N, no, by any stretch of the imagination, but it is fun.
Like you can extract fun from it. And I think, I think they've engineered it extremely well. ⁓ but I love the fact that it's a complete Jekyll and Hyde thing. So you can go to Tesco's in it and IKEA in it and ferry the kids around and all that.
And it may be that there's a car where you just have one. rather than having your practical car, you your Nissan Qashqai and then your BMW Z4. Yeah. You've just got one car that can, can do it all. And I mean, the performance is ludicrous, it?
I mean, it's insane mode now rather than ludicrous mode, but yeah. my Lord. 3.3 second, 0-62 or 0-60.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Hmm. Yeah. Yeah. It tells me where they always give you not to 60. ⁓ but.
Speaker 1: Do you know what? Well, I've been using the grok a lot.
Speaker 1: You know, I speak Spanish, but I'm like terribly out of practice because I haven't spoken Spanish regularly for a long time. I've been going into language tuition mode on Grok and all I do, I don't give it any instructions or anything. I just say hello to it in Spanish. It immediately knows I'm speaking Spanish and I tested it by saying hello to it in Chinese and it responded in Chinese. And it's absolutely instantaneous.
Speaker 1: And I've, mean, the other day when I was driving to Farnborough, not giving away the car that I was not talking about. Yep. For about half an hour, I had a chat with my car in Spanish and it was very natural conversation with someone using absolutely the correct accent for my accent.
don't know if it picked up on my accent. So I'm using the Spanish version rather than the Latin American. type versions. So there's a lot more Lith being in Spanish Spanish Spanish Castellano than there is in Latin American Spanish.
⁓ I'll have to try my one of mine actually, but when Grok appears in them, might be in one of them there, but I'm driven, I rarely drive my own cars, but I'll have to try doing like a Mexican accent with it and see if it, if it responds differently.
Speaker 1: I'm going that now because it might come across as off colour.
Speaker 2: Yes, of course. No, no. When I was with, when we drove the new Model 3 Standard a few weeks ago, I was with Graham for most of the day and he was saying that he's tried out Grok on his car and it's quite good. So.
Speaker 1: Yeah. It's like that's all I've done with it, but it was, ⁓ I also had my son in the car and I had to take him plane spotting and I got it to, you can go into like kid story mode and my son's called Jake and I got the car to make up a story about a boy called Jake who gets to fly a Concorde and blah, blah, blah.
And it literally, it just goes, okay. Once upon a time there was a boy called Jake. And off it goes. And it comes up with a really decent little story. So quick. There's almost no thinking time. And you think you're just on a probably like a 3G connection, 4G connection.
Speaker 2: Yeah Yep. I wonder if a lot of it is local.
Speaker 1: I think it is. It must be because that reaction time. Yep. Yeah. There must be a lot of it as local.
Speaker 2: Apparently the update for it on the Tesla's is quite big. But also the CPU and GPU in those Tesla's are really quite advanced.
Speaker 1: Speaking of which, ordered my MacBook yesterday.
Speaker 1: Yeah. But I didn't go like the whole hog. didn't go for the max with all the GPU cores. No, I went for the, just the, the entry level max. Yeah. But that should get a few years. Yep. I hope.
Speaker 2: Yep. I'm quite impressed by the MacBook Neo, to be fair, the entry level one.
Speaker 2: I don't use my MacBook for anything other than writing stuff. for £500, if you're a that's insane.
Speaker 1: And when you think if you like, if you get an iPad and like the keyboard case thing, know, just get the MacBook. I know there's some stuff where it's on an iPad, like if you're doing drawings or something, or maybe you just want to watch a video on a train or something, you know, iPad's great for that, but yeah, it's exciting stuff.
Speaker 2: Why would you bother? Yeah. Yep. Definitely. ⁓ did you see that the BMW i3 is supposed to be revealed on the 18th of March?
Speaker 1: Yes. And I was told that yesterday that I was going to be seeing it in a couple of weeks. So yeah, I didn't, didn't know they'd announced it was going to be shown in on the 18th of March.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I like the look of that. Well, the mockups are auto carved done, which are usually pretty accurate. But the headline thing is it's going to have 400 kilowatt charging and 500 miles of range. I'm
Speaker 1: ⁓ I've driven a car like that very recently that I can't talk about until Tuesday.
Speaker 2: ⁓ that's, that's interesting. I was quite impressed with, I was quite impressed with the I4 I drove a few months ago because it handled really well. And I'm, if the I3 is exactly the same or similar, just a little bit smaller, that'd be quite impressive.
Speaker 1: numbers. think the i4 looks like an amazing used bike. You can get those for like not silly money now. And when you look at their new price, were, you know, in inverted commas, silly money.
Speaker 1: I mean, you can get one for like 20 now.
Speaker 2: Yeah, there's a lot of used bargains out there really. Yeah, we haven't done news on this channel for a little while, but there's one more thing I wanted to talk about. It's the Lotus Electra plug-in hybrid.
Speaker 2: They've re-engineered it to be a plug-in hybrid. I don't think it's a proper plug-in hybrid. I think it's a range extender. ⁓
Speaker 1: Okay. Which would make sense if you're going to re-engineer, that's surely going to be easier.
Speaker 2: Yeah, they've given it a 939 horsepower. There's a two litre four cylinder engine and then it's still got a 70 kilowatt hour battery pack. So it's more of an EV first than anything else. But I'm not sure how I feel about that because I was really quite impressed with the Electra as an EV, but hopefully it doesn't sort of dilute the experience of that car because it was
Speaker 1: It's a tough one. The Lotus purists would scoff at the EV probably. obviously Lotus, everyone will say, well, it's Colin Chapman. It's about having light cars and that's, you know, the key to everything is having a light car. And they're not really, and they might be thinking, well, maybe we'll get some more Lotus customers with this, but they're still not going to like it. they? I think they should have like the light.
Speaker 1: petrol cars and then fully Vs, but the plug-in hybrids, mean, yeah, I'm in two minds about that one for sure.
Speaker 2: Yeah, we'll have to see how it goes. I really enjoy the two EVs that they make. The Ameya even more so because it's that low down saloon. So I've actually got no problem with them making what they want to make.
Speaker 1: ⁓ yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Make what you want to make.
Speaker 1: But then maybe they're thinking company car drivers and stuff.
Speaker 2: I think so. Yeah. The range of the Electra and the Ameo as they are, isn't quite as good as it is on paper in reality. And this, this new Electra would do about 800 miles on a combined charge, petrol tank, whatever. So that looks a bit more appealing to some people who do massive miles. ⁓ so yeah, I think that's a, it should be a good decision, but it to me, it seems weird, but let's see what goes. what have you got coming up in the next few weeks?
Speaker 1: Um, so we're both at Kia tomorrow, aren't we? We would have filmed this there normally, we just not going to have time, we tomorrow? No. Um, what else have I got coming up? I've got Volvo V60 in this week. That's come today.
Speaker 1: tentatively booked in an IM5. ⁓ But that may get changed because I think the press fleet department are trying to steal the car from the marketing department. So that may get changed. then ⁓ Chang An D. Powell. ⁓
Speaker 2: ⁓ launch event for that. Couple of weeks, isn't it? Yeah, about four.
Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah. Are we on the same dates for that? I can't remember.
Speaker 2: I'm on the Wednesday for that one. no. I've got.
Speaker 1: ⁓ we're not then. We're going to Frankfurt, aren't we?
Speaker 2: We are indeed a lads little holiday. Lads lads. A lads holiday to Germany.
Speaker 1: Let's let Yeah. By the way, I know you're asking, so I have found a club with a dungeon now. ⁓ And yeah, apparently they've got crucifix on the wall for you and everything and a sluice in the middle of the room. you should be fine.
Speaker 2: I'll send them a requirements. you for that. Next week I've got the Igo X, which I'm actually quite looking forward to it. petrol hybrids, little city car from Toto. It's got a 30 litre fuel tank and apparently it can do 530 miles on a tank, which is bonkers. So I'm quite looking forward to that. Be quite good. And then after that, I've got the Ford e-Transit custom.
Speaker 2: I've got a couple of commercial vehicles coming up and one of them is a electric Ford Transit, which would be quite good. So cool. Yeah.
Speaker 1: I wonder what the real world range will be like on that.
Speaker 2: Well, had the, I haven't published the video yet, but I had the e-Transporter recently and that was doing a bit backlogged in terms of videos I need to publish. I think it was doing about 200 miles, maybe 190. And this would be very similar to other thoughts. yeah, it not, they're not as competitive as the KIAs, unfortunately, on paper anymore. So.
Speaker 1: There was a previous e-transit, wasn't there?
Speaker 2: Yeah, there still is the big one. Yeah. So they got this sprinter style van.
Speaker 1: Which is, the one I nearly rolled at that SMMT event.
Speaker 1: Yeah, not Millbrook, it was ⁓ I can't remember if you were there.
Speaker 2: This might have been before I started doing it.
Speaker 1: I think it was actually. And basically there was a long drive up to this sort of stately home type place and all the cars were in the grounds of this stately home. the drive had humps going all the way up.
And I thought, for a laugh, I might just accelerate at one of these little speed bumps. Cause I'm in a big empty van and I can see if I can get some air in it. And I did. ⁓ but it sort of landed a bit like this.
Yeah. For those of you listening, rather than watching, think jelly on a plate. ⁓ and yeah, it all got a little bit squiffy.
Speaker 2: ⁓ no. ⁓ no. Yeah. Yeah. Ford make the, yeah, the massive e-transit, the e-transit custom, which is more typical Vans you see on about. And then they've got the little Diddy one, the Transit Courier.
So, yeah. Yeah. ⁓ which is both all electric. So no, I think is a good place was just to perform this podcast with their electric Vans. I think everyone else needs to catch up a little bit. ⁓ so who knows what else will be released this year.
There was some stuff from Renault coming up. with their 800 volt fans, which would be quite interesting to see. But as always, the van market's a little bit behind.
Speaker 1: Yeah, Our trip to Frankfurt, by the way, do we know what that is yet?
Speaker 2: I think it's a demonstration of MG's batteries.
Speaker 1: So, which suggests they've got some new batteries, new tech.
Speaker 2: It said solid state batteries in the press release.
Speaker 1: seen that. No, have. Yes. Semi solid state. There's a lot of solid state.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, it says, it the word. Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot of fuss about solid state. Cause there's, don't know you've seen this donut batteries or donut labs. They've made a big, some people seem to think it's not true. I'm in the camp that they're, they're being quite clever. They're marketing and it is all true, there's their drip feeding release videos and myth busting and testing that looks bonkers. I'm hoping it'll be real. I'm sure. I'm sure it is. ⁓
Speaker 2: But yeah, they're fully solid state batteries that don't use lithium. So not sure what MG are doing, but... ⁓
Speaker 1: It'll be quite interesting. I sort of assumed it might be some sort of car show or technology show that we're going to as it's in Frankfurt, like a trade show. I really don't know.
Speaker 2: It looks like an event that MG is holding by themselves to demonstrate these batteries, some hybrid stuff and something else, I believe.
Speaker 1: I wonder if there'll be a car there as a last minute surprise.
Speaker 2: I, if it's anything, I think it be the MG4 Urban. Yeah. Because that car in China has got solid state batteries in it. So there's a, it's a bit more expensive than the normal versions. ⁓ I think it's 3000 of whatever currency they use in China. can't remember what it, R and B I think it's called. ⁓ so it's a bit, it's a bit more expensive, but it's probably worth it in terms of what you get out of it, but we shall see. So. ⁓
Speaker 1: Right, okay. I'm actually looking forward to that anyway. won't be able to talk you into a beer, I, while we're in.
Speaker 1: You will get to see me drink some beer though. So that'd be something to look forward to. Like Munich is just, I don't know, it's just spoiled me forever. The German beer was incredible. Yeah, absolutely incredible. Hopefully we'll get enough free time to visit a beer kebab. I think, I think we're to be there for like 24 hours maybe.
Speaker 1: I think I worked out I was there for 22 hours. think.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Maybe record a little podcast over there if we've got time.
Speaker 1: Got to, yeah. If we're on the same flight, we could maybe do it on the plane.
Speaker 2: like Johnny and Richard did on Smith and Stiff.
Speaker 1: Yeah. When someone's bringing drinks around or something, it's just on the podcast.
Speaker 2: I'm glad they left that in because I really enjoyed that. Yeah. Yeah, I really enjoyed listening to that. was quite funny.
Speaker 1: I we don't have original ideas so why not steal someone else's?
Speaker 1: We haven't had any flight details yet actually, have we? Did you put Heathrow down? ⁓ yeah, good.
Speaker 2: No, not as of- I have. Okay. Yep. Just did some admin live on the podcast. Yeah.
Speaker 1: Yeah, just... It's funny, isn't it? Because like before we start doing this, we're having a chat for half an hour and then sometimes I forget that we're even recording to be fair, which is why I've probably come up with so much nonsense in it. Sorry listeners, watchers, viewers.
Speaker 2: That's true. But yeah, think that's about about it really. Yeah, we're looking forward to the key event tomorrow. So videos for that will be out at some point on our channels. Whatever ⁓ time schedule we're sticking to with ours, but yeah, should be good.
Speaker 2: Yeah, the K4 is either a pure petrol, I think with a manual gearbox, I'm not sure.
Speaker 1: I think they've got both in the stonic as well actually.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. A manual petrol hatchback is a rare thing to see in 2026 or 2025. So, yeah, be interesting. Cool. Where can people find you online if they want to find out more about you?
Speaker 1: ⁓ Notaguru.co.uk and my YouTube channel, definitely Notaguru.
Speaker 2: And you asked? Yeah, there's some good stuff on there. Graham Cobb, our friend, is writing some stuff every day for you.
Speaker 1: It's basically Graham's takeover. He posted something on Twitter yesterday and said, here's a new article I've written for Jim's website. I just replied, our website. Soon it will be your website.
Speaker 1: Because you've contributed to it before and I do feel like you're a member of the team.
Speaker 2: Yeah. I don't know about you, but I have zero time to write anymore, which is a bit of a shame because I enjoy writing news. Yeah. I really enjoy writing car news, but I just don't have the time. I haven't got the space in my day to set aside a few hours to do that. Whereas I could be writing, I could be editing some videos that make far much more money.
Speaker 1: I don't really. same. had like a ⁓ proper go at it for a little while and it, like the last few weeks had just been hideous really. I mean, last night I finished at half 10 again and I'd, you know, I started the day at 5am and finished work at half 10. And you think, how could I possibly also sit and write an article that's worth anyone reading ever? love the fact that Graham's doing it and seems to be really enjoying it.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's Lovely Well, I mean, been reading my website for 13 years now. Jeez. Which is crazy. But I've literally written, there's at least an article a week on there, I think, for 13 years. There must be.
Speaker 2: Yeah, no, it's good. In three years this year, I'll be doing car stuff on YouTube.
Speaker 1: And is it four years for the OnlyFans or? ⁓ six. Right. Yeah.
Speaker 2: A six. doesn't make much money to be honest. It's a bit of a niche topic, but it's got its fans.
Speaker 1: I didn't know you could do that with a chocolate donut. I must admit until I saw that video.
Speaker 2: It's the ones and Krispy Kreme are the best. Yeah. I've got memberships them as well, like Greg's. So it's all good. Yeah.
Speaker 2: They can find me on the interface.uk and there's ⁓ regular technology car news and another podcast I do about Wi-Fi stuff if you're interested in that for any reason. And also my car YouTube channel, The Interface Cars, where I do ⁓ weekly car reviews, is sometimes bi-weekly now. And then also infotainment guides as well, which people seem to find quite useful. Yeah, I think that's all good. And yeah, we've got some car events coming up soon and we'll see. See you next time!
About this episode
Alex and Jim chat about their recent experiences with Chinese plug-in hybrids, particularly the Imoda 7, praising its rapid improvements, comfort, and unique fragrance system. They discuss the challenges of EV adoption among Chinese brands, comparing plug-in hybrids and EVs, and share candid thoughts on test driving and reviewing cars under tight schedules. The hosts also touch on hotel stay anecdotes, the nuances of automotive journalism, and tease an upcoming EV review that impressed them greatly.
Alex and Jim are once again back, and catch up on their recent very positive drive in the Omoda 7, a car which has a quite impressive fragrance system. Elsewhere, Jim has been talking Spanish to his Tesla and the Lotus Eletre gets a new subjective plug-in-hybrid variant.
