The Road Ahead: An Electric Future in the Automotive Landscape

Welcome to another In-Wheel Time podcast, a 30-minute mini version of the In-Wheel Time car show that airs live every Saturday morning 8 to 11 am Central.

It's the In-Wheel Time car talk show today, coming to you from Tubby's Drive-In Just ahead a look at the brand new EVs coming your way in 2024.

Conrad has this week in auto history and we'll get you caught up on the stories making automotive news this week.

Howdy, along with Mike out of this World.

Mars, who's in charge of everything.

King Conrad DeLong, who wants to be in charge of everything.

We need more Jeff Zekin who who shouldn't be in charge of anything.

Who's not in charge of anything?

And I certainly enjoy the Jeff Zekin fan club because I'm not, and don't want to be in charge of anything either.

I'm Don Armstrong.

Last time I looked at it and nobody else wants to be, and nobody else wants to be.

That's for Don sure.

Good morning to you.

That's for Don sure.

That's for Don sure, thank you.

So I ran across this automotive news, put this thing together and I thought it was pretty interesting, but it's kind of lengthy, but I thought that we would just do it just for the heck of it.

And the title of the story is more than 505050 EVs to join the next wave through 2024.

Now, part of the reason also is to give me an opportunity to talk to Mr Mars abouta comment that he made about something that I charged him to do, muah you and that was to perhaps, maybe think about putting an EV segment together on a weekly basis of the show.

Yes, and right off the get go, we discovered that there weren't too many people that were willing to lend their thoughts to the segment without an excessive amount of pay.

Really, I'm not getting paid anything you getting paid anything you get.

Well, we didn't even pay anything, and well, it seems like our paying guest or our tax dollars go to paying a lot for EVs, with all the funding they get from the federal government.

Well and that's the other thing we ran into.

It's very hard to have this discussion without somebody bringing politics into it from one side or the other, and that's what I wanted to talk to you about.

Because, George offered Master Carter Visa.

Thank you, george.

Thanks George.

One of the things that was kind of disappointing in our conversation the politics that is involved in getting the word out in a in a nonbiased way about EVs is everybody's got their own opinion and their opinion outtrubs all of the others.

I'm right, I'm going wrong what?

What is that?

Well, here we have a regular discussion about EVs.

Without having it forced on us, which is what's ultimately happening.

And you know, it's all.

You know.

Everything's going to go EV.

No, it's not.

It is not, and I've said it from the very beginning.

It is just going to be another fold of the automobile business, just like car dealers taking on trucks back in the 20s Because remember, used to or the way they took on trucks in the 80s and now they've overpowered the cars and now you know it's like Texas is.

almost 70% of the vehicles they sell in Texas are trucks.

But I watch a show called Car Issues.

It's a funny show, I like it.

The guy goes out and tries to buy a car and he buys it and, you know, pays he used car, pays cash for it, that sort of thing.

And he went and bought a 1980 Mercury station wagon, nice and ultimately put it in a destruction derby, where it needed to be, because it was nothing but a rust bucket.

But those cars were the forerunner of the minivan, the minivan craze, which folded into SUVs.

But not everybody has an SUV, not everybody has a minivan, not everybody has a car.

It's a whole mix up of things that are on the road these days and that's the way I think that electrics are going to be, at least in my lifetime.

It'll be a piece of it, but it can't be the only piece, correct?

Correct.

And to that end, and to what Mars was talking about, it's odd to me that you know all of the people that tout their EVs would all get together and kind of be on the same page.

No, they're not.

My EV is better than yours.

This company's spending more money on EVs and the odd thing about it to me is the most successful of all of the EVs and EV companies is Tesla, who didn't even exist 10 years ago.

You couldn't go buy a Tesla, didn't even exist.

Might have been in somebody's mind Elon's mind but that's it.

So now, all of a sudden, the president of and to go from that to building 400,000 units a year is pretty remarkable.

Well, and now the president is touting the fact that EV is the future.

Well, okay, they're a segment of the future.

Well, they are, and that's one of the problems we ran into when we started doing the research, trying to figure out where do we get information from.

That doesn't include that, and there's one letter that I get that I subscribe to and it's all about EVs.

Oh, that's the future and it's all green and everything cool, but very quickly when you get their weekly post very quickly.

The government must do this.

The government must force people.

People have to.

You've got to go this way.

You've got to do green.

You've got to.

It's for your own good, and that's where you get into the politics of it.

That divides everybody on it.

I mean, it's not it should be just like you want a Buick, you want a Ford, you want a Nosemobile, you want a Pontiac, or you want a Tesla, you want a Hydro-.

You want a four cylinder you want an eight cylinder.

Exactly, it should be that way, but it's not.

They've driven it into the ground to the point.

They believe they have to force the issue.

That's right because they're right and nobody else is, and everybody else is wrong because they know better.

And that's what makes it so difficult.

I personally see a place for EVs.

I mean, I look at my wife and her driving pattern and what she does, she could easily drive a full blown EV.

Yes, I'm not that comfortable with it because every once in a while she wants to go to Houston or she wants to go there, so a place that to me, a hybrid makes much more sense Today it does, yes.

So let me get into this story, and this is from Automotive News.

Back in 2017, the Chevrolet Bolt was newly available nationwide.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk was promising a $35,000 electric vehicle called the Model 3.

Six years later, the first generation Bolt was on its way out and the Model 3 is one of the top selling cars in the US, Though Tesla never managed to hit that $35,000 price target.

As for the auto industry's product pipeline, it would be easier to list all the non EVs now on the way instead, so let's start with its alphabetical order.

Okay, we're not gonna play the politics, just alphabetical order.

Accuracy DX Accuracy debut electric crossover will go on sale in early 2024.

Audi A6 E-tron mid-sized electric sedan will debut in 2025 and carry the A6 family nameplate on the PPE platform.

Whatever that is.

The Q6 E-tron mid-sized electric crossover will debut Volkswagen Group's next generation PPE platform, which Audi shares with Porsche, in the second half of 2024.

Bmw i5, they're gonna roll out several variants of its newest electric nameplate, including rear and all-wheel drive variants.

Bmw i7, this fall, BMW is expanding its electric seven series lineup with a single motor rear-wheel drive variant.

The i7 eDrive 50 rear axle mounted motor delivers 449 horsepower.

More powerful 650 horsepower dual motor, i7, M70X drive arrives later this year.

Here's one Bright Drop.

Xevo I've never heard of them, Neither I've got all their albums.

The Zevo 400 from GM's Electric Delivery Van Unit who ever read that they were?

Did you hear me?

Yes, yes, GM's Electric Delivery Van Unit offers more than 400 cubic feet of cargo space for shorter and more frequent deliveries, kind of like the Transit Connect, Such as groceries.

Production is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

The bright drop.

Never heard of it.

Well, and that's another one of the things I don't see a good place for that in Texas.

I relate everything to Texas.

Well, I do.

I see it in urban areas like this out here in Sugar Land Delivery vehicle Door dash, Door dash.

That's what I thought immediately.

The Buick Electric crossover they're going to bring to market there first.

But the brand confirmed that the five seat Electra E5 crossover for China late last year, A leaving room for the possibility that the E5 could come state side.

Well, that's a good renewal of the name Electra.

I agree, and that's why I read the story.

And a 225 that you got to power with a 220-fold system, or have a 225 mile range, and what a great platform to do a conversion on Find yourself a nice, clean, obviously older Buick Electric 225.

Boom.

It's got a guy in town and it's got a black drop top and he gets that out every once in a while and it's so cool looking and tub it out.

Always Cadillac Escalade IQ.

Oh yeah, 225 Escalade 2025.

Escalade IQ offers a slate of advanced technology, luxury, comfort, sleek design cues that carve out a distinct identity, while also respecting the equity that the SUV has built for consumers for 25 years.

It comes with an eye-popping base price around $130,000 for shipping more than every configuration of today's Escalade, except the V-Series performance version.

I'd rather have a V-Series and a GM estimated 450 mile range.

Production is set to begin summer of next year at GM's factory zero electric vehicle assembly in Detroit.

I wonder if that's an evolution of the Ionic, which Cadillac's already announced and has released.

But they can't build any.

Isn't the weekend this weekend the Cadillac test driver electrics?

For the invitation you have to sign up Cadillac, Celeste or Celestic, whatever you want to call.

Celeste, celeste, yeah Well pinky hand made a sleek futuristic looking five door electric sedan will begin production in December and will go on sale early next year, as long as the strike doesn't happen.

And all of these manufacturer suggested, you know, 400, 500 mile range is all a bunch of horse hockey too.

They never get there.

Correct the Chevrolet Blazer EVs coming along with the Chevy Bolt EUV.

See, they should have called the Bolt the Blazer, because they recalled them for fires about three different times.

He's not bitter towards GM at all, at all.

Chevy, silverado, ev, and of course they're all going after the Ford, lightning, lightning and really fully loaded retail trim level the 106,895 dollar RST first edition scheduled to arrive this fall with the GM estimated 400 mile range.

The cruise origin Okay, Slated to start imminently at factory zero in Detroit.

Dodge Challenger EV.

Dodge Charger EV.

See, I thought that they were going to go away with the names and the cars all together.

Apparently not.

The styling of that car should be a gasoline car.

That thing is gorgeous.

And Charger is a good name for it.

Thank you, fiat 500E.

I know that you're going to be the first belly up.

No politics, don't get politics.

Yeah, first quarter of 2024.

Mustang Mach-E, fix it again.

GMC Sierra EV.

Honda Prologue Honda, I'm sorry, hyundai Ionique 5.

The Hyundai Kona Electric.

Is that what you had, mars?

I had the hybrid Plug-in Electric.

Yeah, okay, hybrid Plug-in Electric.

Jeep Recon Electric Recon is an eco-friendly off-roader inspired by the Wrangler that will have removable doors and glass to offer open-air experiences.

Production begins next year.

I did not know that they were going to make a vehicle in competition with the Wrangler, but it's the Jeep Recon.

Jeep Wagon-E or S.

The SEV is an upscale midsize entry with a design language that separates it from the larger three-row counterparts.

Jeep is targeting a range of 400 miles and aims to have 600 horsepower.

Okay, kia EV5.

Compact crossover concept.

Originally, it's expected to launch in the US late next year as a 2025 model.

Kia EV9.

Kia unveiled its boxy, tell-you-ride size EV9 electric crossover in April at the New York Auto Show, promising premium accommodations, a target all-electric range of 300 miles at ultra-fast charging.

Land Rover, range Rover that's coming out in an electric version.

I tickled him.

Well, land Rover, range Rover and the quality of a Jaguar stand pretty close together, so let's see how long that lasts.

I see fires on the freeway all over the town.

I predict thermal events.

Yeah, I mean mutual of Omaha, stuck out in the woods somewhere and you can't get a charger On fire Can't even get a fire extinguisher.

Lucid air Lucid is adding a sapphire ultra-performance luxury version of its four-door sedan this year.

Three-motor, 1,234 horsepower.

Air sapphire will come fully loaded at $250,000 with shipping.

Stunning looking car, but a quarter of a million dollars.

What's the name of this?

Lucid, lucid, lucid air sapphire Company is estimating acceleration of zero to 60 in 1.89

seconds, beating Tesla's Model S plan.

All I'm going to say is Lucid the way you feel after four margaritas and a doofy.

All I'm going to say is for $250,000, that car better do things that you can't talk about in mixed company.

That's all I'm saying.

Wow, listen to Mars, go no Vibrating seat.

No politics Mike Maserati.

Grand Turismo Electric option will top 1,200 horsepower.

Okay, mercedes Benz E sprinter, that's what we mean.

A battery powered, us made version of the Sprinter van arrives in the fourth quarter of this year.

E Sprinter will be available in Europe with three battery options and can be configured as a delivery van, flatbed truck or ambulance.

Didn't they stop production on the Sprinter like a year ago?

Still there.

Yeah, they paused production because they had some sort of they stopped production of the Dodge because Because they had a low, low boy in a tall Right.

And then Freightliner makes a version of it as well.

Mini Cooper EV.

The Cooper SE ends production next year in Oxford, england.

Many will replace it globally with a subcompact hatchback EV built in China on a new platform, smaller than the current hard top yeah, polestar 3.

And Polestar's there they're actually, that's Volvo.

They've been around a while.

They've been building a lot of cars.

I see one on up to the same one.

Yeah.

There's a white one that runs around where I rather Midsize, crossover on the Polestar 3, built on the new Spa 2, all electric platform, sports, dual motors and as an estimated EPA range of up to 300 miles, should arrive by the second half of 2024.

Polestar 4.

That one's coming.

Porsche Macon, going to be an electric powered in its production, starts in Leipzig, germany.

This fall.

Porsche Taycan, the sports car makers first, ev receives a freshen in the first half of and that's been a pretty successful car.

It is yeah, thank you, mabyech.

Familiar with that?

No, sir, I mean I've heard the name.

I haven't seen anything about it.

Begin selling electric version of the 1500 pickup truck in 2024.

Ram Pro Master large van getting an electric variant this year.

Rivian R1S, R1T.

I saw a Rivian leaving when I left last Saturday from here, going up 59.

First time I've seen one in the wild Pretty good one yeah.

It was a dark green one.

It was different.

Not a bad little odd looking.

But how about the Rolls Royce Spectre?

Remember the Sphinctor?

Oh yeah, not the Sphinctor, the Spectre, I'm thinking of James Bond.

Yeah, I am too.

Tesla Cybertruck that's due out next year.

Yeah, I'm holding my breath for that one Tesla.

Model 3, complete redo on that one.

It's going to be a big seller.

Tesla Roadster Musk's latest estimate is for 2024 on that.

Vinfast, VF6 and VF7, they're coming, Vinfast and the VF9.

Good luck.

84,000 for the VF9.

Volkswagen ID Buzz kind of looking for that.

That's the micro bus looking thing.

That's all brand new and they'll sell the critters out of that?

Oh, absolutely, volkswagen ID4, id7 and Volvo EX30, china made compact crossover Was the first half of next year, and then finally the Volvo EX90, seven seat large premium crossover.

So why does Volvo do Polestar, which is kind of like a stripper name, and the Volvo and they're both doing EVs, when they're kind of competing with each other?

Well, Polestar used to be the performance arm of Volvo.

I don't have an answer for that, but I'm sure that there's more than one answer.

Shared parts.

Now all I can think of is Chevrolet, buick, pontiac, oldsmobile.

Didn't they all compete against each other?

Really yeah.

So with a little bit different offering, and I would imagine that the Volvo name takes with it probably an older group of folks than the Polestar and they're probably trying to capitalize Different styling.

But one of the things that we ran into when we started looking into this.

Like all these vehicles are coming out 50 are coming out in the next two years, basically but the problems with them that nobody addresses.

You know we got to have them.

They're green, they got to be good, but you know they don't talk about the problem with the fires.

Or were you going to charge them?

Or the charging.

Or what are you going to do to dispose of the car after it's been totaled in a collision and the truly environmental mess that car can be?

Well, particularly whenever you look at the insurance companies.

Now, because of the liability if that battery housing has a crack in it, they're going to total the whole car.

Yep, they don't care how you want it.

They've already said that, yeah.

So now you're going to take what could be perfectly good batteries out of this housing and you've got to dispose of them some way.

There's somebody who'll come up with some sort of recycle, but are you going to want to put recycle batteries in your car?

Well, and George says there's legislation looking at charging a recycling fee on EV battery change out, which makes sense.

You know, you got to remember you got to pay a tire disposal fee three bucks in the state of Texas when you're paying for tires.

Sometimes that's waived and that's just so minuscule compared to what the price is.

Well okay, so here's one for you.

My buddy that I work with has a Tesla Model 3 and had a flat on it ran over something $900 for one tire.

Well, that's the other thing.

Remember, we've learned that they've got to have special tires for EV, because they're so heavy that nobody talks about.

Got different.

Some of them have got to have special tow rigs.

Well now, the state of Texas is going to charge an extra $200 for registration because they're not getting that money on fuel.

On the fuel.

Yeah, all right.

Well, we could go on and on without this.

We shall at a later time, but Conrad has this week in auto history.

He does.

I think I missed you last week in auto history and I'm sorry about that.

This week in auto history, the Durier brothers tested their first car in 1893, making what historians consider to be the first time a US built gas powered vehicle was operated in this country.

In 1926, henry Ford announced and this is where Ford and the UAW were such good buddies Henry Ford announced an eight hour, five day work week for 40 hour work week.

This decision was made by one of the most prominent figures in the automotive industry and far reaching implications not only for Ford but for other labor practices worldwide.

And with that now they're wanting a 32 hour work week.

But and Ford probably will give in to him, who knows?

In 1948, honda Motor Company was incorporated in 1957.

Did you know that?

Vespa, the motor scooters?

They built a car called the Vespa 400.

In 1957, 48 miles to a gallon.

The French scooter company introduced the Vespa 400 in Monaco in 1957.

The company execs created so much fanfare at the launch and it invited three racing celebrities to a press event to drive around the Monaco Grand Prix course.

The unpopularity of the vehicle wrote its own demise, because it was a two stroke, so you had to mix gasoline and oil to get it to run, which in today's world won't work.

Yeah, it needs a wing.

It needs a wing, and a scoop the big wing on the back to help you push it.

In 1963, the first ads ran for the Chevrolet Chevelle, officially introduced by Bunky Knudsen at a press conference.

The Chevelle was the only new, all new US car in the 1964 model year.

You know, some people say well, what about the 64 and a half Mustang?

Well, it was a 64 and a half, almost a 65 Mustang.

Ford marketed and vinned the first Mustangs.

As all 1965s, the Chevelle, which is Hebrew for my God, is a vow or a bold and beautiful fill the gap between the smaller Chevy 2 and Chevrolet full size vehicles.

And Chevelle was an icon in Chevrolet, probably all the way into the upper 80s that they were building Chevelles.

So in the first year they sold 338,000 units of the Chevelle and next, if you click one, that is the first ad that came out for the Chevelle In 1969,.

This week the Dodge Challenger hit the market as a 1970 model year.

It was a direct response to competition from the other automakers in what's called the Pony Car Market Ford Mustang, chevrolet, camaro.

The Challenger was built on the Mopar e-body platform.

Plymouth already had the Barracuda, dodge didn't have one, so they built the Challenger, which is a slightly longer wheelbase, but basically the same platform.

That's this Week in Auto History.

All right, thank you, sir.

And one quick note here in the headlines.

The three week old UAW Strike against the Detroit 3 so far has not significantly denoted the automakers.

Us inventory levels, though General Motors dealerships are the most at risk of running low, according to a new analysis this from automotive news.

Cox Automotive said Thursday that Chevy and Cadillac have the lowest inventory levels among the domestic brands, at 57 and 46 days respectively, and some of the brand's most profitable name plates are in tighter supply than that.

According to Cox's auto inventory data.

Stilanus, by contrast, has the most inventory among the Detroit 3, cox said, meaning it could be better positioned to withstand prolonged production stoppages.

Strike began September 15th with just two weeks left in the third quarter.

Uaw's decision to target specific vehicle segments rather than launch a strike at every Detroit 3 assembly plant has had a relatively muted impact to date, according to analysts.

Time out for a quick break.

We'll be right back.

It's been Will Time Car Talk Show.

Stay with us.

The original group of loopy tortilla restaurants will have you telling your family and friends just what the original recipes mean when it comes to the best fajitas in southeast Texas.

Founder Stan Holt invited you to visit the original loopy tortilla near I-10 in Highway 6.

Here's the original house that inspired the design of all the rest and the original charm that helped make loopy tortilla the go-to destination for Houston Tex-Mex.

Speaking of original, nothing can compete with the original lime pepper marinade.

That everyone will agree makes loopy tortilla award-winning beef fajitas the best anywhere.

Loopy Tortilla Katie is another location that gives you the same quality and service Houstonians have come to expect at loopies.

It's located just off I-10 in the Grand Parkway.

At Kingsland Boulevard in Katie, find yourself an Aggie Land.

Head to the loopy tortilla in College Station, located just around the corner from Kyle Field.

It's a great place to enjoy those famous frozen margaritas before or after the game.

Head east to Louisiana.

Stop in at the loopy tortilla in Beaumont.

It twos on I-10.

You can't miss it.

The original group of loopy tortilla restaurants invites you in for the best Tex-Mex anywhere.

You own a car you love, but why not let Gulf Coast Auto Shield protect it?

Houstonian John Gray invites you to his state-of-the-art facility to introduce you to his specialist team of auto enthusiasts.

We promise you'll be impressed, whether you're looking to massage your original paint to a like-new appearance, apply a ceramic coating, install a paint protection film, nanoceramic window tint or new windshield protection called ExoShield.

Gulf Coast Auto Shield is where Houston's car people go Curb-jewels Instead of buying new, why not have them repaired?

How about a professionally installed radar detector?

Gulf Coast Auto Shield does that too.

Get a peek inside the shop and look at the services offered by getting online and heading to gcautoshieldcom.

Better yet, stop by their facility at 11275 South Sam Houston Tullway, just south of the Southwest Freeway, and get a personal tour.

Gulf Coast Auto Shield is your place to go for all things exterior.

Call them today 832-930-5655 or gcautoshieldcom.

Rodgers Dab, chevrolet and GM Performance is proud to be a part of America's largest block party.

It's the 27th annual cruise in the coast October 1st through the 8th.

Great antique classic hot rod and dragsters all along the 30-mile stretch of beach Bay, st Louis, biloxi, gulfport, ocean Springs, pascagoula.

And more.

Rodgers Dab, chevrolet and GM Performance will be on site October 5th through the 8th at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum manning the Chevrolet trailer displays.

Come see us for additional information at cruisingthecostcom, biggest race in the country.

Also.

Rodgers Dab, chevrolet, gm Performance is proud to be a part of the 10th annual Loan Star 600 at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite October 6th and 7th.

$25,000 to win.

Any car can race and is locked into the race.

300 laps both nights 7 o'clock.

Start time racers from all around the US and beyond.

Additional information at LoanStar600.com

.

Rodgers Dab, chevrolet and GM Performance.

That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show.

I'm Don Armstrong, inviting you to join us for our live show every Saturday morning 8 to 11 am.

Central on Facebook, youtube, twitch and our InWheelTimecom website.

Links are available on Apple Podcast, spotify, stitcher, iheart Podcast, podcast Addict Tune In Pandora and Amazon Music.

Keep listening and we'll see you soon.

The Road Ahead: An Electric Future in the Automotive Landscape

About this episode

Request an Explanation

Want to learn more?

Help improve this episode

More from In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show