Tesla is in trouble, facing down hundreds of millions in fines on a single Autopilot wrongful death claim, accusations of covering up evidence, and plummeting sales in Europe, China, and the US. But, hey – that’s no reason to NOT give Elon a $29 billion bonus, right? Find out more on today’s troubling episode of Quick Charge!
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I’ve been in and around the auto industry since the ’90s, and have written for a number of well-known outlets like CleanTechnica, the Truth About Cars, Popular Mechanics, and more. You can catch me at Electrek Daily Quick Charge, The Heavy Equipment Podcast with Mike Switzer, or chasing my kids around Oak Park, IL.
Costco EV Marketplace celebrates milestone with fresh deals [update]
Costco’s EV Marketplace hopes to guide its members through every step of their electrification journey with helpful articles, insights, and resources. The online resource gas just hit its six-month milestone, and to celebrate, they’re rolling out fresh deals on three new Volvo EVs.
UPDATE 05AUG2025: new Cadillac, 2026MY GM vehicles eligible.
Expand Expanding CloseForbidden fruit: new Volkswagen Passat eHybrid Match and Black Editions
Wagons don’t get a lot of love Stateside, with American buyers choosing SUVs over – well, pretty much every other type of vehicle imaginable. That’s our loss, as the latest plug in hybrid versions of the Volkswagen Passat are here to prove.
Expand Expanding CloseE-quipment highlight: Wirtgen Vögele launches new electric MINI pavers
Wirtgen Vögele recently revealed the battery-powered MINI 500e and the MINI 502e electric pavers. With an electrically heated screed, a range of paving widths, and zero-emission operations, they’re paving a greener, cleaner path.
Expand Expanding CloseIs this Hyundai IONIQ the safest affordable EV you can buy? (in the US)
Car brands like Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, and Tesla have built up solid reputations for safety, but their ultra-safe vehicles often come with a premium price tag. The good news for car buyers looking for a deal, but still prize safety, is that there’s an all-electric Hyundai for under $40K that scores top marks on the IIHS’ toughest new safety tests.
Expand Expanding CloseNew Ford-based Volkswagen DoKa electric pickup is ready for work
The latest commercial vehicle from Volkswagen isn’t another box, retro-tastic van. Instead, it’s a crew cab, flatbed-style pickup truck with modern amenities, room for six, serious payload capacity, and a fully electric powertrain.
Expand Expanding CloseState of New York commits $21 million to support zero-emission mobility
While the Trump Administration walks back emissions standards and pretends science isn’t real, New York Governor Kathy Hochul is announcing plans to improve the quality of life for her constituents by investing over $21 million in support of zero-emission mobility and transportation solutions across New York State.
Expand Expanding CloseEVgo set to borrow up to $300 million to build 1,500 new DC fast chargers
EVgo has secured a massive, $225 million loan facility with five commercial banks in a bid to accelerate its expansion plans and add more than 1,500 new DC fast chargers to America’s EV charging landscape – and they have an option to borrow even more!
Expand Expanding CloseTesla vs. Bezos, Slate, Windrose, Lucid, and Paul ‘Muad’Dib’ Atreides
On today’s battle-ready episode of Quick Charge, it’s Elon Musk vs. the world as big players position themselves for control of enough lithium to build 600 million electric cars and the rest of the industry squares up to Tesla in the battle for market leadership.
Expand Expanding CloseWindrose lines up $60M electric semi truck order PLUS South American expansion
It’s a big day for upstart electric semi truck manufacturer Windrose. The company has lined up what could be a landmark, $60 million deal and announced plans to being shipping its innovative HDEV trucks to South America.
Expand Expanding CloseAre Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos headed for epic showdown in a lithium-filled volcano?
The McDermitt Caldera is an extinct supervolcano on the Oregon-Nevada border that, depending on who you believe, is loaded with enough lithium to power 600 million electric cars. It begs the question: who will control the $1.5 trillion dollar mineral deposit?
Expand Expanding CloseReport: Ferrari were SO impressed by the Xiaomi SU7, they bought one
With its tire-blistering acceleration and record-setting performance, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has been getting attention throughout the auto industry, impressing everyone who’s seen it. That “everyone” now seems to include the OG supercar brand, itself.
Expand Expanding CloseTesla tops another ADAS test, Hyundai tops range tests, and Texas gets BESS
On today’s test-acular episode of Quick Charge, it’s a new day and a new Chinese ADAS test for Tesla to conquer – but this one’s got a LOT more pedestrian carnage to parse through! We’ve also got some great e-bike deals from Retrospec and a bladder-busting Hyundai.
Expand Expanding CloseTesla tops 36 car Autopilot test, affordable Model Y spied, and a $5,000 EV
Credit where credit is due: in a massive, 32-car multinational independent test, Tesla’s Autopilot ADAS came out on top, the new affordable Tesla turns out to be a corner-cutting Model Y, and one of the company’s original founders compares the Cybertruck to a dumpster. All this and more on today’s episode of Quick Charge!
Expand Expanding CloseMary Kay goes electric with new Pink Cadillac OPTIQ (cue the music)
Mark Kay’s iconic Pink Cadillac awards are driving into the future for 2025. The company’s first-ever electric Pink Cadillac OPTIQ made its debut during the Mary Kay annual Seminar in Charlotte this weekend, symbolizing a “recharged vision” for the future of the popular brand.
Expand Expanding CloseVertical Aerospace completes first ever public airport-to-airport eVTOL flight
Air taxi startup Vertical Aerospace achieved a world’s first this week, completing the first flight between two airports through public airspace for an eVTOL at the Royal International Air Tattoo in Gloucestershire, England.
Expand Expanding CloseHonda takes a page from Tesla playbook, launches new insurance business
Say what you will about Elon Musk, but Tesla has changed the way that millions of people buy cars and, by extension, car insurance. Now, Honda is taking a page from Tesla’s successful playbook and launching its own in-house insurance business. Enter: Honda Insurance Solutions.
Expand Expanding CloseTesla Autopilot less safe, Optimus freezes, electric Mustang goes 250,000 miles
On today’s road-ready episode of Quick Charge, Tesla released data hinting that its Autopilot ADAS solution may be less safe to use than before. We’ve also got some news from inside the Tesla diner experience, plus a 250,000 mile Ford Mustang Mach-E that still has more than 90% of its battery capacity left!
Expand Expanding CloseAfter more than 250,000 miles, Ford Mustang Mach-E still has 92% battery life
The unbelievers are still hoping against hope that electric cars won’t be as durable as ICE cars — but after more than 250,000 miles of driving in just three years, this Ford Mustang Mach-E isn’t just still going, it’s still going strong with more than 90% of its original battery capacity!
Expand Expanding CloseCalifornia set to BAN Tesla sales, Vietnam leads the way, and VW value tanks
The State of California is moving to ban the sale of Tesla cars amid claims that the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, have misled buyers about the self-driving capabilities of their cars. We’ve also got market-leading news out of Vietnam and a pricey, pricey lesson for one VW ID.Buzz buyer on today’s lesson-learning episode of Quick Charge!
Expand Expanding CloseThis Volkswagen ID.Buzz cost its owner $11,000 in just 398 miles
That high-end luxury vehicles that trade on being new and shiny take massive depreciation hits as soon as they roll off the lot is a lasting truth in the car business. At least one VW buyer is finding that out the hard way, having just watched their 1st Edition 4Motion ID.Buzz sell at auction for more than $11,000 under MSRP with just 398 miles on it.
At least.
Expand Expanding CloseManitou and Hangcha commit to heavy equipment battery production JV
French equipment manufacturer Manitou has committed to a joint venture with Chinese forklift manufacturer Hangcha that will see the two companies develop and manufacture advanced lithium-ion batteries to support the electrification of the heavy material handler space.
Expand Expanding CloseThese cars are losing value fast — that’s GREAT news for used EV buyers!
New car buyers like to talk about the latest tech and resale value, but most people don’t buy new cars. The used car market is 3x bigger than new, and if you’re content to let the last guy take that big depreciation hit by scoring a great deal on a reliable, low-mile used car you could save thousands on your next EV.
Expand Expanding CloseFiat launches beachy Topolino Vilebrequin as Stellantis ramps up EV production
The Fiat Topolino Vilebrequin is a new beach town cruiser that captures the elegance, glamour, and relaxed vibe of the French Riviera. More significantly, the updated EV also heralds Stellantis’ plans to double EV production at its Kenitra Assembly Plant in Morocco.
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