GreenCars, The Podcast

What happens to your EV's battery when it's no longer powerful enough to drive? Is there more life left in it than you'd expect? Those are just two of the questions Craig Cole and co-host Sam Abuelsamid put to Kurt Kelty, VP of Battery and Sustainability at General Motors, who spent over a decade leading battery engineering at Tesla before bringing that expertise to GM. The conversation covers second-life battery programs already operating at scale, GM's decision to leapfrog lithium iron phosphate and pursue sodium-ion chemistry for stationary energy storage, next-generation battery architectures designed to slash cost and complexity, and a candid take on where solid-state batteries actually stand today.Chapters0:00 - Introduction6:13 - Kurt Kelty's Career & GM's Battery Strategy14:46 - Sodium-Ion: The Chemistry GM Is Betting On19:23 - Vehicle-to-Grid & China's EV Market25:43 - Next-Gen Battery Architecture35:01 - LMR, Silicon & Solid-State Batteries39:12 - Three for the Road43:05 - ConclusionsCheck out our Buyer’s Guide at https://apps.greencars.com/buyers-guideVisit GreenCars on YouTube for EV and hybrid reviews and much more:https://www.youtube.com/@greencarshq

What does it actually take to build a software-defined vehicle, one that gets smarter over time and may eventually drive itself? Rivian has a specific answer to that question, and Craig Cole and co-host Sam Abuelsamid put it to Vidya Rajagopalan, Senior VP of Electrical Hardware at Rivian, to find out what it actually looks like in practice. The conversation covers the company’s zonal architecture strategy that stripped 44 pounds of copper from Rivian's vehicles, why the company is designing its own chips the way Apple does, and whether UHF, Rivian's hands-free driving feature, is a genuine step beyond geo-fenced systems like GM's Super Cruise or Ford's BlueCruise. Plus: is a car that can do all of this actually too smart for its own good?Chapters0:00 - Introduction4:32 - Software-Defined Vehicles & Zonal Architecture12:40 - How Much Tech Is Too Much Tech?18:23 - Why Rivian Is Building Its Own Chip25:57 - Autonomy Plus & Universal Hands-Free (UHF)33:05 - Serviceability & Licensing Rivian's Tech38:10 - Three for the Road41:21 - ConclusionsCheck out our Buyer’s Guide at https://apps.greencars.com/buyers-guideVisit GreenCars on YouTube for EV and hybrid reviews and much more:https://www.youtube.com/@greencarshq

Scout Motors is building something genuinely unusual: an all-American electric truck brand, owned by Volkswagen Group but completely independent from it, with no dealerships, no franchise agreements, and a gas engine hiding in the back of the truck bed. Craig Cole and co-host Sam Abuelsamid sit down with Ryan Decker, VP of Strategy and Brand at Scout, to get into the details behind the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck. The big questions are all here — will the rear-mounted Harvester range extender compromise towing capability? Where do you go when something breaks if there are no dealers? And how exactly do you buy a Scout? Ryan addresses the skeptics directly, and the answers are more interesting than you might expect.Chapters0:00 Introduction3:02 What Is Scout Motors?6:26 Scout's Status Update15:30 Servicing Scouts Without a Dealership19:00 Scout & Volkswagen: What's the Relationship?28:19 How to Buy: Direct Sales & Delivery34:09 Reservations, Factory Capacity & Future Models43:47 ConclusionsCheck out our Buyer’s Guide at https://apps.greencars.com/buyers-guideVisit GreenCars on YouTube for EV and hybrid reviews and much more:https://www.youtube.com/@greencarshq

The car market is shifting fast and few people have a better view of it than Erin Keating, Executive Analyst at Cox Automotive. You may not know the name Cox, but you've almost certainly used their products: Kelley Blue Book, AutoTrader, and Manheim Auctions are all under their roof, along with a treasure trove of data that spans everything from dealer inventory to EV battery remanufacturing. Craig Cole and co-host Sam Abuelsamid dig into what that data is actually showing right now. New EV sales are plateauing while used EVs are quietly surging. Roughly 30% of buyers who used to shop for new cars have disappeared from the market since 2018. And with the average transaction price hovering near $50,000, affordability is reshaping who buys what. Plus: do rising gas prices actually push hesitant buyers toward EVs, or is that assumption too simple?Chapters0:00 Introduction3:08 What Is Cox Automotive?6:15 Inside EV Battery Remanufacturing12:30 The Affordability Crisis in New Car Sales14:43 New EVs vs. Used EVs: A Split Market17:05 Which Automakers Are Winning & Losing21:01 Do Gas Prices Actually Drive EV Sales?25:20 Will Chinese Automakers Crack the US Market?32:35 Will Americans Give Up Full-Size Trucks?39:09 ConclusionsCheck out our Buyer’s Guide at https://apps.greencars.com/buyers-guideVisit GreenCars on YouTube for EV and hybrid reviews and much more:https://www.youtube.com/@greencarshq

What does it actually mean to build a sustainable car? Not just one that sips electricity — but one whose steel, aluminum, and plastics are tracked from mine to scrapyard and back again. Craig Cole and co-host Sam Abuelsamid sit down with Vanessa Butani, Head of Global Sustainability at Volvo Cars, to explore the work happening long before a car reaches the showroom. Topics include Volvo's first-of-its-kind battery passport, closed-loop steel recycling, mega-casting, ocean plastics, and the surprisingly murky math around biofuels. Plus: with EVs approaching price parity with combustion vehicles, what's really holding buyers back?Chapters0:00 Introduction3:23 Volvo's Approach to Sustainability6:55 The Battery Passport Explained12:57 Climate-Neutral Manufacturing16:43 Recycled Materials & Mega-Casting21:42 EVs, PHEVs & the Case Against Biofuels29:04 Interior Materials & Ocean Plastics37:01 ConclusionsCheck out our Buyer’s Guide at https://apps.greencars.com/buyers-guideVisit GreenCars on YouTube for EV and hybrid reviews and much more:https://www.youtube.com/@greencarshq

Ready to close out the year with EV insights and bold predictions for 2025? Join Trish and Dave as they sit down with Kevin Jennings, Senior Brand Marketing Manager for GreenCars, to discuss the evolution of electric and hybrid vehicles. From how cold weather impacts EV performance to game-changing trends like NACS compatibility and the surge of used EVs, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Plus, a look back at the podcast’s top moments of 2024 and what’s next for GreenCars!Key Topics:How cold weather affects EV range and performance (with practical tips!) The evolution of GreenCars: From concept to leading educational platformLeasing vs. buying EVs: Why 70% of sales in 2024 were leasesPredictions for 2025: Used EV surge, leasing trends, and infrastructure updatesThe Tesla NACS plug revolution and what it means for the future of charging0:00 - Introduction: Looking Back at 2024 & EV Trends2:15 - EVs in Cold Weather: Tips & Myths8:40 - Meet Kevin Jennings: The Evolution of GreenCars11:25 - 2024 EV Highlights: Incentives, Used EV Market Growth15:45 - Tesla NACS Plug and Charging Network Expansion23:30 - Predictions for 2025: Leasing Trends & Used EV Surge31:50 - GreenCars at Electrify Expo: Expanding Impact35:15 - Year-End Reflections: Podcast Highlights of 2024 Have Questions? Email us: ThePodcast@GreenCars.com

Join Trish and Dave as they look back on 2024's biggest EV milestones and welcome special guest Matt Teske, founder of ChargeWay.From a groundbreaking U.S. milestone of 200,000 public charging ports to what the recent presidential election could mean for electric vehicles, this episode covers it all. Explore top EV trends, charging solutions, and predictions for the future of clean transportation. Stay informed and stay charged with GreenCars! #EVs #ElectricVehicles #GreenCarsPodcast #Sustainability #EVTaxCredits #EVCharging #ChargeWay #FutureOfEVsKey Moments:00:00 - Welcome to GreenCars Podcast01:30 - Reflecting on 2024's EV milestones03:20 - The Range Wall: Top EVs with the most range07:15 - Guest Matt Teske joins the conversation09:00 - U.S. hits 200,000 public charging ports12:00 - EV tax credits: What could change post-election?17:00 - Audience comments: EVs vs. broccoli analogy20:15 - Wrapping up with predictions for 2025👉 Follow us at @GreenCarsHQ and visit GreenCars.com for more. Have Questions? Email us: ThePodcast@GreenCars.com Connect with Us:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenCarsHQLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greencarshqInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/GreenCarsHQX: https://twitter.com/GreenCarsHQ

Today on GreenCars, The Podcast, we explore how vehicle safety features have evolved to save lives, including the history of seat belts, airbags, and cutting-edge driver-assist technologies. Our guest, Pieter Hogeveen, Director of Marketing at Lithia Motors, shares his insights on the future of hybrid and EV vehicles and the shift towards autonomous driving.Plus, Dave Nichols gives us a firsthand look at the futuristic NAXEON Electric Motorcycle, showcasing its impressive features, performance, and why it feels like a "smartphone on wheels." Is this the future of motorcycling? Join us to find out!Don’t miss this engaging episode packed with facts, expert opinions, and innovative tech insights.📍 Chapters0:00 - Intro0:58 - History of Vehicle Safety6:22 - Modern Safety Features & Driver-Assist Tech12:44 - Guest Interview: Pieter Hogeveen34:10 - Future of EVs, Hybrids & Autonomous Driving41:30 - Electric Motorcycle Review: NAXEON50:48 - Closing Thoughts👉 Follow us at @GreenCarsHQ and visit GreenCars.com for more.Have Questions? Email us: ThePodcast@GreenCars.comConnect with Us:YouTube:‪ @greencarshqFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenCarsHQLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greencarshqInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/GreenCarsHQX: https://twitter.com/GreenCarsHQ

Today on GreenCars, the Podcast, we’re diving into the top-selling cars of 2024, looking ahead at what’s in store for 2025, and exploring the best hybrid and EV options for families.Our guest, EV expert Chase Drum, joins us to share insights into the electric and hybrid market trends, top-selling models, and how these vehicles are changing the future of transportation. Plus, Trish Glose takes the wheel of a rare Polestar 2 BST 270 and shares his experience driving this high-performance EV. Don't miss this look back and forward on the latest in sustainable driving.0:00 Intro to 2024 Highlights with Chase Strom0:50 Fastest-Selling Cars of 20247:20 Chase’s 2024 EV Market Review12:35 Top Trends in EVs for 202518:55 Keeping It Current – Viewer Comments25:45 EV Hurricane Support Myths – Debunked!33:10 Test Driving a Rare Polestar 2 BST 27039:10 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up#GreenCarsPodcast, #ElectricVehicles, #TopSellingCars, #EVTrends, #HybridCars, #PolestarReview, #SustainableDriving, #GreenCarsHQ, #ChaseDrum, #FutureOfEVsLearn more about greener driving options, or by visiting: https://www.greencars.comHave Questions? Email us: ThePodcast@GreenCars.comConnect with Us:YouTube: ‪ @greencarshqFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenCarsHQLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greencarshqInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/GreenCarsHQX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/GreenCarsHQ