Kilowatt: A Podcast about Electric Vehicles

Episode Summary:In this episode of Kilowatt, we explore the fast-evolving landscape of electric vehicles and automotive innovation. Ireland's EV market is booming, with electric and hybrid vehicles now making up over 56% of new registrations. Over in the UK, BEVs made up a third of new car sales in December 2025, hitting 2026 targets early. Sony Honda Mobility debuted the AFEELA prototype at CES 2026, impressing with design and ambition. Meanwhile, Kia launched the affordable EV2, signaling a push into more budget-friendly electric options. Hyundai’s new nine-seat electric van is generating buzz as a versatile family and fleet solution. Tesla continues to make headlines with new Roadster details and FSD developments, including Elon Musk’s admission that 10 billion miles are needed before full autonomy is truly safe. And finally, Lucid and BYD post strong production and sales figures, with BYD overtaking Tesla as the global BEV leader.Support the Show:Support KilowattOther Podcasts:Beyond the Post YouTubeBeyond the Post PodcastShuffle Playlist918Digital WebsiteNews Links:Elon on Moonshots YouTubeEV sales hit record levels as Ireland surpasses climate targets – Irish ExaminerSony Honda Mobility debuts AFEELA at CES 2026BEVs take 1/3 of new car sales in UK in December – ElectrekSony AFEELA Was A Hit At CES: Will It Be The Same In The Market? – CleanTechnicaHyundai's electric van seats nine, but this EV may be the bigger hit – ElectrekMusk Reveals Giga Texas Expansion and Roadster Details – Not a Tesla AppKia Launches EV2 – CleanTechnicaThe new $29k 2027 Chevy Bolt is now in dealerships – ElectrekElon Musk gives honest take on FSD competition – TeslaratiNIO Passes 1 Million Vehicles – CleanTechnicaMusk: Tesla Needs 10 Billion Miles for Safe Unsupervised FSD – ElectrekElon Musk: 10 Billion Miles Needed for Safe Unsupervised FSD – TeslaratiThe electric minivan Dodge needs already exists – ElectrekThe First Afeela EVs Have Rolled Off The Production Line – InsideEVsLucid (LCID) beats odds after Q4 production surges 100% – ElectrekTesla Q4 & FY 2025 delivery and production results – TeslaratiBYD Becomes New Global BEV Sales Leader, Displacing Tesla – CleanTechnicaBYD’s BEV Sales Grew 28% in 2025, But Dropped 8% in December – CleanTechnicaNIO Explodes Through New Year with 55% Growth in December – CleanTechnicaShow Art Created by Dall-E

Kilowatt 670 — Show NotesIn this episode, I share my experiences from CES, including the unexpected luxury of staying at Resorts World and the realities of recording from a hotel laundry room. I dive into one of the most exciting announcements at the show: the solid-state battery partnership between Donut Labs and Verge Motorcycles, a collaboration that could mark a major leap forward in EV technology. We explore the difference between semi-solid-state and true solid-state batteries, the technical challenges Donut Labs claims to have solved, and what this could mean for Verge’s first production motorcycle equipped with the new battery tech. Additional conversations with industry representatives at CES reinforce expectations for near-term deployment of these innovations. I wrap up by recapping the Daily Tech News Show meetup and reflecting on the value of connecting with the tech community.Support the Showhttps://www.supportkilowatt.com/Other PodcastsBeyond the Post YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@beyondthepostfmBeyond the Post Podcast — https://www.beyondthepost.fm/Shuffle Playlist — https://shows.acast.com/shuffle-playlist918Digital Website — https://www.918digital.com/News LinksDonut Labs Solid-State Battery Overview (Jalopnik)Donut Labs Solid-State Battery OEM Announcement for Verge Motorcycles (Interesting Engineering)Industry Analysis: Can Donut Lab Deliver Production-Ready Solid-State Batteries? (Battery Tech Online)Donut Lab – Official WebsiteVerge Motorcycles – Official WebsiteShow Art Created by DALL·E

Description:In this episode, we sit down with Matt Paneitz, Executive Director of The Long Way Home, a nonprofit based in Guatemala that’s transforming communities through sustainable design and construction. Matt shares the incredible story of how The Long Way Home evolved from a vision to a full-fledged organization building schools, homes, and infrastructure out of recycled materials. We explore the challenges of international development, the power of education, and how sustainable construction can be a tool for both environmental and social change. Matt also reflects on the personal journey that led him from Texas to Guatemala, and why local empowerment is at the core of their mission.Support the Showwww.supportkilowatt.comOther Podcasts:Beyond the Post YouTubeBeyond the Post PodcastShuffle Playlist918Digital WebsiteNews Links:The Long Way Home – Official WebsiteMatt's Email - matt @ lwhome dot org

Description:In this episode of Kilowatt, I celebrate our vibrant community by sharing insights from five contributors on electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy. Highlights include Mark discussing EV adoption in Europe, Bruce's cautionary tale about acceleration risks, Steve Sheridan's humorous year-end recap, and Joseph advocating for autonomous driving technology. Gene shares a heartfelt narrative about the personal impact of EVs. I also express gratitude to our Supercast and Patreon supporters and promote an upcoming charity event for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, showcasing our commitment to sustainability and community engagement.Support the Show: www.supportkilowatt.comOther Podcasts:Beyond the Post YouTubeBeyond the Post PodcastShuffle Playlist918Digital WebsiteLinks:DC StreamathonJoin or Support the DC2025 Extra Life TeamChildren's Miracle Network HospitalsExtra Life Homepage

Kilowatt Holiday Special 2025: Naughty Lists, EV Poems, and AI TunesIn this festive and satirical holiday special, Bodiei mixes electric vehicle news with creative flair. He kicks things off with a witty "EV Naughty and Nice List," calling out range anxiety myths, opportunistic dealers, and software-locked horsepower, while celebrating Rivian, Lucid, and automakers finally chasing affordability. The show features original AI-assisted music tracks like Math Beats Vibes, Prophets and Margins, and A Mouthful of Promises But Nothing to Chew, all written and crafted by Bodhi using tools like Suno and ChatGPT. He also performs a clever EV parody poem, “Twas the Night Before the Write-Down,” skewering Ford’s shifting EV strategy. To close, Bodhi roasts himself with a tongue-in-cheek AI-generated song about his podcasting quirks and habits. It’s a humorous, heartfelt, and musically inventive end-of-year celebration packed with insight and originality.Support Children's Miracle Network🎧 www.DCStreamaThon.org💖 www.DCStreamaThon.org/donate🎮 www.extra-life.orgSupport the Show🙏 Support KilowattOther Podcasts by the HostBeyond the Post YouTubeBeyond the Post PodcastShuffle Playlist918Digital Website

Kilowatt 666 — Show NotesIn this episode of Kilowatt, Bodie wraps up the year with a wide-ranging look at the latest EV news just ahead of Christmas. He breaks down a notable 34% drop in Tesla registrations in the European Union, while pointing out that overall battery-electric vehicle registrations were still up 44%, signaling a shift in the market rather than a collapse. The show also explores BYD’s new peer-to-peer home charging feature, which lets owners share and monetize their chargers through the BYD app. Bodie then covers the Cybertruck earning an IIHS Top Safety Plus rating, pushing back against early skepticism. He explains why Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz isn’t coming to the U.S. in 2026, and why that doesn’t mean it’s canceled. The episode rounds out with a Ford recall affecting over 270,000 vehicles, a look at Elon Musk’s evolving pay package, and a holiday message inviting listeners to share their EV stories as the show heads into 2026.Support the Showhttps://www.supportkilowatt.com/Other PodcastsBeyond the Post YouTubeBeyond the Post PodcastShuffle Playlist918Digital WebsiteNews LinksTesla Registrations Dropped 34.2% in November in European Unionhttps://cleantechnica.com/2025/12/23/tesla-registrations-dropped-34-2-in-november-in-european-union/BYD Now Lets Owners Share Home Chargers Through Their Apphttps://electrek.co/2025/12/21/byd-now-lets-owners-share-home-chargers-through-their-app/Tesla Cybertruck Earns Top Safety Rating—After Everyone Said It Couldn'thttps://www.autoblog.com/news/tesla-cybertruck-earns-top-safety-rating-after-everyone-said-it-couldntTesla Cybertruck Is Top Rated Pickup Truck in Safety Crash Testshttps://www.notateslaapp.com/news/3434/tesla-cybertruck-is-top-rated-pickup-truck-in-safety-crash-tests-ratingsVolkswagen Shelves Its Electric Minibus for the U.S., but Not Foreverhttps://electrek.co/2025/12/19/volkswagen-shelves-electric-minibus-for-us-not-forever/Ford Recalls Over 270,000 Vehicles That Could Roll Away After Parkinghttps://www.autoblog.com/news/recall-ford-rollaway-f150-lightning-maverick-mustang-mach-eShow ArtShow art created by DALL·E

Episode SummaryIn this episode of Kilowatt, Brad Taris, founder of The Building Train, joins the show to discuss innovative ways to empower tradespeople and elevate the construction industry. Brad shares his unique career journey from architecture to fieldwork and how those experiences inspired him to launch The Building Train. He delves into the platform’s mission to create career pathways, offer mentorship, and connect skilled workers to long-term success. Brad and Bodie also explore systemic issues in construction, such as workforce shortages and misaligned incentives, and how storytelling and digital tools can be used to drive cultural and economic change. The episode offers deep insights for anyone interested in workforce development, entrepreneurship, or the future of skilled trades.Support the Show👉 Support KilowattOther Podcasts:Beyond the Post YouTubeBeyond the Post PodcastShuffle Playlist918Digital WebsiteGuest Links – Brad Taris:🌐 The Building Train Website💼 Brad Taris on LinkedIn🏗️ The Building Train on LinkedIn

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Description:In this episode of Kilowatt, Tesla makes major moves in Austin as their Robotaxi fleet begins driving solo without safety drivers. But is the tech really ready? Ford officially axes the all-electric F-150 Lightning, pivoting instead to an extended-range hybrid version—and takes a $19.5 billion hit in the process. We also look at Ford’s controversial EV battery repair costs and a new extended battery and drive unit warranty from Tesla. Plus, Scout Motors takes a significant step toward selling its EVs directly in Colorado. Get the latest insights and analysis from the EV world in this week's roundup.Listen to True North EVsTrue North EVsSupport the Showwww.supportkilowatt.comOther Podcasts:Beyond the Post YouTubeBeyond the Post PodcastShuffle Playlist918Digital WebsiteNews Links:Tesla Is Finally Letting Robotaxis Drive Solo In Austin. Now Comes The Hard PartTesla CEO Elon Musk claims driverless Robotaxis coming to Austin in 3 weeksFord reveals new F-150 Lightning EREV plans, kills off EV versionFord cancels all-electric F-150 Lightning, announces $19.5 billion in chargesFord Accused of Paying $600 for $22,600 EV Battery RepairsTesla Introduces New Extended Battery and Drive Unit WarrantyScout Motors Just Got A Big Step Closer To Actually Selling EVs