home

Search This Blog

Home
About
YouTube
Podcast
Facebook
Instagram
Bluesky
Threads

Showing posts from August, 2026

View all

Posts

Freedom Cars, Zoox Can Ride, Miata EVs are Coming: TWC Podcast 282

on August 06, 2026

Podcast

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Latest podcast episode

Is One-Pedal Driving the Most Efficient for EVs?

By Phil Royle – Feb. 1, 2022 I find one-pedal driving in EVs has its benefits in certain situations, although I must admit that I prefer manipulating the brake pedal myself. Is that so wrong? Regardless of my personal preference, however, I wanted to know whether one method was legitimately and definitively more efficient. But while I seem to have found the answer, it’s not as overwhelming as one might hope. Seemingly every “true” EV enthusiast touts the benefits of one-pedal driving, where easing off the gas pedal slows the vehicle – often to a complete stop – through the use of resistive magnetic forces in the EV’s motor(s), thus generating power to replenish the car’s battery pack. In my use of one-pedal driving, I can cruise for days without touching the brake pedal, which means those trips are guaranteed to never engage the friction brakes and should, in theory, provide some of the highest levels of deaccelerating efficiency the EV can provide. In many ways, the Nissan Le...

Porsche Macan EV vs. Tesla Model Y: Apples-to-Apples or Apples-to-Oranges?

By Edward A. Sanchez — Jan. 29, 2024 Last week, Porsche unveiled the highly anticipated version of its Macan EV. Following the success of the Taycan, expectations are high for the success of the brand’s mid-size SUV offering. Size-wise, comparisons with the world’s current best-selling car, the Tesla Model Y, are inevitable. There are definitely some similarities, and possibly some cross-shopping. But much like the Taycan is not a direct competitor to the Model S , neither is the Macan to the Model Y. So how do the Macan EV and Model Y compare? Let’s find out… Performance: Advantage – Macan It shouldn’t be a great surprise that the top-trim Turbo (the appellation of ICE terms to EVs is a whole other discussion) Macan has a performance edge over the Model Y Performance. But the edge is not as overwhelming as you might think. The official specifications for the Macan EV Turbo are 630 hp, 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds, and a top speed of 161 mph. The specs for the Model Y Performance a...

OEMs: Don’t Abandon NACS in Wake of Tesla Layoffs

By Edward A. Sanchez — May 9, 2024 The Q1 job cuts at Tesla sent shockwaves throughout the automotive industry, particularly for those OEMs that have publicly committed to adoption of the Tesla-developed NACS protocol for the North American market (which is practically all of them at this point). This has resulted in many of the companies that made the commitment to NACS to reconsider their decision. Tom Moloughney, host of the excellent and informative State of Charge YouTube channel said he’s heard from an inside source at a major German OEM saying the company is considering abandoning its NACS initiative and returning to support for CCS1 . I understand the unease and confusion surrounding the layoffs at Tesla, and the bounced emails and lack of communication with now nearly nonexistent Supercharger team. I only comment as an outside industry observer and EV owner, but I would encourage OEMs that have committed to NACS adoption to stay the course through this period of uncert...

First Take Comparison: Kia Niro EV vs. Tesla Model 3

By Edward A. Sanchez – Feb. 24, 2020 Some may scoff at the idea of cross-shopping a Kia Niro EV with a Tesla Model 3, but when The Watt Car had the opportunity to test a Niro EV (we’re still working on the full review of the Niro EV), I took a personal interest because it was on the short list of EVs I was considering buying. Initial reviews were relatively positive, and the crossover-ish form factor was a plus in terms of versatility. On paper, the Niro EV looked promising: a 239-mile EPA rated range, 0-60 in less than 7 seconds, and a starting price under $40,000. However, any idea that these two vehicles are comparable disappeared for me after only a few minutes behind the wheel. Apples-to-Apples, or Apples-to-Oranges? There should be no disrespecting Kia for making one of the few relatively affordable 200+ mile range EVs. That said, driving the Niro EV back-to-back with the Model 3 SR+ underscores just how far ahead Tesla is in the EV game. And yes, it may seem like an odd co...

Why the Tesla Model 2 and Robotaxi Isn’t an Either/Or Proposition

By Edward A. Sanchez — April 8, 2024 Over the last two weeks, a Reuters report claimed that sources within Tesla said a memo had been circulated that inferred the long-rumored low-cost vehicle program, colloquially referred to as “Model 2,” had been canceled, and that resources had been redirected toward development of the also-long-rumored robotaxi. Naturally, the interwebs went wild with speculation, including that Tesla might “go under” following its Q1 miss on deliveries. Yet hiding in plain sight in the Reuters piece was a line that was seemingly overlooked by many, that gives a major hint at Tesla’s strategy concerning the two projects. “The automaker will continue developing self-driving robotaxis on the same small-vehicle platform, the sources said.” If anything, the story shows a strategic pivot on project prioritization, not necessarily a wholesale scrapping of the low-cost model. The choice of a steer-by-wire system on the Cybertruck was also another major clue, w...

Search by label

opinion
electric
Podcast
plug-in
hybrid
TWC Podcast
Uncategorized
sedans

Search by month

August 20261
July 20265
June 20264
May 20264
April 20265
March 20264
February 20264
January 20264
December 20252
November 20253

October 20255
September 20253
August 20254
July 20255
June 20254
May 20255
April 20255
March 20259
February 20255
January 20256
December 20245
November 20246
October 20247
September 20245
August 20247
July 20246
June 20247
May 202413
April 20247
March 202414
February 202410
January 20247
December 20237
November 20239
October 20236
September 202310
August 20238
July 20236
June 202312
May 202310
April 202312
March 202311
February 20239
January 202312
December 20229
November 20229
October 202210
September 20227
August 202210
July 20228
June 202210
May 20229
April 20228
March 202213
February 202210
January 202212
December 202113
November 20219
October 202116
September 202116
August 202117
July 202115
June 202116
May 202117
April 202124
March 202132
February 202115
January 202115
December 20209
November 20206
October 20204
September 202012
August 20205
July 20207
June 20208
May 20203
April 20204
March 202011
February 202015
January 202014
December 201910
November 20193

Show more Show less