In this February 20, 2026 episode of The Friday Charge, Joel and Sebastian break down Ford’s new Universal EV platform — including its upcoming compact electric pickup, structural LFP battery pack built in the U.S., 400V architecture, 48V electrical system, reduced part count, and software-defined vehicle strategy.

We also cover:

• Tesla avoiding a California DMV suspension after dropping the “Autopilot” name and rebranding FSD as “FSD Supervised”

• JD Power’s 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study showing 96% EV loyalty

• Volvo rolling out its new Volvo Car UX over-the-air update to older EVs

• Polestar’s plan to launch four new EVs by 2028, including updates to the Polestar 4, Polestar 5, next-gen Polestar 2, and the upcoming Polestar 7

Is Ford’s $30,000 EV too good to be true? Is Tesla’s timing suspicious? And are we officially past the EV tipping point?

Plug in and let’s get into it.

If you enjoy the show, follow the podcast and leave a 5-star rating — it helps more EV enthusiasts find The Friday Charge.

EV growth slowed in the U.S. in 2025 while hybrid sales surged. Did automakers overestimate demand?

We analyze the data, the tax credit impact, infrastructure gaps, profitability pressures, and why hybrids became a strategic hedge. Was this a miscalculation — or just a recalibration?

A deep dive into what 2025 really revealed about the EV transition.

In 2025, global EV sales continued growing — topping 20 million units worldwide. But in the United States, the story was more complicated.

Hybrid vehicles gained market share, EV growth slowed after federal tax credits expired, and automakers began adjusting their electrification strategies.

In this episode, we break down the full 2025 data and explain:

• U.S. EV market share trends • Hybrid growth rates and why they held steady • The impact of tax credit expiration in late 2025 • Interest rates and affordability pressures • Charging infrastructure perception vs reality • Insurance and repair cost concerns • Why automakers are recalibrating their EV timelines

Is this a temporary pause in EV momentum — or a longer-term shift toward hybrid dominance in America?

If you’re trying to understand where the market is really heading in 2026 and beyond, this episode breaks it down clearly and objectively.

Hybrid sales are rising. EV growth has cooled in key markets. Automakers are adjusting strategy.

So… are hybrids actually winning right now?

In this episode, we break down the real market data behind the headlines and explain why hybrids are gaining momentum while EV growth looks different than it did a few years ago.

We cover:

• The latest global and U.S. EV sales trends

• Why hybrid vehicles are surging in market share

• Why mainstream buyers are hesitating on EVs

• The real cost comparison between hybrids and EVs

• What automakers are doing behind the scenes

• Whether this is a temporary pause — or a long-term shift

This isn’t about ideology. It’s about economics, infrastructure, and consumer behavior.

If you’re deciding between a hybrid and an EV in 2026, this episode will help you understand what’s really happening in the market — and why.

This week in electric vehicle news, we’ve got major announcements and fresh updates from Toyota, Rivian, and Tesla — plus a few surprise headlines you don’t want to miss.

⚡ Toyota Highlander EV Announced Toyota is officially bringing an electric version of one of America’s most popular family SUVs. We break down what we know about the Highlander EV, expected specs, platform details, pricing rumors, and how it could compete with the Model Y, Kia EV9, and other three-row electric SUVs.

⚡ Rivian R2 Launch Details The highly anticipated Rivian R2 is getting closer to production. We cover updated range expectations, pricing targets, manufacturing plans, and why this smaller, more affordable Rivian could be a massive turning point for the brand.

⚡ Tesla Semi – Real Specs Revealed? Tesla’s Semi is finally being put to work, and real-world performance data is starting to surface. We discuss range under load, charging speeds, efficiency numbers, and how it stacks up against diesel and electric competitors.

If you’re into EV tech, industry trends, and honest analysis — this episode is for you.

👇 Let us know in the comments: • Would you buy a Highlander EV? • Is the Rivian R2 a future best-seller? • Can the Tesla Semi disrupt freight trucking?

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss the latest EV news.

#ElectricVehicles #ToyotaHighlanderEV #RivianR2 #TeslaSemi #EVNews #ElectricSUV #EVTrucks

When shopping for an electric vehicle, most people focus on one thing: range. But the number on the window sticker rarely reflects how EVs actually work in daily life.

In this episode, we break down how much EV range you truly need, using real-world driving behavior, battery physics, charging realities, and environmental factors — not marketing hype.

We cover:

• Why most drivers dramatically overestimate their range needs

• How daily driving patterns and charging habits change everything

• Real efficiency numbers (miles per kWh) and what they mean for ownership

• Practical range tiers and which one fits your lifestyle

• How home charging reshapes the entire EV experience

• The real impact of cold weather, highway speeds, and elevation

• A simple, engineering-based framework to choose the right range

The goal isn’t to buy the biggest battery — it’s to buy the EV that fits your life with the least friction.

🎧 Part of the EV Range Myth series:

• Why EV range numbers are misleading

• Range vs charging speed — what actually matters

• How much EV range you really need

When shopping for an electric vehicle, most people focus on one number: range. But experienced EV owners tend to care about something else entirely — charging speed.

In this episode, we break down the real-world tradeoff between EV range and charging speed, and explain why bigger range numbers don’t always mean a better ownership experience.

We cover:

• How EV owners actually use their cars day to day

• Why road trips expose the biggest differences between EVs

• What charging curves are — and why they matter more than peak charging speeds

• How bigger batteries can actually slow you down

• When extra range truly matters, and when it doesn’t

• How to shop for an EV based on your real driving habits, not fear

If you’ve ever wondered why two EVs with similar range can feel completely different, this episode explains exactly why.

When shopping for an electric vehicle, one number dominates the conversation: range. But that number doesn’t mean what most people think it does.

In this episode, we break down why EV range numbers are so often misunderstood, how real-world driving changes what you actually experience, and why range anxiety is usually caused by bad assumptions — not bad cars.

We cover:

• What EV range ratings really measure (and what they don’t)

• Why highway driving reduces range more than city driving

• How cold and hot weather impact battery performance

• Why two EVs with the same rated range can feel completely different

• The biggest mistake gas-car drivers make when switching to EVs

• What to focus on instead of raw range numbers

EV range isn’t a lie — it’s just incomplete. Understanding how it works can completely change how you shop for and live with an EV.