JOHN VOELCKER (CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, CAR & DRIVER) | EPISODE 30

EV Channels Review

This podcast episode features an insightful discussion with veteran EV journalist John Voelcker, tracing the evolution of electric vehicles from their early, often impractical, iterations in the 1970s and the pivotal EV1 in the 1990s to the current wave of EVs. Voelcker highlights the challenges of early EV adoption, the slow development of battery technology, and the complexities of charging standards like J1772 and CCS. He offers a critical perspective on the German automotive industry's approach, particularly BMW's i3 and subsequent EV strategies, noting a past overemphasis on expensive materials and a current struggle with shared platforms and software integration. The conversation also touches upon the perceived inefficiencies of some mass-market EVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID.4, contrasting them with the efficiency of Tesla and Lucid. The episode underscores the ongoing learning curve for manufacturers in developing compelling and efficient EVs, with a particular focus on the importance of dedicated platforms and robust software.