TOYOTA ADOPTS TESLA NACS, GM DELAYS ELECTRIC PICKUP TRUCKS

EV Channels Review

This episode of Batteries Included podcast covers significant shifts in the EV landscape, most notably Toyota's adoption of Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its Toyota and Lexus electric vehicles starting in 2025. This move, while a year behind other automakers, signals a major endorsement of the NACS standard. The discussion also touches on General Motors delaying its electric pickup truck production and Ford reducing F-150 Lightning output, highlighting ongoing challenges in scaling EV truck manufacturing. A key segment features a deep dive into the long-term battery health of a 2019 Tesla Model 3 Long Range with 100,000 miles, which showed impressive degradation, retaining most of its original capacity. The podcast also explores Rivian's significant software improvements, enhancing drivability and user interface, and emphasizes the strategic importance of in-house software development for EV manufacturers. The hosts express optimism about the future of charging infrastructure despite current challenges, noting the rapid progress made and the eventual sorting out of issues by the end of the decade.