Thinking About Buying a Hybrid Car? Listen Up

Thinking About Buying a Hybrid Car? Listen Up

Back in March, the US Environmental Protection Agency finalized a long in the works rule requiring automakers here to dramatically increase the number of battery-powered vehicles they’re putting on the roads. The government has mandated that by 2032, more than half of new cars sold must be electric. There are some caveats, namely that plug-in hybrid cars will fulfill the federal requirements for what a “battery-powered” vehicle is.

This has led to a flood of hybrid cars hitting the market. This week, we talk about what this means for people who are considering buying a new car now, or in the next few years. We explain the differences between plug-in hybrids, full hybrids, and electrics, and we tell you what your options are if you live in an apartment without a convenient place to plug in your car while it’s parked.

We are joined this week by WIRED staff writer Aarian Marshall, who breaks down the facts, shatters the myths, and turns us all into hybrid car experts.

This episode originally aired on April 2, 2024. Read the transcript.

Show Notes:

Read Aarian’s story about the new US emissions rules. Also read her story about automakers struggling to hit their US sales targets for electric cars.


Recommendations:

Aarian recommends going to one of those baseball games where you also bring your dog. (They let you run the bases!) Mike recommends The New York Trilogy by novelist Paul Auster, who died this week at 77. Lauren recommends The Lights, the newest book of poetry and prose by Ben Lerner.


Aarian Marshall can be found on social media @aarianmarshall. Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. The show is produced by Boone Ashworth (@booneashworth). Our theme music is by Solar Keys.

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BIG INTV: Hasan Piker Says He Will Never Run for Office

BIG INTV: Hasan Piker Says He Will Never Run for Office

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9 Syys 40min

Are Dating Apps Over?

Are Dating Apps Over?

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5 Syys 40min

Where's the Fun in AI Gambling?

Where's the Fun in AI Gambling?

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4 Syys 31min

BIG INTV: The Onion's Ben Collins On How The Truth Can Pay Dividends

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2 Syys 37min

WIRED Roundup: Meta’s AI Brain Drain

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29 Elo 12min

This Is How You Log Off

This Is How You Log Off

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28 Elo 25min

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26 Elo 48min

WIRED Roundup: Chip Manufacturers Bonanza

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22 Elo 19min