EV Charging Hits 80,000 Ports… BUT There’s a Catch | The Friday Charge Ep 107

EV Charging Hits a Major Milestone, Ford's New Electric Truck Waitlist Opens, and the VW ID.Buzz Could Be Making a Comeback!

It's another big week in the EV world! America's fast-charging network has officially surpassed 80,000 ports, Ford is preparing for its upcoming affordable electric pickup, Slate opens its first physical showroom, and Volkswagen's next-generation ID.Buzz is starting to sound more likely than ever.

In this episode, we're breaking down the biggest electric vehicle stories and what they mean for the future of EVs.

🔋 IN THIS EPISODE:

⚡ America's EV Charging Network Passes 80,000 Ports The latest Paren report reveals 80,964 DC fast-charging ports across the US. We look at Tesla's continued expansion, IONNA's rapid growth, Walmart's charging rollout, faster charging speeds, rising charging prices, utilization rates, and nationwide reliability.

🚙 Slate Opens Its First Brick-and-Mortar Store Slate has opened its first retail location in Chicago inside a former Tesla showroom. The location gives potential customers and fleet buyers a chance to see the upcoming vehicle in person and take a test ride.

🛻 Ford Opens the Waitlist for Its Affordable Fathom Pickup Ford is letting interested buyers sign up for invitations to preorder its upcoming electric pickup when preorders begin in 2027. With a targeted starting price under $30,000, an LFP structural battery pack, BlueCruise, Apple Maps, and bidirectional charging, could this be an EV worth waiting for?

🚐 Volkswagen's Next-Generation ID.Buzz Could Be Coming Remember when we discussed VW delaying the ID.Buzz's US return? New comments from the 2026 Paris Auto Show suggest the company is actively developing a next-generation model. We discuss the new SSP platform, the possibility of an LFP battery, lower production costs, updated styling, and the return of physical buttons.

Which of these stories matters most for the future of electric vehicles? Is America's charging infrastructure finally catching up? Could Ford's affordable pickup change the EV market? And would you buy a next-generation ID.Buzz?

Let us know in the comments!

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