InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast · InsideEVs - Electric Vehicle News

Toyota, Rivian, Slate: The EVs We’re Most Excited For In 2026

·1 hr 8 min·4 clips

BMW’s iX3 brings 800-volt charging, 400 miles of range, and a new software stack.

1. InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast focuses on the EVs Tim Levin and Mac Hogan are most excited to see in 2026. 2. Tim Levin is Senior Editor at Inside EVs, and Mac Hogan is Deputy Director of Transportation, so both bring reporting and market analysis to the discussion. 3. The episode asks which 2026 EVs could change buyer expectations after a year of falling EV sales and canceled models. 4. Tim cites a story about more than 20 new EV models, then says his latest count has reached 32 new EVs. 5. Slate’s truck gets the first deep dive, with a two-door layout, a mid-$20,000 starting price, and almost no standard equipment. 6. The hosts note that Slate’s base battery is 52.7 kilowatt-hours and its range is 150 miles. 7. They also describe Slate’s add-on ecosystem, including power windows, Bluetooth audio, and an SUV kit with five seats. 8. Rivian R2 comes next as Rivian’s first mainstream vehicle, with a $45,000 starting price and more than 300 miles of range in some trims. 9. Tim compares the R2 directly with the Model Y and Toyota RAV4 rather than Rivian’s R1T and R1S. 10. Mac says Rivian’s brand has real pull, especially among buyers who ask him about the company and want a premium electric SUV. 11. Lucid’s midsize project gets positioned as a cheaper high-volume model that could start around $48,000 and may use the Earth name. 12. Tim says Lucid’s biggest issue is timing, because the Gravity ramp and previous launches have taken longer than expected. 13. BMW’s iX3 is described as the first of BMW’s Neue Klasse cars with 800-volt architecture, 400 miles of range, and 400-kilowatt charging. 14. The hosts emphasize that BMW is moving from adapted gas-car EVs like the i4 and i5 toward a purpose-built third generation. 15. Mercedes’ CLA and GLC get attention for MB.OS, faster charging, and the CLA’s 374-mile EPA range. 16. Tim says Mercedes is also pushing a hands-off city-driving system powered by NVIDIA, which is aimed at urban navigation with driver supervision. 17. Honda’s Zero Series and Acura RSX are treated cautiously because Honda has not yet delivered a true in-house long-range EV in the U.S. 18. Tesla’s Cybercab is discussed as a steering-wheel-free, two-seat robotaxi concept, but the hosts question whether it will arrive on Tesla’s timetable. 19. The episode sounds like a news-driven roundtable, with Tim leading the framing and Mac pushing back with market realism and product skepticism. 20. Listeners who track EV product strategy and charging specs will get the most from this discussion, while people avoiding auto-industry forecast talk may skip it.

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A grounded look at the 2026 EVs they are most excited for.

Tim Levin and Mac Hogan spend the episode on the 2026 EVs they are most excited for, and the discussion keeps circling back to the practical questions that actually matter: range, battery size, charging behavior, software architecture, and how each model compares with Tesla,…

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