Talking Cars 381: We Answer Your Questions About Electric Vehicles, Hybrids, and Transmissions

Main theme: Once again, you flooded our in-box with questions (thank you!), so we’ve assembled an expert panel to dole out some memorable answers. This all-questions episode covers:
- How has the Inflation Reduction Act changed the existing up-to-$7,500 federal EV tax credit when purchasing a new EV or plug-in hybrid?
- Is it necessary to service your car’s transmission?
- How is MPGe calculated for EVs and PHEVs, and which models are the most efficient?
- Should anyone really care about how many gears a transmission has?
- Should you avoid buying the first model year of an all-new or redesigned EV or hybrid?
- My new job has me commuting 100 miles a day, and I need a new car. Is the extra cost of a hybrid really worth it?
Photo: Consumer Reports Photo: Consumer Reports
As with other "Talking Cars" episodes, this one is available free through Apple Podcasts. (Subscribe to the audio or video.) You’ll also find the audio on Spotify (log-in required) and video on YouTube.
- Driving the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe, episode 380
- Driving theFord F-150 Lightning, episode 379
- How Pandemic-Related Shortages Affect Winter Driving Prep, episode 378
- Driving the 2022 Buick Enclave, episode 377
- Driving the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, episode 376
Have a Question?
We’d love to include it in a future show. Upload your video questions to our Dropbox folder. Please send high-definition (1920x1080) MP4 video files with high-quality audio. Or send an iMessage question to our TalkingCars@icloud.com account.
Talking Cars
Browse the complete podcast archive for past shows.