Explore every episode of the podcast EV Insider by Recurrent

Quick Clarifications: 

1) EV Auto is the first used EV dealer listing on Amazon Autos, not the first used car dealer.

2. Dealers currently pay no subscription fees to Amazon. There may be a fixed, monthly subscription fee to display their inventory, with fees phasing in as the marketplace scales. But dealers remain the seller of record, control the transaction pricing, and keep the full revenue from each sale. Amazon also offers advertising products that dealers can use to increase their visibility on Amazon and in their local communities. 

Show Notes:

What does it look like to build a used-EV business the rest of the industry is still afraid of? In this episode of EV Insider, host Scott Case sits down with Alex Lawrence, Founder and CEO of EV Auto, the used-EV dealership chain that may have bought and sold more EVs than anyone in the country — out of just three locations in Utah and Tennessee.

Alex breaks down two big moves. First, EV Auto is the first non-Tesla car dealership in America to host Tesla Superchargers on-site, with plans to own and operate a network of charging posts independent of its stores. Second, EV Auto just became the first used-car-only dealer on Amazon Autos, and Alex explains exactly why he leaned in while most dealers stay wary.

You'll also hear why no-pressure selling works better for first-time EV buyers, how Alex thinks about charging-site economics and location strategy, why so many franchise dealers botched their charger rollouts, and whether Amazon could ever pull a "Toys R Us" on the car business.

Subscribe to EV Insider for more conversations with the leaders shaping the EV market: 

https://www.recurrentauto.com/about/ev-insider

The US doesn't have one EV market. It has two, and the national average hides it.

Recurrent's Scott Case sits down with Nathan Niese, who builds EV adoption forecasts at BCG, to pull apart the number everyone quotes. The "15% by 2030" headline is really two very different countries averaged together: CARB states on a path that looks like Europe, with parts of California potentially hitting three out of four new vehicles with a plug, and non-CARB states sitting near 5%, where a lot of buyers haven't seen an EV on the lot in weeks.

For dealers, that split is the whole story. A regional group in the Bay Area or Seattle is on a fundamentally different trajectory than one in the Southeast, and planning to a national average gets both wrong.

What Scott and Nathan get into:

Why CARB states track Europe while the rest of the country tracks an early-stage market

The math behind the national average (high-30s vs. 5%) and why "50% by 2030" was never going to be evenly distributed

The $30K, 300-mile EV that doesn't exist yet, and why building it profitably is the real constraint, not consumer demand

How federal policy dropped out of the forecast, and why state-level decisions now set the floor

The wild card that would rewrite all of it: Chinese vehicles reaching the US market

What Toyota's late, full-lineup EV push signals about where the industry actually thinks this is going

Nathan Niese works at Boston Consulting Group. The views here are his own.

Recurrent tracks EV battery health, range, and used EV market data for dealers and shoppers. More research at recurrentauto.com.

In this episode of EV Insider, host Scott sits down with Laura Perrotta, President of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJCAR), to get a ground-level view of the EV market from someone representing 523 franchised dealers across the Garden State.

New Jersey is the #7 state for new EV sales and the only Northeast state in the top 10 — but that position is under pressure. Laura breaks down exactly what got New Jersey there, what's threatening that momentum, and what needs to happen next for EVs to truly go mainstream.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why NJ outperforms other Northeast states in EV adoption

How state and federal incentives (up to $4,000 + $7,500 federal) drove the EV rush — and what happened when they disappeared

The real sales drop-off dealers experienced after September 2025's incentive cliff

Why NJ's charging infrastructure ratio (40–45 EVs per public charger) is a hidden crisis — and the multifamily housing challenge making it worse

How Tesla Supercharger network access became a game changer for EV driver confidence

Who's buying EVs now — and who the next wave of buyers will be

The growing used EV market and what it means for dealers

The legislation NJ dealers are pushing for in 2026, including sales tax holidays and expanded charging infrastructure

What New Jersey's EV landscape could look like by 2028

Whether you're a dealer, a policy wonk, an EV enthusiast, or just thinking about your next car purchase, this episode gives you a candid, data-driven look at where the EV market really stands.

Subscribe for weekly EV industry insights, dealer perspectives, and the latest on electric vehicle trends across the U.S.

🔌 Get more EV Insider: https://www.recurrentauto.com/about/ev-insider

🌐 Learn more about NJCAR: https://www.njcar.org/

Scott Case sits down with Pete Berkey, General Manager of Lee Johnson Kia in Kirkland, Washington. This dealership is posting 30–40% EV sales penetration at a time when some of the industry is still in the single digits. 

Pete shares what's really happening on the ground: the split between EV6 and EV9 buyers after the $7,500 federal tax credit expired, Kia's decision to scale back EV builds and increase Telluride production by 50% in 2026, and why he believes the EV3 could open the market to buyers who've been priced out. 

His take on EV sales training (modeled on the Apple Store) is worth the watch alone.

Topics covered: EV sales trends, Kia EV lineup, federal tax credit impact, EV leasing, EV3 preview, dealer training, used EV market, EV infrastructure.

First-time EV buyers say they need 300 miles of range. Experienced EV drivers say they could have gotten by with 250. So who's right—and what does that mean for how dealerships sell electric cars?

In this episode of EV Insider, Recurrent CEO Scott Case sits down with Nathan Shaver, Managing Partner of Shaver Automotive Group, to unpack what's really driving EV sales in 2026.

They cover:

Why the 300-mile requirement is a first-timer's myth

What's actually happening in California's EV market post-tax credit

Why 300,000 off-lease EVs hitting the market in 2026 is a massive opportunity

How EV service contracts are failing dealers and consumers

What Nathan sees coming nationally that California is already living through

Recurrent tracks battery health data on over 30,000 EVs. Find out how that data changes the used EV conversation for buyers, sellers, and dealers alike.

🔋 Learn more: recurrentauto.com

📩 Subscribe for new EV Insider episodes every week

Tim Pohanka brings a perspective few in the auto industry can match. As Executive VP of Pohanka Automotive Group, one of America's oldest family-owned dealerships at 106 years, he watched his great-grandfather's horse stable become their first automotive shop. Now he's navigating another powertrain transition—and his take might surprise you.

What We Cover:

🏛️ Multi-Generational Perspective – From horses to combustion engines to EVs: how this transition compares to past industry shifts

💰 The $400/Month Reality – Why affordability, not features, will determine 2026 success for EVs

📈 The Off-Lease Surge – What happens when massive lease returns hit the market in 2026

🍃 2026 Nissan Leaf Excitement – Why Tim believes the redesigned Leaf addresses previous limitations

😰 Range Anxiety Solutions – What manufacturers can do to alleviate persistent consumer fears

Key Quote: "My car could drive itself, but if I can't afford to drive it, it doesn't matter. Families are targeting $400-$450/month payments. At $60,000, that's $800/month. The cars have got to become more affordable."

Guest: Tim Pohanka, Executive Vice President, Pohanka Automotive Group

Host: Scott Case, CEO at Recurrent

About EV Insider: 

EV Insider is produced by Scott Case and the team at Recurrent, bringing you ground-level insights from automotive dealers, executives, and industry experts navigating the electric vehicle transition.

Learn more about Recurrent: https://www.recurrentauto.com

Subscribe for weekly conversations with the people who are actually living the EV transition every day.

Jeff Miller is crushing it with Subaru's Solterra EV—and he's not shy about why his competitors aren't.

As CEO of Mark Miller's Subaru in Salt Lake City, Jeff sold 124 Solterras while the other three Subaru stores in his market combined have sold just 35. 

The difference? Commitment. 

In this episode, Jeff shares how his dealership leaned into EVs when others wouldn't, why he believes range anxiety is "retailer-driven," and the creative financing strategies (like one-pay leases) that are helping customers navigate the post-rebate world.

What We Cover:

Why Subaru's EV strategy has been "very slow" and what's changing

How Jeff's dealership sells 3.5x more Solterras than competitors combined

The surprising Tesla sales split: down 60% in liberal Salt Lake, up in conservative suburbs

Why having staff and owners drive EVs matters more than advertising

Range anxiety, infrastructure gaps, and the real barriers to EV adoption in Utah

One-pay lease strategy: pay $15K instead of $40K upfront and protect against depreciation

What's coming: Subaru's new Trail Seeker EV

About Jeff Miller:

Fourth-generation auto retailer and CEO of Mark Miller's Subaru Midtown and South Town in Salt Lake City. Jeff has been driving a Solterra for three years and believes EVs are "the absolute perfect car" for most daily drivers.

Links:
🔋 Learn more about EV Insider: https://www.recurrentauto.com/about/ev-insider

📊 Check your EV's battery health: https://www.recurrentauto.com

What if the future of EV adoption doesn’t start with new cars — but with used ones?

In this EV Insider episode, Scott Case sits down with Danny Papakalos, Corporate Director of Pre-Owned Operations at #1 Cochran, the largest automotive retailer in Western Pennsylvania. Danny has a unique view: his job only lives in the pre-owned space, and he believes used EVs will be the single biggest growth opportunity in 2026 and beyond.

Danny explains why EV loyalty is shockingly strong, how affordability is about to shift millions of shoppers toward used EVs, and why the industry urgently needs to rethink how it markets batteries, range, and long-term cost of ownership.

In this episode:

Why suburbs are becoming EV hotbeds in Pittsburgh. 

The “EV infectious disease effect”: how one EV in a neighborhood leads to six or seven. 

Why once buyers try EVs, they never go back — and what that means for future loyalty. 

How the used EV market mirrors the early success of Lexus Certified Pre-Owned — and why that analogy matters. 

The affordability crisis coming in 2026 — and why used EVs will solve it for millions of shoppers. 

How #1 Cochran evaluates used EVs, where they place them, and why the brand rooftop doesn’t matter. 

The battery perception problem, and how education — not incentives — is the key to mass adoption. 

Why 3–5 year-old EVs still have 90–95% battery health, and why dealers should be shouting this from the rooftops. 

Danny’s blueprint for the perfect EV ad: peace of mind, future cost, and clarity.

Whether you’re a shopper, dealer, or industry analyst, this is one of the clearest, most compelling frameworks for understanding how used EVs will transform the market.

👉 Subscribe for more EV market insights every week.

👉 Learn more at recurrentauto.com

Colorado has been one of the hottest EV markets in the country. At one point offering deals so aggressive that shoppers were leasing EVs for $19 a month. But now the incentives are gone, the “big beautiful bill” is behind us, and the entire region is entering a new chapter of EV adoption.

In this episode of EV Insider, Scott Case sits down with Fred Emich, owner of four Colorado dealerships (Volkswagen, Kia, and Chevrolet) to unpack what really happened in Colorado’s EV surge — and what’s coming next for EV shoppers and the used EV market.

In this episode:

How Colorado’s combination of $7,500 federal + $5,000 state incentives created some of the most compelling EV deals in the U.S. — including $19/month ID.4 leases. 

Why Colorado’s EV boom “drained the swamp” in Q3, and what sales look like now that incentives have sunset. 

Why used EV sales at Emich Auto Group are up 50%+ year-over-year even after rebates disappeared. 

The unexpected winners in the used EV market — including ID.4s, Audi Q6, and even the occasional Cybertruck. 

Why so many two-year EV lessees are returning their cars only to buy… the exact same car again, but used. 

The real story behind the ID. Buzz hype vs. sales numbers — from stop-sale recalls to tariff impacts. 

What Fred believes EV shoppers must understand in a post-rebate world — and why “the party isn’t over; it’s just quieter.” 

If you want a no-BS, on-the-ground perspective from a dealer who’s been EV-first for years, this episode is a masterclass in how incentives, charging, customer behavior, and used EV economics really work.

► Subscribe for more EV market insights for shoppers, dealers, and analysts.

► Learn more about Recurrent: recurrentauto.com

BMW is developing new EV models that could eliminate range anxiety once and for all. In this episode, Parker Boice, General Sales Manager at BMW and Mini of Utah, reveals details about the upcoming iX3—a vehicle delivering 400+ miles of range at $60,000, powered by BMW's sixth-generation battery technology.

We explore how BMW's diversified approach—offering BEVs, plug-in hybrids, and gas vehicles—is serving customers in Utah's unique EV market. Parker shares fascinating insights about the legacy i3 (still popular despite 80-mile range), the current i4 and iX serving as primary vehicles, and how rapid innovation is transforming electric vehicle capabilities.

Looking ahead to 2026, Parker predicts a massive wave of used EVs with the best technology ever hitting the market, creating exceptional buying opportunities. We also discuss the challenges and strategies for transitioning current EV lessees into their next vehicles.

🎙️ TOPICS COVERED:

BMW iX3: 600-mile range, $60K price point, game-changing technology

How the i3 remains relevant in today's used market

Current EV adoption patterns in Utah

2026 predictions: The great used EV opportunity

Managing EV lease returns and customer transitions

Long-term outlook for EV adoption (2029-2030)

The pace of battery innovation: 6 generations in a decade

📊 ABOUT EV INSIDER:

EV Insider is produced by Scott Case and the team at Recurrent, bringing you authentic conversations with automotive dealers, executives, and industry insiders about the real challenges and opportunities of EV adoption.

🔗 LEARN MORE:

Recurrent: https://www.recurrentauto.com
EV Insider: https://www.recurrentauto.com/about/ev-insider

The incentive rollercoaster created a challenge—but also an unprecedented opportunity for EV shoppers.

Alex Perdikis, CEO of Koons Motors (Ford, Lincoln, Mazda) in the D.C. metro area, breaks down why 50–60% first-year depreciation on EVs is creating some of the best values in the automotive market—often outperforming ICE vehicles at the same price point.

In this episode, Alex shares his dealer playbook for the current market: lease new EVs to hedge depreciation, buy used to capture incredible value, and consider PHEVs as powerful transition vehicles. Plus, what he learned seeing Chinese EVs in France that has him excited (and concerned) about the future of American manufacturing.

About Alex Perdikis:

Alex is the CEO and owner of Koons Motors, operating Ford, Lincoln, and Mazda franchises plus a large used-car operation in one of America's top EV markets: Washington, D.C.

About EV Insider:

EV Insider is produced by Scott Case and the team at Recurrent, the leading platform for used EV data and insights. Learn more at https://www.recurrentauto.com

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with dealers, OEMs, and industry leaders navigating the EV transition.

The federal EV tax credit expired on September 30th, 2025. Did the market collapse? No, but it did reveal who's really buying electric vehicles and why.

In this episode of EV Insider, host Scott Case sits down with Jessica Caldwell, AVP of Insights at Edmunds, to unpack what happened after the incentive ended and what it means for the future of EV adoption in America.

What We Cover:
✅ The "EV Reset" – How consideration dropped 30% overnight (but didn't disappear)
✅ Why EV lease rates are STILL 60% (and why that might be a good thing)
✅ The surprise winner: Used EVs are selling faster than used gas cars
✅ What Jessica's watching in 2026: New models, Tesla drama, and the Nissan LEAF comeback
✅ The brand loyalty gap – Why EV buyers are up for grabs

Key Insight: EV shoppers today are less payment-focused and more experience-driven than the lease-chasing cohort of late 2025. This shift could actually strengthen the market long-term.

About Jessica Caldwell:

Jessica leads the Insights team at Edmunds, one of the nation's leading automotive research and shopping platforms. With deep expertise in consumer behavior, market trends, and data analysis, she's become one of the most trusted voices on the EV transition.

About EV Insider:

EV Insider is a podcast from Recurrent exploring the real stories behind electric vehicle adoption—from the dealers selling them to the analysts tracking the market. Hosted by Scott Case.

John Iannone walked into his other dealerships one day with news: the EV-only store was outselling them.

John is CEO of Auto Outlets USA, three traditional dealerships in upstate New York — and Electric Car Corner, a standalone EV-only store that was named one of the best places in the country to buy a used EV by the Recurrent community. He's been selling electric cars since the early Tesla days, lost money when everyone else did, and doubled down when everyone else quit.

In this episode of EV Insider, John and Recurrent CEO Scott Case get into:

• Why his single EV store now sells more cars than his three gas stores — with no extra ad spend
• Why he ships 10x more EVs out of state than gas cars
• What second-time EV buyers ask about (it's not range)
• Why hybrid interest is plummeting at his stores while the industry narrative says the opposite
• The "grocery store" rule for EV inventory: never run out of eggs
• Why he hires customer service people instead of car salespeople — and pays salary, not commission

John's playbook is closer to an Apple Genius Bar than a dealership: salaried staff, no brand loyalty, education before negotiation. "We're not here to make any decision today if you don't want to."

Find Electric Car Corner and other top-rated EV dealers in Recurrent's guide: https://www.recurrentauto.com/guides/used-ev-dealerships

Thinking about selling your EV? Get offers from vetted, EV-savvy buyers: https://www.recurrentauto.com/sell

Subscribe for new conversations with the people building the EV market.

When most dealerships dropped electric cars after the federal rebates expired, Tony Lopez at IQ Autos in Atlanta went all-in... and started selling more than ever.

In this episode of EV Insider, hosted by Scott Case of Recurrent, Tony explains how he turned a small independent dealership into one of the top EV resellers in the U.S.:

⚡ How IQ Autos built an 80–90% electric inventory

⚡ Why the end of the tax credit helped used EV prices

⚡ What shoppers should look for when buying or trading in an EV

⚡ Why Tesla’s ownership experience sets the bar for every automaker

If you want real-world insights on the EV market from someone selling them every day, this conversation is for you.

📊 EV Insider is powered by Recurrent, the trusted intermediary between EV owners and the buy/sell market.

We bring transparency to EV value, battery health, and resale confidence — for both shoppers and dealers.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.recurrentauto.com

How do you sell EVs in a market full of diesel trucks and retirees?

In this episode of EV Insider, hosted by Scott Case of Recurrent, we talk with JB Burnett, GM of the Millsboro Automotive Campus (Preston Automotive Group), about how he’s turning Maryland, Virginia and Delaware’s rural car market into an EV success story.

Hear how JB:

 ⚡ Sold 45 Jeep Wagoneer S EVs when other dealers passed
 ⚡ Converts baby boomers into first-time EV owners
 ⚡ Uses real-world range demos to overcome “EPA range anxiety”
 ⚡ Believes plug-in hybrids are the easiest on-ramp to electrification

EV Insider is produced by Recurrent, the trusted intermediary between EV owners and the buy/sell market — bringing transparency to EV value, battery health, and resale confidence.

Learn more: https://www.recurrentauto.com

Used EVs are about to take over the market — and we’ve got the data to prove it.

In this episode of EV Insider, Recurrent CEO Scott Case sits down with Melinda Zabritski, Head of Automotive Financial Insights at Experian, to unpack what’s coming in 2026:

⚡ Why 60% of new EVs were leased — and what that means for next year’s inventory
⚡ How shorter 24-month EV leases are creating a flood of low-mileage cars
⚡ What happens when the $7,500 federal credit disappears
⚡ Where used EVs will sell fastest — and what dealers need to do right now

If you want to understand the real data behind EV sales, leasing, and value trends, this conversation is for you.

EV Insider is powered by Recurrent, the trusted intermediary between EV owners and the buy/sell market.

We bring transparency to EV value, battery health, and ownership experience to help buyers and dealers make smarter decisions.

What kind of person opens a used-EV dealership two weeks after all the federal rebates expire?

Meet Shannon and Jenny, the founders of EcoAuto Northwest, a brand-new woman-owned dealership in Washington that’s rewriting how people buy and learn about electric cars.

In this EV Insider episode, hosted by Scott Case of Recurrent, we explore:

⚡ How two former Tesla and Ford leaders are reinventing the dealership model

⚡ Why they launched after the $4,000 used-EV credit ended

⚡ How they’re helping EV-curious shoppers feel confident—especially first-time and older buyers

⚡ The hands-on charging and education approach every EV dealer should copy

If you care about the future of EV retailing—or just want to understand how to buy your first used EV with confidence—this episode is for you.

Recurrent helps bridge the gap between EV owners and the buy/sell market by providing trusted data on EV battery health, range, and resale value.

When most dealers ran from electric vehicles after the tax credits ended, Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group ran toward them, and turned uncertainty into opportunity.

In this episode of EV Insider, hosted by Scott Case of Recurrent, we go behind the scenes with one of the East Coast’s top used-EV retailers to learn how Easterns:

⚡ Sold over 3,000 used EVs and redeemed $12 million in federal tax credits
⚡ Converted 90% of first-time EV buyers who didn’t plan to buy electric
⚡ Built long-term trust by making EVs simple, transparent, and attainable

Joel shares how the EV market is shifting after the end of federal rebates, what models hold up best, and why now might actually be the best time to buy a used EV.

If you’re an EV shopper wondering where the value is — or a dealer deciding whether to stay in the game — this episode is packed with real data, real strategy, and real stories from the front lines of electric retailing.

📊 Recurrent is the trusted intermediary between EV owners and the buy/sell market, helping shoppers and dealers make smarter, data-backed decisions about battery health, range, and resale value.

Subscribe for more EV Insider episodes on the future of EV ownership and retailing.

Scott Case learns the tactics of top used electric car buyers in this discussion with Jay Clark from Ron Marhofer Auto Family. Jay started his career in California and brought many of the lessons to Ohio to create an EV leader in the Midwest. 

This episode is packed with insights whether you are a first-time EV shopper or you are a car dealer with decades of experience. There's so much to learn from Jay and Scott as they dissect the used EV market. 

Can a dealership thrive on used EVs while half the industry pulls back? In this episode of EV Insider, host Scott Case sits down with Matt Diorio of Ourisman Volvo Audi of Frederick — part of a 17-location group operating across Maryland, Virginia, and DC — to unpack what's actually moving metal in one of the country's densest EV markets.

Matt explains why Frederick County ranks among the top EV-registration areas in the U.S., how $6-a-gallon gas is pushing "fuel-price refugees" toward plug-ins and full EVs, and why his pre-owned strategy beats franchises that won't keep a traded-in EV on the lot. He and Scott dig into the federal rebate sunset that briefly made every used EV worth $25,000 — and the "rubber band" correction that followed — plus the cross-country pipeline moving off-lease California EVs to East Coast buyers.

They also tackle two undersold truths: three-year-old EVs are meeting or beating their EPA range, and the industry's 20-to-80% charging metric misses how people actually drive. Practical, specific, and refreshingly hype-free.

Subscribe to EV Insider for more conversations with the leaders shaping the EV market: 

https://www.recurrentauto.com/about/ev-insider

Gas prices passed $4.50 a gallon in Pennsylvania this spring but according to Andrew Wright, that's not what's actually moving EV shoppers like some people suspect.

In this episode of EV Insider, host Scott Case sits down with Andrew Wright, Managing Partner at Vinart Dealerships in the Lehigh Valley, to unpack what's really driving EV demand six months after the federal tax credit expired. 

The conversation digs into the real barrier to adoption — what Andrew calls "refueling parity" — why charging perception matters more than charging reality, and what's exciting about the EV market right now. 

Subscribe to EV Insider for more conversations with the leaders shaping the EV market: https://www.recurrentauto.com/about/ev-insider

Most people drive a lot less than they think — and that one insight could change how you shop for your next EV.

In this episode, Recurrent's Scott Case sits down with John Murphy of Holler Classic Group — one of Central Florida's largest dealer groups and one of the country's top Vinfast retailers — for a candid conversation about the realities of selling and owning electric vehicles in 2026.

What we cover:

The small-plane analogy that explains how badly buyers overestimate their daily driving

How real-world EV range routinely beats EPA estimates — and why dealers should say so louder

What happens when cheap 2022 EV leases start coming back to the lot

How Holler Classic built one of America's most successful Vinfast operations from scratch

The state-by-state mess of EV registration fees — and the surprising places that don't charge any

Links
→ Subscribe to EV Cents, our weekly newsletter for EV owners and shoppers: https://newsletter.recurrentauto.com/
→ Sell your EV with Recurrent and get offers from vetted buyers: https://www.recurrentauto.com/sell
→ Recurrent's research library: https://www.recurrentauto.com/research

"We'd  need a World War II strategy to pull this off."

Cliff Banks, founder of AUTOVATE and The Banks Report, has spent a decade bringing automotive investors, dealers, and tech firms together to understand the role of capital in retail transformation. Unlike many EV optimists, Cliff brings a decidedly measured view—one shaped by capital flows, manufacturing realities, and political headwinds. His forecast for 2030 EV adoption? 10-15%. Not 50%.

What we cover:

The manufacturing reality check: Where will the plants come from to hit 50% EV adoption? Ford and GM are getting criticized, but could they have done it differently?

China's unfair advantage: Why their EV dominance is a national strategy (like World War II mobilization), not a legacy automaker innovation story

Detroit vs. Phoenix whiplash: Living between two markets shows wildly different adoption curves and consumer mindsets

Political polarization hurt EVs: The conversation became politicized from day one, damaging innovation and development

Tesla's market share rebound: Despite Musk's White House ties, Cliff predicts Tesla gains share in 2026 as political affiliation recedes

Autonomous + EV = the real demand driver: Rivian's CEO predicts autonomous features will be expected by 2030. If true, EVs will surge because autonomy requires electric platforms

Used EV growth is guaranteed: 5x growth over the last 5 years, another 5x coming regardless of Trump administration policies

This is a capital markets lens on the EV transition—grounded, skeptical, and deeply informed by what investors are actually doing (versus what regulators or advocates want them to do).

About Cliff: Founder of AUTOVATE, a premier conference for automotive investors and dealer executives, and creator of The Banks Report. Based between Detroit and Phoenix, Cliff has been tracking capital flows in automotive retail for over a decade.

🔗 Learn more about Recurrent: https://www.recurrentauto.com
 🔗 Learn more about AUTOVATE: https://www.autovate.org

Can EVs work in rural Texas? Christopher Singleton says yes, but only if dealers get the strategy right.

Christopher Singleton, Managing Partner at Mike Terry Auto Group, oversees four dealership locations across central and east Texas—markets where diesel trucks dominate, charging infrastructure is sparse, and shoppers prioritize reliability over technology. In this conversation, Christopher shares how his team is navigating the EV transition in communities where the use case has to be proven, not assumed.

What we cover:

Why most of buyers end up purchasing something different than they planned, and how that creates EV opportunities

The myth of range anxiety: Why Christopher changed his mind after personally owning EVs

Why hybrid technology may be the smarter near-term strategy for rural dealers (hint: it's about service margins)

How to match inventory to local demographics: income levels + infrastructure = success

Why education (not pressure) is the key to converting skeptical shoppers

Christopher brings a refreshingly honest, business-focused perspective to EV adoption. He's not anti-EV, but he's meeting his rural customers where they are. 

🔗 Learn more about Recurrent: https://www.recurrentauto.com

Is 2026 the year used EVs finally break through? EV Insider host Scott sits down with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier of ASOTU to unpack what's actually happening in the market right now.

Their conference:
https://www.asotucon.com/

They dig into why there's historically no tight correlation between gas prices and new EV sales — except for one notable six-month stretch in 2022, when EV share jumped 50%. With gas prices spiking again and CarMax reporting a 28% year-over-year increase in used EV searches, the question isn't whether demand is building — it's whether it will convert before prices stabilize.

A big part of the answer is supply. The wave of 2022-era EVs is coming off lease right now, flooding the used market with affordable inventory at exactly the moment consumers are feeling pain at the pump. But there's a catch: many of those original lessees had payments as low as $200/month thanks to aggressive captive finance rates and incentives that no longer exist. How dealers navigate those returning customers — and whether they trade up, buy used, or walk — is one of the most interesting storylines of the year.

Scott also shares some of Recurrent's most surprising findings from six years and 35,000 vehicles worth of real-world data: EV batteries are lasting longer than expected, and most EVs are actually exceeding their EPA range estimates after three years on the road. The data suggests dealers and manufacturers have been underselling the product — and that EV retention rates sit above 90% once someone makes the switch.

The group also debates whether dealers who've pulled back on EV education are walking into a trap, and why Toyota's decision to go all-in on EVs in 2026 — while everyone else is zigging toward hybrids — might be the smartest move in the industry.

EV Insider is produced by Recurrent, the company helping dealers and consumers make smarter decisions with real-world EV data. 

https://www.recurrentauto.com/about/ev-insider

CDK Study 👇
https://www.cdkglobal.com/insights/new-study-reveals-sharp-shift-evs

Electric vehicle adoption faces a surprising challenge: shoppers believe things about EVs that simply aren't true. And according to automotive leader David Thomas, from CDK Global, these misconceptions are getting worse, not better.

In this episode, David shares eye-opening data from his latest research on EV shopper perceptions, revealing a massive gap between what people believe and what's actually true about electric vehicle ownership costs, charging infrastructure, and long-term value.

What We Cover:

🔧 The Maintenance Myth – Why all shopper types (including current EV owners!) wrongly believe EVs cost more to maintain and repair

💰 The Leasing Landscape Shift – How 77% of shoppers changed their preference when offered great lease deals, and what happens now that those incentives are gone

⚡ The Charging Infrastructure Paradox – 30% more DC fast chargers added in the past year, yet shopper confidence is declining. Why?

🚗 Tire Wear: Myth or Reality? – Unpacking whether EVs really chew through tires faster (spoiler: it's complicated)

📊 The Plug-in Hybrid Shopper Advantage – Why PHEV shoppers are the most informed group, even more than current EV owners

🔮 2026 Predictions – Where David is putting his money: luxury EVs and what that means for dealers

🏠 The Home Charging Blind Spot – Why 80% of households have the charging solution already (their driveway), but don't realize it

Guest:
David Thomas is an automotive industry leader at CDK Global specializing in market research and consumer behavior insights.

About EV Insider:
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