Volvo S90 Recharge, Hyundai Ioniq 6: Plug-In Hybrid or EV?

Consumer Reports Proposes Solution to EV Infrastructure Woes; Touted EV Maker Seeks Financial Salvation; Why Apple Pulled Plug on Apple Car

America on the Road Radio LogoIn this episode of America on the Road, we try to answer a question posed by our two road test cars, the 2024 Volvo S90 Recharge and the Hyundai Ioniq 6. The Volvo is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and the Hyundai is a battery-powered pure EV. Of course, they aren’t in the same segment, but looking at them can help answer the question that is on a lot of car buyers’ minds right now — should I purchase a plug-in hybrid or a battery-electric? We examine both that question and the pluses and minuses of each car individually in this week’s vehicle test segment of the show.

Leading the news this week, Consumer Reports says that retailers across the country could be the salvation of the troubled electric-car infrastructure that is severely limiting EV growth. CR posits that the more than a quarter million big box stores across the country should take it upon themselves to install public chargers to remedy one of biggest reasons average consumers are rejecting EVs.

The only problem with that is it flies in the face of the findings of an AutoPacific study that describes what EV owners want in recharging stations. It turns out they don’t want the big box store experience. What they want is more in line with what they get at a … well, we’ll tell you the rest in the news segment.

Meanwhile, one highly touted electric vehicle company is looking for salvation of its own. It’s grabbing desperately for a lifeline as it tries to stave off bankruptcy. We’ll tell you more about that and who the company’s possible savior is. Plus,we’ll give you some details on why Apple finally has pulled the plug on its once-promising Apple Car development program. Seems like a car isn’t a smartwatch after all.

Our special guest this week is Tiago Castro, Midwest Regional Vice President of Nissan North America. He’s an industry veteran who’ll discuss the latest trends, including, of course, what’s new at Nissan. We’re sure you’ll enjoy our conversation with him.

We have a lot of show for you this week. All that and more are headed your way on America on the Road.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com