At the tail end of 2016, Nikki sat on a press call with other journalists — and Tesla CEO Elon Musk — after the automaker announced its latest iteration of its semi-autonomous driver assistance system: Tesla Autopilot 2.0.
She asked a simple question: since Volvo had just promised to indemnify drivers against blame if its semi-autonomous system caused an accident, would Tesla do the same thing? Elon Musk said "No" — but not with a simple reply. He did so by railing against automotive journalists who he accused of killing people.
It's been ten years — and we just heard of an automaker finally promising to indemnify its customers from blame, and financial costs, if its semi-autonomous system caused an accident. Enter BYD, which is making that bold promise in relation to its own system — God's Eye. But while BYD is making the pledge, and the automotive media is excited by the promise, there's a layer of nuance missing.
So today, we're going to dig deep, examine the past and the present, and ask just why Tesla never offered indemnity — while BYD now is. Unfortunately, it's not for the reasons we'd hope. And the two firms' very different approaches come back to the same base motivation: money and survival.
⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:
00:00 - Introduction
01:10 - The Question That Got Me Blacklisted
07:21 - World Heart Rhythm Week
09:02 - Please Support The Channel
10:12 - What BYD Announced
11:34 - Understanding SAE Levels of Autonomy
13:56 - Most People Don't Understand Autonomous Driving
15:14 - Where The Technology Actually Was In 2015
16:55 - Tesla's Promises
20:25 - Why Tesla Knew Its System Wasn't Ready
23:23 - Protecting Tesla From Its Own Promises
24:43 - The Challenges of Offering Liability
29:48 - It's About Advertising And Brand Loyalty
30:59 - The US And China Are Very Different
32:03 - China Is Less Litigious Than The US
33:59 - China Is Trending Toward Mandatory Indemnity
35:31 - It's About Competitive Edge
36:05 - BYD's God's Eye Has A Problem
38:35 - A Very Smart PR Stunt
40:04 - Money. And Survival.
40:45 - Thanks, And Goodbye!
At the tail end of 2016, Nikki sat on a press call with other journalists — and Tesla CEO Elon Musk — after the automaker announced its latest iteration of its semi-autonomous driver assistance system: Tesla Autopilot 2.0. She asked a simple qu...
At the tail end of 2016, Nikki sat on a press call with other journalists — and Tesla CEO Elon Musk — after the automaker announced its latest iteration of its semi-autonomous driver assistance system: Tesla Autopilot 2.0. She asked a simple qu...
At the tail end of 2016, Nikki sat on a press call with other journalists — and Tesla CEO Elon Musk — after the automaker announced its latest iteration of its semi-autonomous driver assistance system: Tesla Autopilot 2.0. She asked a simple qu...
At the tail end of 2016, Nikki sat on a press call with other journalists — and Tesla CEO Elon Musk — after the automaker announced its latest iteration of its semi-autonomous driver assistance system: Tesla Autopilot 2.0. She asked a simple qu...
At the tail end of 2016, Nikki sat on a press call with other journalists — and Tesla CEO Elon Musk — after the automaker announced its latest iteration of its semi-autonomous driver assistance system: Tesla Autopilot 2.0. She asked a simple qu...
At the tail end of 2016, Nikki sat on a press call with other journalists — and Tesla CEO Elon Musk — after the automaker announced its latest iteration of its semi-autonomous driver assistance system: Tesla Autopilot 2.0. She asked a simple qu...
At the tail end of 2016, Nikki sat on a press call with other journalists — and Tesla CEO Elon Musk — after the automaker announced its latest iteration of its semi-autonomous driver assistance system: Tesla Autopilot 2.0. She asked a simple qu...
Gas just broke $4 a gallon again — and this time, it happened in weeks, not months. The war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggered what the International Energy Agency called the largest oil supply disruption in history, cutting roughly 20% of global petroleum from accessible markets and sending U.S. pump prices surging more than 30% since late February. Diesel has climbed above $5.60 a gallon. Analysts warn that if the Strait stays shut through summer, prices could reach $6–7 a gallon.
At the same moment, the federal government pulled a $7,500 lever it had been offering EV buyers for three years. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act ended the IRA’s clean vehicle tax credit on September 30, 2026, sooner than almost anyone expected. For anyone considering an EV right now, both of these developments matter enormously, and they cut in opposite directions.
Here’s how EV math works in April 2026.
6 Benefits of Electric Cars
The benefits of owning an EV arguably outweigh any cons — from spending less money in the long run to making fewer trips to the repair shop. And it doesn’t stop there.
1. Gasoline Prices Have Never Made the Cost-Per-Mile Case for EVs More Clearly
With U.S. gas prices above $4 a gallon and diesel topping $5.60, the fueling cost gap between EVs and gas vehicles has widened sharply. The EIA’s March 2026 short-term outlook projected average retail gas prices of $3.34 per gallon for the full year — but that forecast was built on assumptions about the Strait reopening quickly. Prices are already well above that. Electricity prices, by contrast, remain stable and domestically produced.
A typical EV running on home electricity still costs roughly one-third as much per mile as a comparable gas vehicle — a savings that grows with every ten-cent jump at the pump. The current energy shock makes that argument harder to dismiss.
2. Energy Independence Means Something Different Now
The Iran war viscerally confirmed energy analysts argument that American households are deeply exposed to disruptions on the other side of the planet, even as the U.S. produces record quantities of domestic oil. Global crude oil prices are set by global markets, and domestic production buffers the shock but doesn’t eliminate it.
Charging an EV from the grid — or better, from rooftop solar — can insulate a household from price shocks. It’s a form of energy resilience that’s worth taking seriously as a financial and practical argument, not just an environmental one.
3. EV Range Has Left ‘Range Anxiety’ Behind
The 2021 version of this article listed 60-to-100 miles as a typical EV range. That figure is obsolete. As of 2026, the Lucid Air leads at 410 EPA-rated miles, the Hyundai IONIQ 6 Long Range delivers 361 miles, and the Chevrolet Equinox EV — the best-selling non-Tesla EV of 2025 — offers 319 miles starting under $35,000. Even mid-range EVs from mainstream brands now routinely clear 250 miles per charge.
The range question has effectively been answered for most everyday use cases. Long-distance travel remains more planning-intensive than gas, but it’s a planning question, not a stranding question, for most drivers on most routes.
4. Charging Infrastructure Has Reached Critical Mass
As of January 2026, the U.S. had nearly 68,000 public DC fast-charging ports, a 33% increase compared to 2024. Tesla’s Supercharger network alone accounts for over 52% of fast-charging stalls, and more than two-thirds of those are now open to non-Tesla vehicles. Ford, GM, Rivian, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Stellantis have all adopted NACS, effectively granting their drivers access to the Supercharger network via native ports or adapters.
Reliability, long the Achilles heel of non-Tesla charging facilities that were often out of commission, is also improving. New stations are being built with redundant chargers, remote monitoring, and real-time availability data integrated into vehicle navigation. The experience of pulling up to a broken charger on a long trip is becoming less common, though rural coverage gaps persist.
5. Maintenance Costs Remain Lower — and the Gap Is Growing
EVs require no oil changes, no exhaust system. They need fewer brake replacements because regenerative braking extends pad life substantially. And they have significantly fewer moving parts subject to wear. A Consumer Reports analysis drawing on survey data from hundreds of thousands of members found that EV owners spent about half as much on maintenance and repair as owners of comparable gas vehicles; that’s an average savings of $4,600 over the life of the vehicle.
With inflation squeezing household budgets and the Iran war likely to push repair and parts costs higher as diesel-driven supply chain expenses rise, lower maintenance overhead matters more in 2026 than it did even a year ago.
6. State Incentives Fill Some of the Federal Gap — For Now
The federal $7,500 clean vehicle credit is gone. But the replacement focused on American-made cars makes up the gap. The One Big Beautiful Bill introduced a federal auto loan interest deduction of up to $10,000 annually through 2028, available for U.S.-assembled EVs financed with new loans. It’s a deduction rather than a credit, meaning it reduces taxable income rather than tax owed directly, and it phases out for households with incomes above $100,000 for a single person and $200,000 for couples.
State incentives come in many forms and have different eligibility rules. Several states with high EV adoption still offer significant savings, which are especially important now that federal credits are no longer available.
Colorado provides a $750 state tax credit for buying or leasing a new EV with an MSRP up to $80,000. There is also an extra $2,500 credit for EVs priced under $35,000, so budget-conscious buyers can save up to $3,250. You can assign the credit to a participating dealership and get the discount at the point of sale, so you do not have to wait until you file your taxes.
New Jersey’s Charge Up program gives up to $4,000 in point-of-sale rebates for eligible new battery-electric vehicles, applied directly at the dealership through June 30, 2026. The state plans to keep EV incentives active through 2030, with funding renewed each year. This is one of the strongest long-term commitments among states.
Oregon’s program has some important updates. The Standard Rebate, which offered up to $2,500 for any Oregon resident, was suspended in September 2025. The Charge Ahead Rebate, which provided up to $7,500 for income-qualified buyers, was suspended on December 5, 2025 due to limited funding. If you bought an EV during the eligible period, you still have six months from your purchase date to apply. Approved applications may be put on a waiting list for payment in spring 2026. New funding rounds may happen, but they are not confirmed yet. Check the Oregon DEQ’s program page before counting on the rebate.
California’s Clean Cars 4 All program is one of the most generous for income-eligible buyers. Low-income residents in certain air districts can get up to $12,000 toward an EV purchase, plus up to $2,000 for home charging or prepaid charging credits. If you do not need to scrap an old vehicle, you can get up to $7,500 through the Driving Clean Assistance Program. Both programs are income-based and run by regional air districts. Use the state’s DriveClean incentive search to see what is available in your ZIP code.
Massachusetts provides a $3,500 rebate through the MOR-EV program for buying or leasing a new qualifying EV with an MSRP under $55,000 at participating dealerships. If you meet income requirements, you can add another $1,500 through MOR-EV+, for a total of $5,000. There is also a $3,500 rebate for used EVs, but only for income-qualified buyers.
New York’s Drive Clean Rebate gives up to $2,000 off the purchase or lease of over 60 new EV models. The rebate is applied at the point of sale by participating dealerships across the state, and there is no income requirement. The amount depends on the vehicle’s range: you get the full $2,000 for EVs with over 200 miles of range on a 36-month lease or purchase, $1,000 for 40 to 199 miles, and $500 for shorter-range models or those with MSRPs above $42,000.
All of these programs depend on available funding and may change their rules. Check the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center for the latest information before you buy.
Many automakers are also stepping in with manufacturer cash incentives and subsidized lease deals to offset the lost federal credit. Hyundai, for example, cut the price of its 2026 IONIQ 5 by nearly $10,000.
Photo: Shutterstock
5 Drawbacks of EVs
Of course, nothing is perfect, and electric cars are no exception. There are a few important factors to consider before signing on the dotted line at the dealership.
1. The Federal Tax Credit Is Gone — And the Replacement Is More Complicated
The $7,500 IRA clean vehicle credit that made EVs significantly more accessible to middle-income buyers expired on September 30, 2025. The $4,000 used EV credit expired at the same time. The EV charger installation credit survives through June 30, 2026, but only in eligible census tracts, such as low-income communities and non-urban areas.
The loan interest deduction that replaced the purchase credit is available only to buyers who finance a U.S.-assembled EV, ruling out cash purchases and vehicles assembled in Canada or Mexico (check the vehicle’s VIN: U.S.-assembled vehicles start with 1, 4, 5, or 7). This program is also an annual deduction on taxable income rather than a dollar-for-dollar credit, which means buyers in lower tax brackets get proportionally less benefit.
The net result is that the out-of-pocket cost of EVs is higher upfront in 2026 than in 2024–2025 for most buyers who don’t live in a high-incentive state. Automaker discounts and competitive leasing help, but the headline sticker shock is real.
2. Charging Can Still Be Slow — And Fast Charging Carries a Cost
DC fast charging, which can replenish an EV from 10% to 80% in 15 to 45 minutes depending on the vehicle, is increasingly available. But it comes at a premium: public fast charging costs significantly more per kilowatt-hour than home charging, and some networks charge idle fees after your session ends, so don’t leave your EV hooked up longer than needed. Home Level 2 charging (overnight, plugged into a 240V outlet) remains the most cost-effective option but requires an upfront equipment investment, and not everyone has access to dedicated parking.
The EV charger tax credit’s narrowed eligibility means many urban apartment dwellers and suburban homeowners outside those tracts get no federal help with installation costs.
3. Upfront Cost Remains Higher Than Comparable Gas Vehicles
The Chevrolet Equinox EV starts at $34,995. That’s genuinely competitive, and several EVs now undercut the critical $40,000 price point. But comparable gas hybrids remain several thousand dollars cheaper at purchase, a gap that the loan interest deduction only partially closes, and only over several years of ownership.
The economic argument for EVs is stronger over the lifetime of the vehicle than at the point of purchase. For buyers who are payment-sensitive or unable to finance, the math favors gas vehicles in the short term, even as gasoline prices strain monthly budgets.
4. Rural Charging Gaps Persist
The Biden administration’s $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, which was funding charger buildout along highway corridors including in rural and underserved areas, was suspended by the Trump administration in early 2025. Private investment continues, but it concentrates in high-traffic corridors and urban markets where utilization rates justify the capital.
For drivers in rural areas or anyone frequently traveling through them, this remains a practical constraint. Home charging covers most daily use, but highway travel through low-density regions still requires careful route planning.
5. Policy Uncertainty Makes Long-Term Planning Harder
The EV market has experienced whiplash between 2022 and 2026 due to the IRA’s expansion of credits and their accelerated elimination. The OBBBA’s auto loan deduction expires at the end of 2028. Fuel economy standards have been relaxed. Several states are fighting against preemption of their own EV mandates. HOV lane access for EVs has been eliminated in New York and California.
None of this changes the fact that EVs make environmental or financial sense over a 10-year ownership horizon. It does mean that buyers should research current incentives carefully before purchase, verify vehicle assembly origin, and not assume that today’s program landscape will look the same in two years.
What You Can Do
If you’re weighing an EV purchase in 2026:
Check your state’s current incentive programs at the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center (afdc.energy.gov) before assuming federal credits apply — they don’t.
Verify vehicle VIN origin before financing: only U.S.-assembled EVs (VIN starting with 1, 4, 5, or 7) qualify for the new loan interest deduction.
Request manufacturer incentives directly: automakers including Toyota, Hyundai, Ford, and GM have introduced their own cash discounts and subsidized leases to offset the lost federal credit.
Model the 5-year total cost, not just the sticker price: fuel savings, reduced maintenance, and available incentives often close the gap faster than the purchase price suggests.
If you rent or lack dedicated charging, factor public charging costs into your fuel savings estimate — DC fast charging at public stations costs more per mile than home Level 2 charging.
For rural buyers, check PlugShare or ABRP (A Better Route Planner) to map charging availability along your most common routes before committing to an electric vehicle—you’ll find the gaps are closing.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally written by Stephanie Braun on May 3, 2017, and was most recently updated in April 2026. Feature image courtesy of Shutterstock.
In TEN Episode 582, we covered a news story about electricity customers in the Lake Tahoe area being told their local utility would have to find alternative power to sell to them, as the company that previously supplied the majority of the area's power would be selling to data centers instead.
So today, we've got a simple question: Do you worry about grid instability caused by large data centers and AI facilities?
Stay safe, stay engaged. Please watch our livestream from January.
About The Transport Evolved Sunday Musings:
These informal, unscripted vlog-style videos are a chance for the team to ask the audience their opinions on topics in the world of cleaner, greener, safer, smarter and more equitable transportation and energy - and are filmed without a teleprompter in a single take.
In TEN Episode 582, we covered a news story about electricity customers in the Lake Tahoe area being told their local utility would have to find alternative power to sell to them, as the company that previously supplied the majority of the area's ...
In TEN Episode 582, we covered a news story about electricity customers in the Lake Tahoe area being told their local utility would have to find alternative power to sell to them, as the company that previously supplied the majority of the area's ...
In TEN Episode 582, we covered a news story about electricity customers in the Lake Tahoe area being told their local utility would have to find alternative power to sell to them, as the company that previously supplied the majority of the area's ...
In TEN Episode 582, we covered a news story about electricity customers in the Lake Tahoe area being told their local utility would have to find alternative power to sell to them, as the company that previously supplied the majority of the area's ...
In TEN Episode 582, we covered a news story about electricity customers in the Lake Tahoe area being told their local utility would have to find alternative power to sell to them, as the company that previously supplied the majority of the area's ...
In TEN Episode 582, we covered a news story about electricity customers in the Lake Tahoe area being told their local utility would have to find alternative power to sell to them, as the company that previously supplied the majority of the area's ...
In TEN Episode 582, we covered a news story about electricity customers in the Lake Tahoe area being told their local utility would have to find alternative power to sell to them, as the company that previously supplied the majority of the area's ...
In February, a minor rear-end collision on our way to film at Aptera left Nikki's personal (and therefore Transport Evolved's) 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning — Ortegas — with a small hairline crack in the rear bumper bracket. The truck drove fine, and while we sustained some soft tissue damage (mainly whiplash) we were able to drive Ortegas back to Oregon.
When we got back, we took Ortegas to a local repair place attached to our local Ford dealership. They spent 60 seconds under the truck and claimed it was fine.
Three months later, we discovered a crack just where we'd been told by cops at the scene they thought might be a hairline fracture. It had got larger.
We went to a different local repair shop (recommended by another local Ford dealership) and Nikki's insurance company approved the repair. Now, one month later, the shop says the part doesn't fit and they can't find a part that does — while simultaneously stating there's no official repair procedure for this repair on the Lightning. And our insurance company? They want to write the truck off, leaving us with loan payments and a fight over what is otherwise a perfectly functional truck.
Worse still, salvage rules in Oregon would mandate a salvage title if we were to buy the truck back — meaning we'd lose all warranty coverage on a truck with only 22,000 miles on it. For the reduced retail value and the risk of losing every warranty, we're simply not comfortable with that.
So today, Nikki shares the full story — from the accident to the insurance battle — and asks for your help. If you know anything about F-150 Lightning repair procedures, parts sourcing, or Oregon insurance law, please leave it in the comments below. And no, just getting someone to weld the bracket up is no longer an option the insurance company will accept.
⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:
0:00 — A ball, a dog, and a missing truck
1:41 — From Adira Tal to Ortegas: our Lightning history
4:25 — Half paid off. Then this happened.
5:29 — "No damage." (They were wrong.)
6:57 — One month. No truck. No answers.
8:13 — The part that "doesn't fit"
9:39 — Fighting back (while exhausted)
12:50 — What comes next?
17:40 — "Economical with the truth"
20:48 — Thank you and goodbye!
In February, a minor rear-end collision on our way to film at Aptera left Nikki's personal (and therefore Transport Evolved's) 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning — Ortegas — with a small hairline crack in the rear bumper bracket. The truck drove fine, and...
In February, a minor rear-end collision on our way to film at Aptera left Nikki's personal (and therefore Transport Evolved's) 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning — Ortegas — with a small hairline crack in the rear bumper bracket. The truck drove fine, and...
In February, a minor rear-end collision on our way to film at Aptera left Nikki's personal (and therefore Transport Evolved's) 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning — Ortegas — with a small hairline crack in the rear bumper bracket. The truck drove fine, and...
In February, a minor rear-end collision on our way to film at Aptera left Nikki's personal (and therefore Transport Evolved's) 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning — Ortegas — with a small hairline crack in the rear bumper bracket. The truck drove fine, and...
In February, a minor rear-end collision on our way to film at Aptera left Nikki's personal (and therefore Transport Evolved's) 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning — Ortegas — with a small hairline crack in the rear bumper bracket. The truck drove fine, and...
In February, a minor rear-end collision on our way to film at Aptera left Nikki's personal (and therefore Transport Evolved's) 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning — Ortegas — with a small hairline crack in the rear bumper bracket. The truck drove fine, and...
In February, a minor rear-end collision on our way to film at Aptera left Nikki's personal (and therefore Transport Evolved's) 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning — Ortegas — with a small hairline crack in the rear bumper bracket. The truck drove fine, and...
Editorial Note: While Nikki refers to the truck in this video as having been totaled, there's been an 11th hour change: Ortegas will in fact live! - Video incoming next week.
The weather has been a mix of warm and blustery this week, but Nikki has had a surprise visitor this week in the garden that's taken a shining to one of her apple trees...
Stay safe, stay engaged. If you can, please take a few hours to watch our livestream from earlier this year. It shares some things that we can all do to resist peacefully, smartly, and keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.https://youtube.com/live/OxKt_APYQug
About The Chicken and Garden Updates:
These informal, unscripted vlog-style videos are a chance for the team to share some of the fun things happening in their respective gardens - and are filmed without a teleprompter in a single take.
Editorial Note: While Nikki refers to the truck in this video as having been totaled, there's been an 11th hour change: Ortegas will in fact live! - Video incoming next week. The weather has been a mix of warm and blustery this week, but Nikki...
Editorial Note: While Nikki refers to the truck in this video as having been totaled, there's been an 11th hour change: Ortegas will in fact live! - Video incoming next week. The weather has been a mix of warm and blustery this week, but Nikki...
Editorial Note: While Nikki refers to the truck in this video as having been totaled, there's been an 11th hour change: Ortegas will in fact live! - Video incoming next week. The weather has been a mix of warm and blustery this week, but Nikki...
Editorial Note: While Nikki refers to the truck in this video as having been totaled, there's been an 11th hour change: Ortegas will in fact live! - Video incoming next week. The weather has been a mix of warm and blustery this week, but Nikki...
Editorial Note: While Nikki refers to the truck in this video as having been totaled, there's been an 11th hour change: Ortegas will in fact live! - Video incoming next week. The weather has been a mix of warm and blustery this week, but Nikki...
Editorial Note: While Nikki refers to the truck in this video as having been totaled, there's been an 11th hour change: Ortegas will in fact live! - Video incoming next week. The weather has been a mix of warm and blustery this week, but Nikki...
Editorial Note: While Nikki refers to the truck in this video as having been totaled, there's been an 11th hour change: Ortegas will in fact live! - Video incoming next week. The weather has been a mix of warm and blustery this week, but Nikki...
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