Mike Murphy, Political Strategist, Head of EVPolitics.org, The American EV Jobs Alliance and author of the most recent Los Angeles Times op-ed, "California can fix Trump’s EV mistake," is BACK on the show today - and thank goodness because you know Mike Murphy always brings the heat! Our episode today explored the ways in which California can lead the way in EV adoption during the Trump administration and how the state can potentially counter federal EV policy rollbacks with a $3,500 state-level credit and expanded charging infrastructure. Mike also talks about California’s unique market power, with 1 in 4 cars sold being electric, and its robust R&D ecosystem featuring companies like Tesla and Rivian. And of course, I can't let Mike go without playing a fun game of "Top 5" where I asked Mike to rank his favorite fast food / QSR joints *that should have* public EV charging. Press play for an edu-taining and thought provoking ride with the one and only, Mike Murphy!

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Link to Mike's op-ed in The Los Angeles Times, California Can Fix Trump's EV Mistake

Link to article on EVPolitics.org

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Connect with Mike Murphy on X

Follow EVPolitics.org on X or go to their website

Listen to Mike's podcast, Hacks on Tap

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Dan Krassner // dan.krassner@evpolitics.org

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Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

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Jamie Butters, newly appointed Detroit Bureau Chief at the Wall Street Journal (and former Executive Editor at Automotive News) joined me for a candid conversation about the current state of EV assembly plant projects in the U.S. Jamie and I tackled the bumpy road automakers are navigating, with political curveballs and shrinking government support throwing some serious shade on EV production. Hyundai, General Motors, and many others are caught in a high-stakes game of "EV or not EV," juggling their electric ambitions with high margin ICE vehicles. Jamie and I also talked about how the Inflation Reduction Act’s fade-out is giving automakers a serious case of whiplash. Plus, we took a slight detour to ponder Tesla’s semi-truck production delays—because apparently, even Elon’s big rigs are stuck in a battery-powered traffic jam. With Jamie’s wit, wisdom, and gracious demeanor, this episode is a must-listen!

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⭐️ Wishing Jamie nothing but continued success in his new role at The Wall Street Journal!

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-butters-909ba45/

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Link to Automotive News Intelligence Report // EV Assembly Plant Projects Face an Uncertain Market

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Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

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This one starts out cheesy but I promise we *do* get down to business. First, let's talk about the Uber / Lucid / Nuro partnership that was just announced yesterday that will mark the start of these companies officially entering the AV (autonomous vehicle) robotaxi fight. It's been reported Uber will invest $300 million into Lucid as part of the arrangement. Then, can we also talk about the fact that Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) is now lending his voiceover talents to Veloz? Veloz is a nonprofit focused on EV adoption, and has launched a $43.5 million "Electric For All" campaign on July 14, 2025, to educate consumers about electric vehicle benefits. And finally, The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing major automakers, has urged the U.S. Department of Justice to review state franchise laws, arguing they restrict competition and increase vehicle and repair costs for consumers. The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) strongly opposes this, defending the franchise system as cost-effective and essential for consumer protection and economic stability, citing a 2024 Oliver Wyman study. The dispute highlights a broader tension between automakers and dealers over control of the retail auto market, especially as electric vehicle sales models evolve.

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Link to Larry Vellequette's Automotive News Column: In ‘holy war’ between dealers, automakers over warranty rates, nobody wins

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Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

Let's talk on X:

https://twitter.com/EVs_forEveryone

Are you connected with the show on LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/

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