EV Geek Podcast

Mercedes GLA EV, Volvo Drops LiDAR & Rivian R2 Results | The Friday Charge Ep 76

July 31, 2026·41 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

This week on The Friday Charge, Joel and Sebastian break down the biggest EV stories making headlines! ⚡ This week's topics include: Mercedes officially unveils the all-new GLA EV with 800V architecture, up to 320kW charging, and an impressive claimed range. Volvo drops LiDAR from the EX90 and ES90—what does this mean for the future of driver assistance and autonomous driving? The Rivian R2 is finally in the hands of reviewers! We discuss the first real-world highway range tests, charging performance, and whether its charging speed makes up for the lower-than-expected range. Plus, our thoughts on Hyundai's Pleos software platform and what it could mean for the future of connected vehicles. Whether you're shopping for an EV, following the latest industry news, or just love electric vehicles, we've got you covered. What do you think? 👇 Let us know in the comments: Is the Mercedes GLA EV a vehicle you'd consider? Does Volvo's decision to remove LiDAR make sense? Is the Rivian R2's real-world range good enough, or is charging speed more important? 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of The Friday Charge.

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