Talking Cars 381: We Answer Your Questions About Electric Vehicles, Hybrids, and Transmissions

By Mike Quincy

Published March 23, 2023 . Updated October 14, 2022

Main theme: Once again, you flooded our in-box with questions (thank you!), so we’ve assembled an expert panel to dole out some memorable answers. This all-questions episode covers:

How has the Inflation Reduction Act changed the existing up-to-$7,500 federal EV tax credit when purchasing a new EV or plug-in hybrid?
Is it necessary to service your car’s transmission?
How is MPGe calculated for EVs and PHEVs, and which models are the most efficient?
Should anyone really care about how many gears a transmission has?
Should you avoid buying the first model year of an all-new or redesigned EV or hybrid?
My new job has me commuting 100 miles a day, and I need a new car. Is the extra cost of a hybrid really worth it?

Talking Cars panel episode 381 — “Talking Cars” panelists Mike Monticello, Mike Quincy, and Jon Linkov.

As with other "Talking Cars" episodes, this one is available free through Apple Podcasts. (Subscribe to the audio or video.) You’ll also find the audio on Spotify (log-in required) and video on YouTube.

Driving the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe, episode 380
Driving theFord F-150 Lightning, episode 379
How Pandemic-Related Shortages Affect Winter Driving Prep, episode 378
Driving the 2022 Buick Enclave, episode 377
Driving the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, episode 376

Have a Question?

We’d love to include it in a future show. Upload your video questions to our Dropbox folder. Please send high-definition (1920x1080) MP4 video files with high-quality audio. Or send an iMessage question to our TalkingCars@icloud.com account.

Talking Cars

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Mike Quincy

Mike Quincy is a writer, editor, podcaster, and tester with the Consumer Reports autos team. He has been with CR since 1993, purchasing more than 160 cars for the test program. Previously, Mike wrote for Automobile Magazine. When he’s not working, Mike can be found training for a long-distance bicycle ride, honing a wide variety of baked goods, or studying the world of mixology in search of the perfect martini.