Out of Spec Podcast - podcast cover

Out of Spec Podcast

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Join us at the intersection of innovation and electrification as the Out of Spec Studios team brings you the latest in electric vehicle (EV) news and more.


Hosted by our passionate team members, the Out of Spec Podcast is your go-to source for all things EV. Every week, we dive deep into the world of electric vehicles, providing insightful coverage of EV news, developments in EV charging infrastructure and technology, and engaging discussions about the reality of EV ownership.

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Episodes

The EV Charging Deserts Of America

Episode 401: Join Francie as she walks you through the map of the US pointing out stretches of highways and freeways that lack EV charging infrastructure. Rural charging numbers have grown a bit quicker than urban in recent years. Plug in for all the details. Sources used to support today's show: - https://www.pewresearch.org/data-labs/2024/05/23/electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-in-the-u-s/ - https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/zero-emission-vehicle-and-infrastructure-s...

Jul 01, 202418 minEp. 401

Volvo EX30 Is Sadly Delayed In The US! Here’s The Full Story

Episode 400: Plug in with Francie today to get all the details on the Volvo EX30 delay in the US market. She reads the emails to owners, shares your options as a reservation holder, and goes into all the details about Volvo EX30 specs. Links: - https://www.volvocars.com/us/cars/ex30-electric/ Kyle's tweet: https://x.com/itskyleconner/status/1806026240890962075 Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclaimer:...

Jun 30, 202413 minEp. 400

My Top Tips For Your EV Road Trips! What I've Learned So Far

Episode 399: Join Francie as she goes over her top tips to help have the best EV road trip! Definitely let us know in the comments what your #1 EV road trip would be. [ CHAPTERS ] 0:00 Introduction About EV Road Trips 02:47 Know Your EV 04:53 Download & Use The Apps! 07:23 Have Your EV Charging Supplies - Chargers, Adapters, Etc. 08:41 Follow EV Charging Etiquette 10:23 Have An EV Charging Strategy 11:30 Know Your EV Chargers 12:30 You Will Spend More Time At Chargers 13:09 Get Out Of Your D...

Jun 29, 202418 minEp. 399

Volvo Is Limiting Functions Of EX90 At Launch! Here’s What Will Be Missing

Episode 398: Sit down with Francie on today's episode as she goes over the list of functionalities that the Volvo EX90 may or may not have at the time of launch. When is a product too incomplete to deliver to customers? Good questions, let's plug in to discuss. Volvo's list of functionalities and features: https://volvo.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/10543 Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclaime...

Jun 28, 202410 minEp. 398

Rivian & VW Form Joint Venture - Start Up & Legacy Automaker Partner On EV Software

Episode 397: Join Francie, Jose from @riviantrackr and Jordan from Out of Spec to dive into the details of what this means! Software is HUGE when it comes to EVs so what does this mean if Rivian and Volkswagen are forming a joint venture to address it together? Plug in for all the details, implications, and opinions. Press release: https://rivian.com/newsroom/article/rivian-and-volkswagen-group-announce-plans-for-joint-venture Jose's website: https://riviantrackr.com/ Shoutout to our sponsors fo...

Jun 27, 202443 minEp. 397

Tesla Will Give You A Worse Charging Battery If You Don’t Qualify For The EV Tax Credit

Episode 396: Join Francie as she dives into news about Tesla manufacturing EVs in the US - some that are and some that are not eligible for the federal EV tax credit. She breaks down the battery differences, the tax credit requirements, eligible Tesla models, and more. Tesla inventory: https://www.tesla.com/inventory/new/my?arrangeby=plh&zip=80525&range=200 Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Discla...

Jun 26, 202412 minEp. 396

VinFast VF8 Software Update Fixed Basically All My Problems

Episode 395: Join Francie on today's episode as she talks about how the latest update to her VinFast VF8 fixed basically all her problems - even if she had to go to Kansas to get it. She discusses the changes, OTA updates in general, VinFast's approach vs. other EV manufacturers, and more. Plug in! Vinfast store locator: https://vinfastauto.us/find-us Tesla update website: https://www.tesla.com/support/software-updates Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort ...

Jun 24, 202418 minEp. 395

Smoking Porsches w/ A Tesla Model 3 Performance - EV Race Bans, Best Mods, & Charging w/ Jon Bickford

Episode 394: Are you curious about the place of EVs in the traditionally combustion engine racing, autocross, and other performance competitions? Then tune in for this episode of the Out of Spec Podcast with Jon Bickford to learn about his experience using a Tesla Model 3 in racing events. Francie, Jerome from @OutofSpecRenew , and Jon chat about all his modifications, the advantages of racing electric over combustion, the response from others in the space to EVs, and even bans happening in raci...

Jun 23, 202445 minEp. 394

Tesla Model 3 Under $40K w/ Full EV Tax Credit! Batteries, Range, & Upgrades

Episode 393: Francie gives you a quick update on Tesla's Model 3 (Refresh) pricing with the new EV tax credit options. She compares the different options and values for the Long Range, RWD, and Performance options so you have all the info to compare when shopping for any EV on the market. Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclaimer: *Delivery covers up to $1,000. Find us on all of these places: YouTube: ...

Jun 22, 202412 minEp. 393

ChargePoint Will Sell LG EV Chargers! Filling Hardware Gaps & Focusing On Software

Episode 392: In today's interview, Francie & Rich Mohr from @ChargePointnet explore the recent announcement of ChargePoint and LG Electronics joining forces. They discuss ChargePoint's decision to expand its software platform to work with third-party chargers, specifically LG's hardware, and analyze the potential impact of this collaboration on the future of EV charging infrastructure and its potential benefits for electric vehicle drivers. Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find ...

Jun 20, 202429 minEp. 392

Fisker Has Fallen! Owners Must Decide What To Do With Their EVs

Episode 391: Francie presents the numbers from Magna, the manufacturer of the Fisker Ocean, and it does not look great. The former Fisker Ocean owner, Brian, talks with Francie about his regrets with the Fisker Ocean. Join them in a conversation about the experience of owning the car, and moving on! Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclaimer: *Delivery covers up to $1,000. Find us on all of these places...

Jun 19, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 391

VinFast Road Trip Was A Success! 1100 Miles From TN To CO, Full Software Update, & All EV The Data

Episode 390: Francie recaps the second and final leg of her EV roadtrip taking the VinFast VF8 from Tennessee to Colorado. She talks about the VinFast software update dealership experience, charging stops, all the facts & figures she's gathered, and her thoughts about the trip overall. Thanks for your support as she traveled across the country! Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclaimer: *Delivery c...

Jun 18, 202421 minEp. 390

An EV Charging Lounge In The Middle Of Arkansas?! Full Tour Franklin’s Charging

Episode 389: Join Francie on her first charging stop from Tennessee to Colorado at Franklin's Charging in Little Rock, Arkansas. Take the full tour with Francie and JT - the mastermind of the operation - and learn about the origin story of this EV charging lounge in the middle of Arkansas, the daily work put into the station, and JT's plans for the future. Plugshare for Franklin's: https://www.plugshare.com/location/528304 Franklin's Website: https://franklinscharging.com/ Shoutout to our sponso...

Jun 17, 202427 minEp. 389

VinFast Cross Country Road Trip Update! Interop Issues, Pet Mode Failure, & Efficiency Stats

Episode 388: Join Francie from Wichita as she updates you on the first leg of her road trip in the VinFast out to Colorado. She talks about the stats along the way, charging stops highlights and lowlights, and pontificates about boutique EV charging stations vs. lifeless parking lot stations. Francie's ( @heyfrancie ) twitter: https://x.com/hey_francie Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclaimer: *Delive...

Jun 14, 202421 minEp. 388

The Universal EV Hard Reset That No One Tells You About! It Worked For My VinFast…

Episode 387: Join Francie as she tries the universal EV hard reset and sees it work for her VinFast VF8! Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclaimer: *Delivery covers up to $1,000. Find us on all of these places: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/outofspecpodcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-of-spec-podcast/id1576636119 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tKIQfKL9oaHc1DLOT...

Jun 13, 202412 minEp. 387

Polestar 3 SUV Finally Here & Maybe Worth The Wait - Let's Talk Specs, Delays, & Details

386: Join Francie and Max to talk about the specs of the 2025 Polestar 3 that is finally here. They discuss the delays leading up to this EV SUV hitting the market, the details on the launch editions available now, and Polestar's strategy to compete in this market. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1FWpJ2YQVAs Polestar: https://www.polestar.com/us/polestar-3/ MotorTrend: https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2025-polestar3-first-drive-review/ Green Car Reports: https://www.greencarreports.com/news...

Jun 12, 202433 minEp. 386

What 2 Rivian Owners Think Of New R1 Refresh! 2nd Generation EV Lineup Changes & Details

Episode 385: Join Francie as she goes over the specs of the new R1 lineup refresh AKA Rivian's 2nd generation changes to the R1T and R1S. Later she is joined by Tom from @StateOfChargeWithTomMoloughney and Jose from @riviantrackr to see what these 2 Rivian owners think of these updates - are they enough? Is there more missing? Let's plug in! Kyle's X article: https://x.com/itskyleconner/status/1798746967088173231 @OutofSpecReviews Video on R1 2nd Gen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krMPnGHirLk ...

Jun 11, 202453 minEp. 385

Almost Stranded In The VinFast VF8! But... It's My Own Fault

Episode 384: Due to her own forgetfulness, Francie almost makes a leisurely run out to the countryside a situation of a stranded VinFast VF8! She goes over the biggest issues, her plans for servicing, and efficiency of this outing in her EV. Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclaimer: *Delivery covers up to $1,000. Find us on all of these places: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/outofspecpodcast Apple P...

Jun 10, 202410 minEp. 384

First Ever Off-Road EV Charging On Lake Superior! Polaris EVs, Solar, Batteries & 100mi Of Trails

Episode 382: Join Francie and Jordan from the shores of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula to chat about Polaris's electric RANGER XP Kinetic side-by-side, outdoor recreation turned electric, Yotta's EV chargers, and even more details about this first-of-its-kind project! Polaris press release: https://prn.to/3XbuQtT Yotta energy: https://www.yottaenergy.com/ Hamilton's North Coast Adventures: https://www.hamiltonsnorthcoast.com/ Miller's cottages: https://www.millerscottages.com/ Shoutout to ...

Jun 09, 202419 minEp. 383

Gone In 40 Seconds! EV Home Chargers Sliced & Stolen In The Night

Episode 382: Join Francie and Kelly, who had his at home EV charger sliced and stolen in under 40 seconds right from his front door. Kelly caught it all on camera and they discuss how many chargers are vandalized and stolen, what you can do to prevent it, and more! Kelly's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhdGCyUrBag Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclaimer: *Delivery covers up to $1,000. Find u...

Jun 08, 202425 minEp. 382

Exclusive Q&A w/ Kempower Leadership - Unveiling Their North American Expansion At Grand Opening

Francie travels to North Carolina to experience the unveiling of Kempower's new factory. Straight from Finland, this proven charging hardware manufacturer has always been of special interest due to their satelitte system and great reliability. Francie asks the CEO, Tomi Ristimäki, some important questions! Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclaimer: *Delivery covers up to $1,000. Find us on all of these...

Jun 06, 202450 minEp. 381

First 6 NEVI Sites Are Live! Hardware, PlugShare Scores, & Locations Of These EV Charging Stations

Episode 380: Francie brings you the updates on all the currently live and operational sites brought to you by NEVI funding. What are they rated on PlugShare? Where are they? What's the hardware? Tune in for the details. Links/sources used to support today's show: - Ohio: https://www.plugshare.com/location/581134 - New York: https://www.plugshare.com/location/569922 - Pennsylvania: https://www.plugshare.com/location/585170 - Hawaii: https://www.plugshare.com/location/601047 - Maine: https://www.p...

Jun 05, 202416 minEp. 380

Leasing & Charging Her ARIYA For Basically Free! Colorado Makes Driving Electric Crazy Cheap

Episode 379: On today's episode, a friend of Out of Spec named Lacey sits down with Francie to talk all about how she leased a 2023 Nissan ARIYA for extremely cheap, what she likes and dislikes, how she manages to find free charging all over her town, and talks about all the incentives Colorado offers for consumers looking to drive electric. Drive Clean Colorado: https://drivecleancolorado.org/ EVgo & ARIYA: https://www.evgo.com/nissan-ariya/ @OutofSpecReviews video with Lacey!: https://www....

Jun 03, 202442 minEp. 379

Ford F-150 Lightning w/ Darren Palmer! Software, Origin Story, & What’s To Come For This EV Pickup

Episode 378: Join Francie and Kyle as they sit down to discuss the F-150 Lightning with Darren Palmer, VP of electric vehicle programs at Ford. They dive into the details of how the truck came to be and the development cycle of Ford's electric offerings in light of the F-150 Lightnings 2 year anniversary. Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclaimer: *Delivery covers up to $1,000. Find us on all of these ...

Jun 01, 202440 minEp. 378

The Reasons Why EV Chargers Ended Up Where They Are & Why We’re Stuck Fixing It All Now

Episode 377: Join Francie and Amy Soderquist as they talk about the question us EV drivers and enthusiasts often ask, "why is that charger there instead of here?" and other frequently asked EV charging infrastructure questions. Amy has a background with Electrify America, site acquisition, SEAM Group, and EV charger planning. Seam Group: https://www.seamgroup.com/ Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below: - Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclai...

May 31, 20241 hr 8 minEp. 377

Some Major Automakers Are Delaying EV Goals & Embracing Plug In Hybrids - Who, Why, & How!

Episode 376: Join Francie as she talks about the most recent EV auto-manufacturers that have announced plans to delay EV goals and even hinted at a larger focus on plug-in hybrids. What do you think about delays and re-strategizing like this? Sources used to support today's show: - Images sourced from respective automakers EV sales for 2023: https://www.coxautoinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Q4-2023-Kelley-Blue-Book-Electric-Vehicle-Sales-Report.pdf MB World article: https://mbworld.org/artic...

May 30, 202413 minEp. 376

Francie's VinFast VF8 Update 5 Months In! New Bugs, Home Charging, Camping & Summer Roadtrips

Episode 375: Join Francie & Jordan as they chat about her living with the VinFast VF8 for 5 months. They talk about the latest bugs, how she figured out home charging solutions, what she plans to do this summer with car camping & roadtrips, and gives you an update! Let us know what you want us to do with the VinFast this summer! @OutofSpecMotoring roadtrip videos: Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgNtU_LXScg Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgcX8TvZ6PU Shoutout to our spo...

May 29, 202419 minEp. 375

Driving The Ford Mustang Mach-E Refresh! The Good, Bad, & Ugly

Episode 374: Join Kyle and Jordan as they go over what they think of the refreshed Mustang Mach E from Ford! They talk about the Mustang Mach E GT, the performance features, driving this electric vehicle, their least favorite parts, and they're most favorite parts. Plug in to see what Kyle and Jordan think of this mid-cycle refresh of the 2nd most popular EV in its segment from one of the largest, oldest automakers in the US. Keep an eye out on @OutofSpecReviews for the whole video soon! Ford's ...

May 28, 202446 minEp. 374

Charging Chat w/ FLO At ACT Expo - Walkthrough Of Their Entire EV Charging Lineup

Episode 373: Join Francie and Chris Thorson from Flo at the ACT Expo in Las Vegas to chat about their charging options. You may not have heard of Flo yet, but if you've charged curbside you probably have used their chargers. Follow them around Flo's booth at the event to learn about Level 2 curbside charging, workplace EV charging, at-home electric vehicle charging, & their ultra fast DC fast charging products. Flo's website: https://www.flo.com/ ACT Expo: https://www.actexpo.com/ Shoutout t...

May 27, 202444 minEp. 373

Airbnb & ChargePoint Partner To Bring More EV Charging To Travelers!

Episode 372: Join Francie and Max as they talk about the recent partnership announcement from the rental company Airbnb and ChargePoint to offer home charging to Airbnb hosts at a discount. Plug in for the details on the partnership, what this means for renters and hosts, and of course some pros and cons of this kind of partnership. Announcement from CP: https://www.chargepoint.com/about/news/chargepoint-and-airbnb-partner-enable-seamless-ev-charging Announcement from Airbnb: https://news.airbnb...

May 25, 202420 minEp. 372
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