Interview: we talk home batteries with FranklinWH CEO Gary Lam
Apr 24, 2026
Show notes
On today's charged up episode of Quick Charge, we've got FranklinWH co-founder and CEO Gary Lam here to talk us through some of the benefits of a home battery system, and what it takes to make the most of one – with, or even without a home solar panel system.
We published an article last week explaining how home battery systems could be used to reduce energy bills, add lasting value to your home, and more – and it got the attention of FranklinWH's Gary Lam, who helped with some updates and generously offered to take the time to answer some of my questions on today's episode. Enjoy!
New episodes of Quick Charge are (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage podcast series.
Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
Tesla Robotaxi expansion, heavy duty EVs, and last week’s pain at the pump
Apr 21, 2026
Show notes
On today's pumped-up episode of Quick Charge, we notice how funny it is that Tesla makes a big Robotaxi announcement every time the TSLA earnings call looks like a disappointment.
Tesla's tiny territory maps in Houston and Dallas underscore just how difficult it's been for the brand's camera-only autonomous driving ambitions to yield anything like Elon's early promises, and the timing of the announcement – just days ahead of what's bound to be a tough, tough Q1 earnings call – leaves a lot to be desired.
We've also got a massive, 600-ton electric excavator in India and a 40+ tonne quad-axle electric semi from Mercedes-Benz that is ready to do some real dirty work. All that and the results of our "pain at the pump" survey, when you hit "play."
New episodes of Quick Charge are (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage podcast series.
Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
SOLARAMA – big proof from Aptera and big savings for solar + EV drivers
Apr 14, 2026
Show notes
On today's solar-powered episode of Quick Charge, Aptera's CEO shares more proof that his company's solar car concept has legs, joining dozens of Electrek readers who are topping off their car (and home) batteries with the power of the sun!
We also talk about why backup power is the least interesting thing you can do with a home backup battery, and celebrate an absolutely massive win for every American as five offshore wind projects the Trump Administration has been pushing back against since day 1 get the go-ahead to continue.
New episodes of Quick Charge are (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage podcast series.
Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
Electric, diesel, or CNG? MOOG tech lets you pick all of the above, on just ONE machine!
Apr 10, 2026
Show notes
On today's supremely clever episode of Quick Charge, we talk with engineers from MOOG about diesel, natural gas, and battery power – and how the ability to use any or all of the above on a single machine can help fleets decarbonize at lower cost, and with lower risk than buying different machines for each fuel.
The ability to operate a single machine and swap out a power or energy module that can convert it from diesel to electric to hydrogen as needed has been the calling card of MOOG's ZQUIP technology for all the years we've been covering it, and the latest oil war is just making the ZQUIP concept even harder to ignore.
Check out some of the articles we've written about these guys in the past, below, then let us know what you think about this sort of modular power plant in the comments.
New episodes of Quick Charge are (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage podcast series.
Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
TSLA stock slides, Supercharger prices, and who’s REALLY behind Elon’s big chip fab
Apr 08, 2026
Show notes
On today's Tesla-tastic episode of Quick Charge, a TSLA bear thinks the stock is headed for a 60% slide before the year is out, Tesla launches a Supercharger configurator, and we find out what's really going on at Elon's proposed chip fab.
We also take a look at the NHTSA investigation into 159 incidents involving Tesla's Actually Smart Summon (ASS) parking feature, and ask whether or not the Supercharger wholesale model will be able to stand up to increasing pressure from other EVSE manufacturers.
New episodes of Quick Charge are (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage podcast series.
Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
US war in Iran is pushing up gas prices and making a case for home solar
Apr 06, 2026
Show notes
On today's independent episode of Quick Charge, we take a look at refining and distributing our own fuel supply with home solar as America's war in Iran rages on, shooting gas prices (and EV sales) into the stratosphere.
As diesel prices cross $8/gal. in parts of California, more and more Americans are shopping for EVs and hybrids, and that's driving record sales of electrified vehicles for brands like Toyota and Hyundai. It's also brought the ability to generate your own "electric fuel" with a home solar panel system back into the limelight, whether you qualify for a tax credit or not!
New episodes of Quick Charge are (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage podcast series.
Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
Elon teases a van, Tesla sales tumble, and there is no Robotaxi in California
Mar 26, 2026
Show notes
On today's van-tastic episode of Quick Charge, Elon Musk teases a people-hauling Tesla that's 10 years late, California says there are ZERO Robotaxis on the road, and the Chinese EVs continue to outsell the brand in Europe.
It's been nearly a decade since Tesla CEO Elon Musk hinted a new people moving EV might be on its way, and while the company rolled out a twenty passenger Robovan concept in 2024, Musk insists the company's got something coming that's "cooler" than a minivan.
In smarter news, we've got Vanair's latest solar-powered semi truck add-on that can help slash emissions and operating costs for large commercial fleets. You can check it out here, then let us know what you think in the comments.
New episodes of Quick Charge are (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage podcast series.
Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
Harbinger CEO John Harris stops by to talk trucks, batteries, and more
Mar 24, 2026
Show notes
On today's portentous episode of Quick Charge, we've got Harbinger CEO John Harris on-hand to talk through the brand's new low cab forward EV and EREV trucks, the industry-first battery deal with Airstream, and a whole lot more!
Harbinger says its all-new HC Series Cab delivers best-in-class maneuverability with a tight, 42-foot turning circle, superior visibility from a car-like driving position that’s not compromised by the needs of an internal combustion engine, and a modular, Lego-style battery pack that addressing one of the most commonly called-out shortcomings of (most) modern EVs.
We've got CEO John Harris here to tell us all about it, and explore some of the ways Harbinger's modular battery design can help dealers and fleet operators cut costs and streamline their parts inventory.
New episodes of Quick Charge are (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage podcast series.
Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
Affordable EV deals, Volvo EX30 update, and Tesla’s latest Robotaxi crash
Mar 17, 2026
Show notes
On today's surprisingly affordable episode of Quick Charge we respond to America's new, $770/mo. average car payment buy rounding up some affordable EV lease deals at less than HALF the new normal.
Plus, we take a look at some new entry-level EVs from Kia and BMW, talk about the future of Volvo's compact electric cars, and ask questions about Tesla's lone driverless Cybercab and the company's latest self-driving Robotaxi crash in Austin.
New episodes of Quick Charge are (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage podcast series.
Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
Keeping Elon could cost Tesla millions, Rivian R2 and affordable Lucid arrive
Mar 13, 2026
Show notes
On today's episode of Quick Charge, a new lawsuit alleges that Tesla was negligent in retaining Elon Musk as CEO, comparing him to a fast-talking salesman and questioning his input into engineering and safety decisions at the struggling EV brand.
Plus, we explore the executive exodus at Tesla that began in mid 2024, ask why Tesla cars equipped with FSD are driving people into lakes and through railroad crossings, then take a look at the Rivian R2 and upcoming, mid-sized Tesla Model Y "killers" from Lucid.
Are these the most credible threats to Tesla's Model Y dominance in America's EV market, yet, or will Tesla's "negligent" CEO come through on his AI-powered promises?
New episodes of Quick Charge are (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage podcast series.
Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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