From Transport Evolved: Take 2. A week after Nikki successfully installed the OVMS (Open Vehicle Monitoring System) equipment in her wife’s Bolt EV, she’s been giving some serious thought to the thorny topic of data sovereignty and how automakers are increasingly pushing customers to have telematics (and remote monitoring) in their vehicles – telematics systems…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. The temperatures have remained uncomfortably high and, save for an extreme night of thunderstorms, we’ve had very little water. That means the garden is heavily relying on our very basic watering system. So when Nikki noticed one of the beds seemed unusually dry, it was time to investigate what was…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. Fiat’s tiny electric Topolino is now on sale in both the UK and the US — but would you actually buy one? In this week’s Sunday Musing, Nikki digs into the quirky world of quadricycles and low speed EVs, from Europe’s "voiture sans permis" rules to America’s neighborhood electric vehicle…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. We’re entering into the second week of July, and while some of Nikki’s plants are really struggling due to the heat and lack of decent rain, her apple trees are (for the most part) extremely happy. And this year’s harvest? It looks like it’s going to be dominated by apples!…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. The U.S. just celebrated July 4th — and regardless of how you feel about the country’s direction this year, we’re thinking about a different kind of independence this week: what does independence from fossil fuels look like for you as an EV owner? Or maybe it’s independence from filling stations,…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. The weather continues to remain pleasant here, despite the rest of the U.S. experiencing extreme heat waves. And that’s having a good impact on the garden, with Nikki’s first tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers all growing nicely! —- About The Chicken and Garden Updates: These informal, unscripted vlog-style videos are a…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. This week, Nikki’s been thinking about the old days of EV ownership — when everyone waved at each other on the road. These days, it’s less of a thing. But does that mean we should stop? From flashing headlights at a fellow Lightning driver to grinning like a silly schoolgirl…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. The heat has broken and some rain is on the way, giving Nikki a chance to finally plant her corn and zucchini (courgettes). So far, so good — but now her greenhouse has a little blowout that could cause future issues this summer. Plus: strawberries by the t-shirt-full, elephant garlic…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. The rear-left tyre on Nikki’s Wife’s Bolt EV has a slight slow puncture (or perhaps an air leak) – and it’s led to some more frequent than usual air pump usage. And that’s led Nikki to think a lot this week about tyre life span. How long do your EV…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. It’s been a pretty hot time at the TE headquarters this past week – and while the temperature has seen a little reprieve, the strawberries are really loving the heat. In fact, it’s been our largest crop yet! — Stay safe, stay engaged. If you can, please take a few…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. With the fleet back at TE Headquarters, Nikki’s bene thinking about longer-distance road trips in warmer weather. And she’s been wondering about how full (or empty) folks like to get their cars. So today, you can guess what the musing is all about! —- Stay safe, stay engaged. Please watch…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. The weather has been unseasonably cold up in the mountains, and Nikki has even found herself turning on the heating at night. But between Monday and Friday, she’s expecting a heat wave to kick up that won’t be around for long, but will make itself very much felt in the…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. A few days after Nikki’s month-long ordeal with the insurance company over her F150-Lightning’s cracked rear bumper mount (and after a significant amount of fighting to keep it from being written off) – Nikki’s got a very simple question today. Are insurance companies treating EVs fairly? Based on anecdotal evidence…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. It’s been a tough week, but at least with the truck back from repairs, fresh soil runs are back on the cards. Join us for a tour of the garden — the flowers are stunning, the insects are out in force, and we spotted a newly-emerged Western Tiger Swallowtail that…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. Editorial Note: While Nikki refers to the truck in this video as having been totaled, there’s been an 11th hour change: Ortegas will in fact live! – Video incoming next week. This week, with Nikki’s truck still in the shop, she’s giving some thought on alternative ways to travel –…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. Editorial Note: While Nikki refers to the truck in this video as having been totaled, there’s been an 11th hour change: Ortegas will in fact live! – Video incoming next week. The weather has been a mix of warm and blustery this week, but Nikki has had a surprise visitor…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. In TEN Episode 582, we covered a news story about electricity customers in the Lake Tahoe area being told their local utility would have to find alternative power to sell to them, as the company that previously supplied the majority of the area’s power would be selling to data centers…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. While Nikki’s plants are growing and the weather continues to warm, Nikki is starting to feel the very frustrating absence of her Ford F150 Lightning – which has been at the repair shop now for nearly 1 month. Why? She needs more soil for her potatoes! — Stay safe, stay…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. The weather is still being a little topsy-turvy, but as the roses come into flower, and Nikki’s sunflowers are really accelerating their growth, it’s starting to feel like the garden is a real garden again. The problem? There’s still never quite enough time for all of the things that Nikki…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. Nobody likes it when their chosen form of transportation breaks down – and regardless of how it’s powered, the risk it might need a tow is still there. So today, after reading some pretty horrifying accounts recently of tow truck drivers failing to properly tow EVs and plug-ins, Nikki has…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. As the temperature rises, Nikki has been continuing her planting – but she’s also managed to replace her greenhouse cover AND plant it up for the growing season. Plus, her plan of giving away her excess plants has been a rip-roaring success! — Stay safe, stay engaged. If you can,…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. As many regulars will know, we’ve been tweaking Nikki’s F150 Lightning to include new features, but we’ve also heard from plenty of people who worry about tweaking their own EVs. So today, we’re asking a simple question: have you modified your EV in any way? —– Stay safe, stay engaged.…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. Just one week after feeling incredibly behind in the garden, Nikki has enjoyed a very productive week – and she’s managed to move a little closer to where she wants to be. — Stay safe, stay engaged. If you can, please take a few hours to watch our livestream from…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. We’ve talked a lot lately about the fears that some people have about going electric – and how to overcome them. But as (certainly in the U.S.) automakers are blowing hot and cold on EVs, there’s some fears rising among EV owners about what the future looks like for them.…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. The weather is warming up, there’s more and more to do in the garden, and Nikki is feeling VERY MUCH behind… — Stay safe, stay engaged. If you can, please take a few hours to watch our livestream from earlier this year. It shares some things that we can all…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. As more people look toward EV ownership as a way to avoid the continued high oil prices, we’re seeing more people who traditionally wouldn’t buy an EV considering one – even if they don’t own a home with off-street parking. Which leads us to today’s topic: does where you live…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. It’s pretty usual advice to expect older seeds to not all germinate, so when planting older seeds.. most people plant more than they will need. Yet pretty much every seed Nikki planted – many of them old – decided to germinate, meaning she’s got way more plants than she needs.…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. As the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran continues, the price of oil and commodities around the world are increasingly unstable. And that’s leading more people to consider an electric vehicle for the first time. So today, we’re asking a very simple question: who has asked you recently about going…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. The garden wake-up is now in full swing – and even the peas and beans did finally germinate! And because of all that nice sunshine, Nikki’s lawn is in need of its first cut of the season. While not all the lawn got cut, she really did have to get…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. While electric vehicles are now far more common than they were 20 years ago, we — and many EV owners we know — still regularly find ourselves having conversations with people who seem completely surprised to encounter an EV in the wild. So today’s Sunday Musing has a very simple…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. Another week of growing has taken place – and Nikki’s Tomatillos have all germinated (as have all her tomatoes!) And while her peas and beans are still missing in action, the solitary bees are back just in time for the Cherry blossom! — Stay safe, stay engaged. If you can,…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. If you’ve owned an EV for any length of time, you’ll be familiar with the easily-disproven myth that EV traction batteries don’t last a long time, requiring an expensive replacement every few years. But you’ll also know that it’s the 12-Volt battery used to turn the car’s low-voltage systems on…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. The weather has been notably warmer this week at TE HQ, and Nikki’s been putting some extra hours into the garden. This week, there’s a lot to show – plus some much-welcome cherry blossom to share. — Stay safe, stay engaged. If you can, please take a few hours to…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. Now it’s clear the U.S. Iranian war is unlikely to end any time soon and the price of oil is continuing to rise, there’s already a rise in interest in electric vehicles. So today, on our Sunday Musing, we have a very simple question: how long will it be before…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. Nikki’s officially wrangled her seeds into order – and is now busy planting the first of the season. But to prevent some of her embarrassment last year with seed labeling, she’s got a solution: 3D Printed Labels! — Stay safe, stay engaged. If you can, please take a few hours…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. This week, as fuel costs for many people soar as a consequence of the illegal war in Iran, we’re questioning if you track your vehicle fuel economy – be it gasoline or electric. And what’s more, why do you do it? Stay safe, stay engaged. Please watch our livestream from…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. There’s been torrential rain for the majority of this week – so Nikki’s cheating today and sharing how some of her indoor plants are doing – plus showing and telling the awesome stash of new seeds she picked up at the local garden centre! —- Stay safe, stay engaged. If…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. Now we’re well within the age of sub 10-minute fast charge times to 97%… we’ve been wondering what kind of bizarre excuses EV naysayers will come up with next for not going electric.. (you know, now that their old excuse will no-longer work). All of them are blaming Evs for…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. The weather might not be 100% spring like yet, but with more and more bulbs coming out of ground, it’s finally starting to feel like winter is past and spring is here. —- Stay safe, stay engaged. If you can, please take a few hours to watch our livestream from…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. We’re seeing more and more automakers announce massive losses as they write down expenses on EV development while simultaneously canceling or pushing back EV production plans. All of them are blaming Evs for their poor finance – but are they really the problem? Or are they just convenient excuses? Stay…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. We’re now into March – and Nikki is feeling very much behind and overwhelmed by the growing season ahead. It might be the early spring – or just the weight of living in 2026, but there’s certainly a lot to do (and not a lot of spare time to do…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. We’re back from our trip to Southern California – and while our trip didn’t go as originally planned, we were able to produce our planned video discussing traveling in an EV without using Tesla networked chargers. Which got us thinking: which companies and entities have you started to avoid –…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. Fresh from our week of forced recuperation, the garden continues its march toward springtime. But just as more and more shoots come up, we’ve had a quick spell of very wet snow that disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived. Stay safe, stay engaged. If you can, please take a…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. As automakers – and charging operators – seemingly forget about Level 2 charging stations and go all-in on fast charging, we’re asking a question we’ve asked before – but this time we feel is at a more appropriate time: What is going to happen to all those Level 2 charging…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. It may only be the first week of February, but the first shoots are already up and out of the ground, and both flowers and garlic seem to be enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. Stay safe, stay engaged. If you can, please take a few hours to watch our livestream…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. As automaker support in some markets for EVs seemingly drops, we’re starting to hear stories about automakers who either don’t want to work on EVs, or make it difficult and expensive for customers. One way around some of those visits is to buy an ODBII dongle for your vehicle, to…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. The weather might still be a little… brisk… but Nikki is already planning her greenhouse activities for the year. And that means ensuring the greenhouse itself is in good condition. After several years of hard work, the original cover is anything but… Stay safe, stay engaged. If you can, please…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. *This video was filmed ahead of the horrific murder of yet another U.S. citizen by [redacted]. Transport Evolved vehemently opposes the taking of life, and the heavy-handed [redacted] tactics employed by the [redacted]. Stay safe, stay engaged. Please watch our livestream from earlier this month.* — A few years ago,…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. *This video was filmed ahead of the horrific murder of yet another U.S. citizen by [redacted]. Transport Evolved vehemently opposes the taking of life, and the heavy-handed [redacted] tactics employed by the [redacted]. Stay safe, stay engaged. Please watch our livestream from earlier this month.* While Nikki had expressed some…

From Transport Evolved: Take 2. By the end of last year, we’d started to see many U.S. automakers roll back their plans for electric vehicles to align with anti-EV sentiment in the U.S. White House. In Europe, many automakers have (to differing levels of success) lobbied governments across the EU to be given permission to…