This week saw two new and notable electric-vehicle debuts: the Porsche Cayenne Electric and the Jeep Recon. On paper, at least, one of them seems very promising.
It’s probably not hard to guess which one. The first-ever battery-powered Cayenne boasts up to 400 miles of range on Europe’s WLTP cycle, 400 kilowatt fast-charging and wireless charging, a slick interior with a curved digital dashboard, and over 1,000 horsepower in Turbo form.
And then there’s the 2026 Jeep Recon. That one headlines this week’s episode of the Plugged-In Podcast.
The Recon’s design is spectacular. Removable doors on an EV? Hell yes. And it looks like much more of a proper Jeep than the nothing-burger that is the new gas-powered Jeep Cherokee. The Recon could be the electric Wrangler that we’ve all been dreaming of for so long.
But the Recon falls down in terms of specs. A big 100-kilowatt-hour battery only yields 250 miles of range, at most, thanks to those rugged tires and off-road pretenses. That’s a lot to ask for around $65,000. It could’ve been the EV reset that Stellantis needs after the tepid reception to the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger EV. But now? Hard to say, to put it gently.
Also on this week’s episode: my co-host Tim Levin and I discuss some promising news on the EV battery longevity front. Specifically, how multiple studies now show that battery degradation and outright failure are nowhere near as pronounced as it was a decade ago, and that EV battery replacements—a concern for many car shoppers—are becoming both rare and less onerously expensive.
And finally, we discuss where the fast-moving robotaxi space is headed as we look to close out 2025 in the next few weeks. This year marked a turning point for the AV world; got any predictions for how 2026 will shake out?
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Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com
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