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Chevy is finally beginning sales of its long-anticipated Equinox EV, but before then, I got an invite to Detroit to test it out for myself. I was admittedly skeptical of this EV, but once I got behind the wheel, I realized that the new Equinox is a well-built model with plenty of features and enticing pricing to boot. Be sure to check out my driving impressions in the full video below.

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The Chevy Equinox EV has been a long time coming

As always, I like to start with a bit of a refresher course on how we got to today, with the Chevy Equinox EV on the cusp of reaching its first customers in the US. Chevy has been teasing an all-electric Equinox since early 2022 when it unveiled plans for the model and promised to deliver it at a starting price of $30,000—sorry, “around $30,000.”

Even at around $30k, that’s a game-changing price for a crossover EV, and GM stuck to that price point over the next two years as we learned more about the Equinox, including pictures of its two-toned exterior. However, we were still left guessing on vital metrics like range, battery size, and, of course, verified pricing.

As the official launch approached, we learned that the Equinox EV would begin production in 2024, and Chevy has a lot riding on its success. By February of this year, we learned that “priced around $30,000” actually means “$35,000,” which is higher than expected but still affordable. Plus, the Equinox offers 319 miles of range.

Chevy even started pulling demand levers before Equinox EV deliveries, offering Bolt owners $3,000 off to make the switch. The American automaker has publicly stated hopes for this new all-electric model to help it win back some of its market share, and after driving the crossover SUV, I think that may happen. Here are my thoughts.

Performance specs of the FWD 3LT Chevy Equinox EV

For this drive event, the media traveled to the Motor City, home of GM and Chevy, where we all got to test out various FWD versions of the Equinox EV. My driving partner (shout out to Jared) got downstairs early and snagged us the only two-toned version, which happened to be the 3LT trim—the second-highest tier below the top-level 3RS.

The Equinox comes equipped with with 19- or 21-inch aluminum wheels and all-season self-sealing tires spun by a single front-wheel-drive motor. GM estimates that the FWD versions of the Equinox EV will deliver 319 miles of range on a single charge. For comparison, the eAWD trims offer an estimated 285 miles of range.

The 3LT delivers 213 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in under 8 seconds, while the eAWD trims are slightly more powerful thanks to a smaller air-cooled induction motor in the rear. Those models offer 288 hp and 333 lb-ft of torque, hitting 0-60 mph in under 6 seconds.

Those are not crazy impressive acceleration times, but the Chevy team told us that through its research, it has determined that would-be customers in the crossover BEV segment aren’t looking for blistering speed. What the BEV lacks in giddy-up, it makes up for in range, cargo, and smoothness.

Lastly, all trims of the Equinox EV have DC fast charging capabilities up to 150 kW, garnering a GM estimated 77 miles during a 10-minute session. Level 2 rates peak at 11.5 kW, replenishing an estimated 34 miles of range every hour. Before we get to my driving impressions and video review, let’s look at the Chevy Equinox EV inside and out.

An “athletic” exterior matched by a simple, clean interior

At first glance at the Equinox’s exterior, it appears sleek and aerodynamic, without sacrificing too much of its side profile to the point that it looks like a top-heavy sedan. The headlamps across the entire front and thin and sleek, and the air flaps tie everything together nicely as you move around to the side and really notice the two-toned paint job.

I’m usually not a fan of chrome, but Chevy’s subtle use of it along the wheelbase and windows really works in my opinion. Having the “riptide metallic blue” was awesome to shoot in the sun and in overcast skies, but the color closely matched the Equinox badge on the rear, so my driving partner and I, as well as passersby, joked about the SUV being called the “Quinox” (see for yourself above).

The trunk had plenty of cargo storage and a little extra tub below the carpet that looked like it could double as a cooler. I liked that you could pull a lever to have the seats drop from the trunk rather than walking around to the back seats and doing it yourself. This crossover offers 57.2 cubic feet (1,614 liters) of max cargo room with the rear seat and was surprisingly roomy.

Moving into the cabin, the Equinox EV’s dash and steering wheel are familiar if you’ve driven other Chevy models (or the Honda Prologue or Acura ZDX). The leather is a nice touch that adds to the feel of quality, but there is admittedly nothing extra special about the cockpit. That being said, it is more than adequate and by no means appears cheap or plasticky.

The blue brushed aluminum accents are just subtle enough not to overpower the look and feel of the front seat, but I’m still not sure how I feel about it. To me, it looks like metal that still has a protective film on it. I kept wanting to peel it off and post it to r/OddlySatisfying.

My 3LT came with heated seats but no A/C. This is a potential deal breaker for me personally, but I’m sure most people won’t care. Still, the seats are very comfortable.

The rear is clean but admittedly simple. There is not much to talk about here. There is more leather on the seats and a couple of USB-C ports on the back of the center console, but no HVAC controls. I had plenty of legroom when I was back there, snapping the pics you’ll see below.

The dash features two displays: an 11” driver display and a 17.7” center screen on which you can control virtually everything, including customized ambient cabin lighting. Since we drove during the day, I wasn’t able to experience the full effect, but it’s a nice touch for fun on the road at night.

You can also control the Equinox’s four drive modes from the center screen, which I’ll discuss in my impressions of this Chevy EV on the road.

Driving impressions: SuperCruise does it again

The Chevy Equinox EV has four drive modes: Normal, Snow/Ice, a customizable “My Mode,” and Sport Mode, which I used most of the time. Because it has a single FWD motor, you don’t feel much difference in the ride.

The navigation system was fine, but I admittedly always miss Apple Carplay when I don’t have it. It’s easier. Many times throughout the drive, my partner and I (half) jokingly yelled, “Bring back CarPlay… and bring back the Bolt ASAP, dammit!”

As I experienced in my recent Silverado EV drive and any other Ultium vehicle I’ve driven, SuperCruise shined. The hands-free ADAS is easy to use and makes long highway trips much more enjoyable. It also allowed me to quickly snap photos of my journey, like the one below.

I found the Equinox didn’t try to switch lanes as often as the Silverado EV, but that could have just been the route I was on. Still, I can’t say enough good things about this technology—it feels so much more useful and realistic at this point than full self-driving.

Overall, the cabin experience was quiet and smooth. Road and wind noise were minimal, and bumps were well alleviated by the SUV’s suspension. This made for an enjoyable experience on the highway, in a neighborhood, or on a service road.

Chevy Equinox EV pricing, availability, and our video review

Overall, the Chevy Equinox EV has the makings to be a bonafide winner in the crossover segment and the BEV market overall. It doesn’t necessarily blow you away with its bells and whistles in the interior, but it is more than adequate. It does not appear as quickly developed and assembled as it was (Chevy said this was the fastest BEV brought to market aside from the Hummer).

The ride is smooth and relatively quiet, and the estimated 319-mile range (if confirmed by the EPA) will be a huge selling point for consumers who still don’t understand that they don’t need more than 300 miles of range most days.

While Chevy came in a little higher on starting MSRP than initially teased, $35k for a crossover of this level is an absolute steal, and I think many potential consumers will bite. The 3LT FWD trim I drove starts at an MSRP of $45,295 before taxes and destination fees. Add the full $7,500 federal tax credit potential, and you’re looking at a solid BEV for under $40k, which is a significantly better range than its competitors.

The Chevy Equinox EV is now available to configure and order in both FWD and eAWD versions, including the 2LT, 3LT, 2RS, and 3RS. According to Chevy, the $35,000 base-level LT is expected to hit the market later this year and should still deliver 319 miles of the estimated range. It will be interesting to see how those features and specs compare to the current options, and I trust that we will report back on that and hopefully get behind the wheel of one soon.

In the meantime, you can check out my full video review of my drive in the Chevy Equinox 3LT EV below:

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This new wireless e-bike charger wants to be the future of electric bikes

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This new wireless e-bike charger wants to be the future of electric bikes

Forget fumbling with cables or hunting for batteries – TILER is making electric bike charging as seamless as parking your ride. The Dutch startup recently introduced its much-anticipated TILER Compact system, a plug-and-play wireless charger engineered to transform the user experience for e-bike riders.

At the heart of the new system is a clever combo: a charging kickstand that mounts directly to almost any e‑bike, and a thin charging mat that you simply park over. Once you drop the kickstand and it lands on the mat, the bike begins charging automatically via inductive transfer – no cable required. According to TILER, a 500 Wh battery will fully charge in about 3.5 hours, delivering comparable performance to traditional wired chargers.

It’s an elegantly simple concept (albeit a bit chunky) with a convenient upside: less clutter, fewer broken cables, and no more need to bend over while feeling around for a dark little hole.

TILER claims its system works with about 75% of existing e‑bike platforms, including those from Bosch, Yamaha, Bafang, and other big bames. The kit uses a modest 150 W wireless power output, which means charging speeds remain practical while keeping the system lightweight (the tile weighs just 2 kg, and it’s also stationary).

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TILER has already deployed over 200 charging points across Western Europe, primarily serving bike-share, delivery, hospitality, and hotel fleets. A recent case study in Munich showed how a cargo-bike operator saved approximately €1,250 per month in labor costs, avoided thousands in spare batteries, and cut battery damage by 20%. The takeaway? Less maintenance, more uptime.

Now shifting to prosumer markets, TILER says the Compact system will hit pre-orders soon, with a €250 price tag (roughly US $290) for the kickstand plus tile bundle. To get in line, a €29 refundable deposit is currently required, though they say it is refundable at any point until you receive your charger. Don’t get too excited just yet though, there’s a bit of a wait. Deliveries are expected in summer 2026, and for now are covering mostly European markets.

The concept isn’t entirely new. We’ve seen the idea pop up before, including in a patent from BMW for charging electric motorcycles. And the efficacy is there. Skeptics may wonder if wireless charging is slower or less efficient, but TILER says no. Its system retains over 85% efficiency, nearly matching wired charging speeds, and even pauses at 80% to protect battery health, then resumes as needed. The tile is even IP67-rated, safe for outdoor use, and about as bulky as a thick magazine.

Electrek’s Take

I love the concept. It makes perfect sense for shared e-bikes, especially since they’re often returning to a dock anyway. As long as people can be trained to park with the kickstand on the tile, it seems like a no-brainer.

And to be honest, I even like the idea for consumers. I know it sounds like a first-world problem, but bending over to plug something in at floor height is pretty annoying, not to mention a great way to throw out your back if you’re not exactly a spring chicken anymore. Having your e-bike start charging simply by parking it in the right place is a really cool feature! I don’t know if it’s $300 cool, but it’s pretty cool!

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Tesla launches new software update with Grok, but it doesnt even interface with the car

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Tesla launches new software update with Grok, but it doesnt even interface with the car

Tesla has launched a new software update for its vehicles that includes the anticipated integration of Grok, but it doesnt even interface with the car yet.

Earlier this week, CEO Elon Musk said that Tesla would integrate Grok, the large language model developed by his private company, xAI, into its vehicles.

Today, Tesla started pushing the update to the fleet, but there’s a significant caveat.

The automaker wrote in the release notes (2025.26):

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Grok (Beta) (US, AMD)

Grok now available directly in your Tesla

Requires Premium Connectivity or a WiFi connection

Grok is currently in Beta & does not issue commands to your car – existing voice commands remain unchanged.

First off, it is only available in vehicles in the US equipped with the AMD infotainment computer, which means cars produced since mid-2021.

But more importantly, Tesla says that it doesn’t send commands to the car under the current version. Therefore, it is simply like having Grok on your phone, but on the onboard computer instead.

Tesla showed an example:

There are a few other features in the 2025.26 software update, but they are not major.

For Tesla vehicles equipped with ambient lighting strips inside the car, the light strip can now sync to music:

Accent lights now respond to music & you can also choose to match the lights to the album’s color for a more immersive effect

Toybox > Light Sync

Here’s the new setting:

The audio setting can now be saved under multiple presets to match listening preferences for different people or circumstances:

The software update also includes the capacity to zoom or adjust the playback speed of the Dashcam Viewer.

Cybertruck also gets the updated Dashcam Viewer app with a grid view for easier access and review of recordings:

Tesla also updated the charging info in its navigation system to be able to search which locations require valet service or pay-to-park access.

Upon arrival, drivers will receive a notification with access codes, parking restrictions, level or floor information, and restroom availability:

Finally, there’s a new onboarding guide directly on the center display to help people who are experiencing a Tesla vehicle for the first time.

Electrek’s Take

Tesla is really playing catch-up here. Right now, this update is essentially nothing. If you already have Grok, it’s no more different than having it on your phone or through the vehicle’s browser, since it has no capacity to interact with any function inside the vehicle.

Most other automakers are integrating LLMs inside vehicles with the capacity to interact with the vehicle. In China, this is becoming standard even in entry-level cars.

In the Xiaomi YU7, the vehicle’s AI can not only interact with the car, but it also sees what the car sees through its camera, and it can tell you about what it sees:

Tesla is clearly far behind on that front as many automakers are integrating with other LLMs like ChatGPT and in-house LLMs, like Xiaomi’s.

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Robinhood is up 160% this year, but several obstacles are ahead

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Robinhood is up 160% this year, but several obstacles are ahead

Florida AG opens probe into Robinhood. Here's the latest

Robinhood stock hit an all-time high Friday as the financial services platform continued to rip higher this year, along with bitcoin and other crypto stocks.

Robinhood, up more than 160% in 2025, hit an intraday high above $101 before pulling back and closing slightly lower.

The reversal came after a Bloomberg report that JPMorgan plans to start charging fintechs for access to customer bank data, a move that could raise costs across the industry.

For fintech firms that rely on thin margins to offer free or low-cost services to customers, even slight disruptions to their cost structure can have major ripple effects. PayPal and Affirm both ended the day nearly 6% lower following the report.

Despite its stellar year, the online broker is facing several headwinds, with a regulatory probe in Florida, pushback over new staking fees and growing friction with one of the world’s most high-profile artificial intelligence companies.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier opened a formal investigation into Robinhood Crypto on Thursday, alleging the platform misled users by claiming to offer the lowest-cost crypto trading.

“Robinhood has long claimed to be the best bargain, but we believe those representations were deceptive,” Uthmeier said in a statement.

The probe centers on Robinhood’s use of payment for order flow — a common practice where market makers pay to execute trades — which the AG said can result in worse pricing for customers.

Robinhood Crypto General Counsel Lucas Moskowitz told CNBC its disclosures are “best-in-class” and that it delivers the lowest average cost.

“We disclose pricing information to customers during the lifecycle of a trade that clearly outlines the spread or the fees associated with the transaction, and the revenue Robinhood receives,” added Moskowitz.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev explains 'dual purpose' behind trading platform's new crypto offerings

Robinhood is also facing opposition to a new 25% cut of staking rewards for U.S. users, set to begin October 1. In Europe, the platform will take a smaller 15% cut.

Staking allows crypto holders to earn yield by locking up their tokens to help secure blockchain networks like ethereum, but platforms often take a percentage of those rewards as commission.

Robinhood’s 25% cut puts it in line with Coinbase, which charges between 25.25% and 35% depending on the token. The cut is notably higher than Gemini’s flat 15% fee.

It marks a shift for the company, which had previously steered clear of staking amid regulatory uncertainty.

Under President Joe Biden‘s administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission cracked down on U.S. platforms offering staking services, arguing they constituted unregistered securities.

With President Donald Trump in the White House, the agency has reversed course on several crypto enforcement actions, dropping cases against major players like Coinbase and Binance and signaling a more permissive stance.

Even as enforcement actions ease, Robinhood is under fresh scrutiny for its tokenized stock push, which is a growing part of its international strategy.

The company now offers blockchain-based assets in Europe that give users synthetic exposure to private firms like OpenAI and SpaceX through special purpose vehicles, or SPVs.

An SPV is a separate entity that acquires shares in a company. Users then buy tokens of the SPV and don’t have shareholder privileges or voting rights directly in the company.

OpenAI has publicly objected, warning the tokens do not represent real equity and were issued without its approval. In an interview with CNBC International, CEO Vlad Tenev acknowledged the tokens aren’t technically equity shares, but said that misses the broader point.

JPMorgan announces plans to charge for access to customer bank data

“What’s important is that retail customers have an opportunity to get exposure to this asset,” he said, pointing to the disruptive nature of AI and the historically limited access to pre-IPO companies.

“It is true that these are not technically equity,” Tenev added, noting that institutional investors often gain similar exposure through structured financial instruments.

The Bank of Lithuania — Robinhood’s lead regulator in the EU — told CNBC on Monday that it is “awaiting clarifications” following OpenAI’s statement.

“Only after receiving and evaluating this information will we be able to assess the legality and compliance of these specific instruments,” a spokesperson said, adding that information for investors must be “clear, fair, and non-misleading.”

Tenev responded that Robinhood is “happy to continue to answer questions from our regulators,” and said the company built its tokenized stock program to withstand scrutiny.

“Since this is a new thing, regulators are going to want to look at it,” he said. “And we expect to be scrutinized as a large, innovative player in this space.”

SEC Chair Paul Atkins recently called the model “an innovation” on CNBC’s Squawk Box, offering some validation as Robinhood leans further into its synthetic equity strategy — even as legal clarity remains in flux across jurisdictions.

Despite the regulatory noise, many investors remain focused on Robinhood’s upside, and particularly the political tailwinds.

The company is positioning itself as a key beneficiary of Trump’s newly signed megabill, which includes $1,000 government-seeded investment accounts for newborns. Robinhood said it’s already prototyping an app for the ‘Trump Accounts‘ initiative.

WATCH: Watch CNBC’s full interview with Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev

Watch CNBC's full interview with Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev

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