More with Toby Hagon: The EV Deep Dive Continues (487)

Toby Hagon has been driving electric vehicles for about a decade, long before the current wave. In this conversation, he walks through the practical landscape of EVs—battery chemistry, charging infrastructure, real-world range, and the emerging possibility of using your car as a home battery. The discussion stays grounded in what a buyer or owner actually needs to know, with a clear-eyed view of what works now and what is still coming.

Two lithium chemistries, two charging habits

The lithium-ion batteries in today’s EVs come in two main types. The older, more established chemistry is NMC (nickel manganese cobalt), which offers higher energy density—more range from a smaller, lighter pack. The newer, cheaper alternative is LFP (lithium ferrous phosphate), which swaps expensive nickel and cobalt for iron. LFP is heavier and less energy-dense, so a car needs a bigger battery to achieve the same range, but it is significantly cheaper to manufacture.