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Driving the 2020 Lotus Evora GT, and Defenders at a trickle | Autoblog Podcast #631

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Producer Christopher McGraw and Road Test Editor Zac Palmer. First, they talk about driving the 2020 Lotus Evora GT. Then they take some time to update any new happenings and opinions on our long-term Subaru Forester and Volvo S60 T8 plug-in hybrid. In the news this week, the new Land Rover Defender is in short supply, and Tesla is rumored to be creating a 12-passenger shuttle for use in The Boring Company tunnels. Finally, we reach into the mailbag to help a listener replace a Mazda3 hatch with something to better match their lifestyle. Autoblog Podcast #631 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we're driving: 2020 Lotus Evora GT 2019 Subaru Forester long-term update 2020 Volvo S60 T8 long-term update The 2020 Land Rover Defender is in short supply Tesla may be working on 12-passenger shuttle for The Boring Co. Spend My Money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Five years ago, the DOE loaned Tesla Motors $465 million

*This post has been updated to reflect the nature of the new funding. Five years ago this week, the US Department of Energy finished the paperwork on its Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan to Tesla Motors. Despite a lot of controversy about that program, Tesla managed to pay back the $465 million loan early and with interest. The DOE made four other loans under the ATVM program – to Ford, Nissan, Fisker and a small startup, VPG, that wanted to make natural gas powered vehicles for people in wheelchairs. Ford and Nissan are paying the money back, Fisker and VPG are not. Speaking at the Washington Auto Show this week, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said that while the two loans "did not fully perform," the portfolio overall is doing well. Even the vehicle that VPG was going to make is still moving forward because another company stepped in. That's why Moniz was proud to discuss details of a separate funding program that will hand out over $55 million for what the DOE calls, "cutting-edge vehicle technologies that strengthen the clean energy economy." Moniz said the new money – as well as a separate $35-million funding program that will be available in February – will be used for improved batteries and other electrification technologies, lightweight materials and better engines for both light- and heavy-duty vehicles. One thing Moniz singled out was a way to make recharging an EV even easier. "This is directly supporting our EV Everywhere Grand Challenge," he said. The Secretary joked that the manager of the new funds has just had a baby, so anyone who wants some of the money should apply soon, while he's still groggy. "Our goal is to help establish these industries and help them grow," Moniz said, adding that the DOE may emphasize private partnerships in handing out the new loans. The two consequences of that would be to increase the amount of money available and also that, "we think there is an advantage in bringing more lenders and more banks to have experience in terms of getting into debt financing across this whole spectrum of technologies." Moniz said that the US government is handing out all of this money on generous terms.

Is Tesla Motors becoming a Republican darling?

The general political attitudes taken by the left and right in the US are, sadly, divided on the issue of fuel efficient vehicles. Broadly speaking, Republicans dislike the whole idea (even going to absurd extremes like Newt Gingrich saying that inflating your tires helps Big Oil) while Democrats are in favor. The stereotype even gets in the way of people thinking that the DOE's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program is an Obama Administration creation. It's not, and was started under President Bush in 2008. The political divide has been particularly strong when it came to Tesla Motors. Most readers probably remember when Republican Presidential contender Mitt Romney attacked the automaker during a debate with President Obama. New Jersey governor Chris Christie has been fighting Tesla's moves in his state as well. But, wait, is there a change in the air? The San Francisco Chronicle's David Baker has written an interesting story that looks at some positive statements from prominent Republicans recently, for example when Bill O'Reilly said everyone should get behind Tesla or when Texas governor Rick Perry said he supports the EV automaker selling directly to customers. Baker has an interesting take on this shift and what it might mean for upcoming elections. We recommend you head over to SFGate to read the whole thing. Here's a teaser: Some Democrats doubt, however, that the GOP as a whole will embrace Tesla and clean tech anytime soon. Wade Randlett, a Silicon Valley executive and major Democratic fundraiser, noted the Republican Party's deep ties to the oil industry - the companies most threatened by electric cars. Read the whole article.