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Episode #1300: EV bargains are stacking up as gas prices climb, GM patents a daisy-chain charger that could end the wait-time headache, and the NRF says retail is growing in 2026 but the spending power is concentrated at the top.

Gas price anxiety is driving a spike in EV and hybrid searches, according to Edmunds and the timing couldn't be better. With manufacturer incentives replacing the expired federal tax credit, dealers are stacking deals that are turning heads and moving metal.

• One buyer in Orange County paid $23,991 for a 2026 Equinox EV with a $48,269 sticker, after GM contributed nearly $10,000 and the dealer added further discounts on top.
• Kia is offering up to $18,300 in lease support on the EV6, Toyota is cutting $5,000 off the bZ, and Hyundai has added $10,000 on top of already-reduced 2026 model-year pricing on vehicles like the Ioniq 5.
• Kevin Roberts, head of market intelligence at CarGurus, noted the inventory reality: "There's probably still too many new EVs out on lots as dealers try to rebalance things."
• Dealer Ryan Rohrman: "If it fits your lifestyle, it makes sense all day long just because of the rebates that are out there."

Charging wait times are one of the biggest friction points in EV ownership, and GM may have found a clever hardware solution. A newly unearthed patent shows a system that could let one DC fast charger serve multiple vehicles simultaneously.

• GM's patent, surfaced by GM Authority, details a main DC fast charger connected to a series of low-power access points in a daisy chain, each capable of charging a separate EV at the same time.
• Each access point has three plugs: one connecting to the charger or previous unit in the chain, one for the vehicle, and one passing power to the next unit, with built-in controllers managing communication between the car and the main charger.
• With the most common public fast-charging speed sitting at 150 kW, a single 350 kW station running this system could theoretically serve two vehicles simultaneously at full standard speed.

The National Retail Federation is projecting a strong retail year, and the underlying fundamentals back it up. The catch is that not all consumers are riding the same wave.

• NRF forecasts retail sales will grow 4.4% in 2026 to $5.6 trillion, outpacing the 10-year average annual growth rate of 3.6%.
• Tax refunds tied to the Working Families Tax Cut Act are expected to give consumer spending a modest boost in the first half of the year, with inflation projected to ease by Q3.
• Unemployment is expected to stay below 4.5%, and NRF noted that consumer sentiment has historically been disconnected from actual spending, meaning people often spend more than their mood suggests.

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