GM's Energy Pass Makes Plug-and-Charge Real — and Tesla's Roadster Gets Another 'Soon

The latest episode of Electrek's Quick Charge podcast covers three stories that say a lot about where the EV world is right now: GM quietly fixing one of charging's most annoying problems, SpaceX powering a massive new chip plant with fossil fuels, and Tesla's design chief telling Jay Leno the Roadster is coming "very soon" — for roughly the tenth year running.

GM's Energy Pass and Plug and Charge: just plug in

GM is rolling out two new technologies aimed at drivers of electric Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicles. Called Energy Pass and Plug and Charge, the pair eliminate the app-and-payment-method juggling act that has defined public charging for years.

The pitch is refreshingly simple: pull up to a participating station, plug your GM vehicle in, and charging starts immediately. No phone. No credit card. No downloading yet another account-gated app while standing in the rain.

You just plug, and charge – as it should be!

That's a genuinely big deal for anyone who has road-tripped a non-Tesla EV. The Supercharger network set the expectation that charging should be automatic, and the rest of the industry has spent years catching up. Seeing GM standardize that experience across three brands is a real step toward public charging that doesn't require a folder of apps on your home screen.

SpaceX's new chip fab will run on gas, not solar

The less flattering headline: Tesla and SpaceX confirmed the "Terafab" chip fabrication site, with a first phase pegged at $16.8 billion — and reporting indicates the plant will be powered by natural gas rather than Tesla solar. For a company whose sibling business sells solar panels and Powerwalls, it's an awkward look, and the podcast doesn't let it slide.

The Roadster is coming 'very soon.' Again.

Tesla's design chief went on Jay Leno's show to make the case that the long-promised second-generation Roadster really, truly is arriving soon. Electrek's response, fairly earned after nearly a decade of similar promises, was a flat "sure."

If you've been holding out on a purchase decision waiting for the Roadster, the practical advice hasn't changed: buy the EV that exists today, and treat the Roadster as a pleasant surprise if it ever shows up in a driveway near you.

What this means for your charging setup

Plug and Charge is great when it works and when you're at a participating station. Neither of those is guaranteed on every trip, which is why the gear in your frunk still matters:

• Keep a backup adapter on hand. Whether you're driving a Tesla or a GM EV, NACS-to-CCS and CCS-to-NACS adapters keep more stalls available to you when the "easy" option is occupied or offline.
• Carry your own cable management. Charging cable organizers and Level 1/Level 2 portable chargers turn any 120V or 240V outlet into a backup plan when a DC fast charging stop falls through.
• Don't skip the basics. A tire inflator, jump starter, and roadside safety kit still matter more on an EV road trip than any app — because the failure that strands you usually isn't the charger.
• Protect the port. Charge port covers and weather caps are cheap insurance for hardware you're now plugging in without a second thought.

The through line across all three stories: charging hardware and standards are maturing fast, the promises around future cars are still worth a grain of salt, and the accessories that make daily charging painless are the ones you'll actually use every week.