The Automotive Troublemaker: Fake Exhaust Sounds

It’s a new week in the retail auto industry, and that means its time to love some people more than cars. Today we’re discussing a survey that suggests dealers are not excited about selling EVs, the new Dodge Charger exhaust sound system, and how ChargePoint is combining all the charging connectors into one.

Steve Greenfield made a post about the new Dodge Charger’s fake exhaust sounds and it sparked quite the debate. Dodge's new electric Charger Daytona is all about maintaining the classic muscle car vibes that its customers love. Even with an electric engine, Dodge wants to ensure the car sounds like it has a roaring V8 under the hood, and they've introduced the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system to make it happen.

• Steve Greenfield’s post: “I literally don't know how to feel about this. Part of me wants to be really excited, and part of me wants to be repugnated. But maybe that's the goal?”

• The system is designed to mimic the sound of a traditional V8 engine, even though the car is fully electric.

• It uses a combination of high-tech transducers, passive radiators, and amplifiers to create its signature sound.

• The sound adjusts with driving conditions, getting louder with throttle input and varying based on the car's driving mode.

• While it replicates the V8 sound, some find it lacking in authenticity, describing it as not quite the real thing.

As EV sales show inconsistency across brands, a new study reveals that dealer enthusiasm may be a key factor. A survey of 250 dealership leaders across the U.S. shows a surprising lack of excitement among sales teams, which may be influencing EV adoption rates.

• 49% of surveyed dealers say their sales teams are "not excited at all" about selling EVs with enthusiasm highest in the Pacific region, including California, but even there, few are "very excited."

• Dealers in rural areas and colder climates cite charging infrastructure and winter range issues as major concerns.

• Areas with better EV training show higher enthusiasm, suggesting that education could boost sales interest.

• The study highlights the industry's struggle to adapt its traditional sales models to the demands of the EV market.

• One dealer in Montana noted, "We live in a rural area with large distances between towns ... It's just not a viable alternative to ICE."

ChargePoint is tackling one of the biggest headaches for EV drivers with its new Omni Port, an innovative solution that combines multiple connector types into one EV charging unit, making charging simpler and more accessible to all makes and models.

• Omni Port combines common connector types, eliminating the need for adapters with support for current and future models, including 800-volt systems for faster charging.

• Drivers can select the correct connector via the ChargePoint app or directly on the charger.

• The Omni Port can be retrofitted to existing ChargePoint stations, ensuring long-term compatibility.

• Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint, emphasizes, “We are giving drivers and site hosts assurance that ChargePoint will continue to meet all their charging needs now and in the future.”