Car companies are also starting to worry about being left out (of the EV-charging race). So they’re looking to Tesla as a model.

Here’s what else is on tap today:

• Travel: “I moved to an abandoned house in Japan’s countryside.”
• Health: Science-backed methods to look and feel more attractive.
• Life: Ikea products an interior designer would and wouldn’t buy.

Teslafication

Companies like Ford, Volvo, and GM announced that they’re going to adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard. This means their future EVs won’t need an adapter to be compatible with Tesla’s supercharger network.

Plus, non-Tesla charging stations will soon be usable by Teslas — also without an adapter. Its competitor charging companies are going to start adding Tesla-compatible NACS plugs to their stations. This includes Electrify America, which is currently the second-largest EV-charging network — with just 3,592 charging plugs compared to Tesla’s roughly 22,000 supercharger stalls.

“More auto companies are making the switch and sort of just saying: ‘Yeah, Tesla has had it right for so long,’” Alexa St. John, an auto reporter at Insider, said. She added that access to the reliable supercharger network is a major factor when people are deciding whether to buy a Tesla or another EV (or switch to an EV at all).

Overall, there are only about three EV chargers for every 10,000 Americans. And many non-Tesla charging stations are often busted: broken plugs, connectivity issues, payment system failures, and more.

But two pivotal changes are brewing for the public-charging infrastructure:

• Tesla is set to open its superchargers to other EVs next year. Some experts said this could be a brilliant marketing move.
• Meanwhile, seven major automakers banded together to build an EV-charging network that rivals Tesla’s. The companies include BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis, the European giant that owns Jeep, Fiat, Dodge, and others.

Plus, more cars charging on Tesla’s machines means more revenue. And Elon Musk can say that he convinced the entire EV industry to charge cars his way.

“This not only helps the other automakers give their customers the Tesla experience,” St. John said. “But it also will eventually advantage current Tesla owners to some extent, because this is really just encouraging Tesla to continue to invest in charging infrastructure.”

3 things in travel

1. The 10 most underrated US states to visit. The travel writer Katherine Parker-Magyar has visited all 50 states, and she has some thoughts: South Dakota’s charms and Vermont’s Green Mountains make them among the top hidden gems for domestic travel.
2. Airlines that are most likely to bump you from your flight. Frontier, Envoy, and Spirit bumped the most passengers during the first three months of 2023, per new Department of Transportation data. Meanwhile, Allegiant, Delta, Endeavor, and Hawaiian didn’t bump any passengers during that same time frame.
3. “I moved to an abandoned house in Japan’s countryside.” One woman thinks people shouldn’t immediately jump into homeownership in Japan. She explains how houses can depreciate in value in Japan, compared to the US, where they typically appreciate in value.

1. Quick habits for longevity that are supported by science. Short walks, texting a friend, and other daily habits can help your long-term health. Plus, they can take less than 10 minutes.
2. Mosquitos carrying a virus that can cause paralysis and death are becoming immune to common bug sprays. Some of the West Nile mosquitoes even live longer after exposure to the sprays.
3. Twelve methods to look and feel more attractive. These simple changes are backed by research and have nothing to do with weight loss. Instead, studies suggest being kind to others and fixing your posture can help with confidence.

1. Gen Zers want their fashion to be sustainable and ugly. Gen Z’s fashion trends are meant to be intentional, a little silly, and a bit ugly. Polished outfits and new clothes are out. While “wrong-shoe theory” and Kramercore are in.
2. The Ikea products an interior designer would and wouldn’t buy. Paynter Rhed thought the company’s plant and frame selections were great. But items like the metal tables and bedding paled in comparison.
3. Divorce is so hot right now. Ariana Grande. Billy Porter. Sofia Vergara. Divorce now feels as matter-of-fact as marriage. And it amplifies data that shows the US has had an uptick in divorces.

Jeep, starter homes, & more

• The new status symbols among rich millennials. Pricey coffee machines, EVs, and other trends are among the 10 ways millennials are redefining luxury.
• Jeep is losing its cool factor. The iconic car company’s sales are falling, and its brand loyalty is also faltering.
• Elon Musk live-streamed himself doing a bicep curl in a meeting room. The arm rep was met with laughter from his colleagues.
• Starter-home prices fell in San Francisco, Austin, and Phoenix. They’re bucking the national trend of rising prices in every other metro.
• Many bosses think Gen Z workers are lazy. “They’re not looking to be productive,” one manager told The Wall Street Journal.

Church transformation