Tesla held its quarterly shareholder meeting, and as always I’ve got a recap, highlights, and analysis from what CEO Elon Musk and the Tesla executive team had to say about Q2 2024. Plus: Cybertruck test drives have begun, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please check out my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com…

The Cybertruck has achieved a prestigious sales milestone, the online Tesla shop adds a couple of fun new Cybertruck accessories, Cybertruck owners are finally starting to get their Cyber wheel covers, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please check out my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/teslapodcast and con…

The first heavily camouflaged Model Y refresh test mule has seemingly been spotted, the $35,000 Model 3 is finally real and it is SPECTACULAR, an historically significant unreleased original Tesla Roadster goes up for auction, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please check out my Patreon at https://www.patreon…

It's the end of the season and, as usual, we are finishing with a Round Table Episode. In Round Table XI Gary talks with three specially invited guests on a range of topics in the EV space. This episode we're looking at: The issue of EVs for disabled people The issue of EVs and the selling process The issue of EVs and living without a home charger …

Tesla posts its vehicle production and delivery numbers for the just-completed second quarter, and the news is very good. Plus: Tesla gives an update on Cybertruck’s Foundation Series program…sort of, Quicksilver paint is now available on Model 3’s built at Giga Shanghai, and more! Special guest cohost: Larry Hryb If you enjoy the podcast and would…

In Episode 219 Gary looks back at the changes in the EV landscape All the guests this season were asked the same question: "What is the most significant change you have seen in the EV landscape since you started driving electric?" I've collated their responses and this is where we look at what those in the industry think has been significant for EV…

As Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised, FSD transfer has returned, and it’s back sooner than expected. Plus: Tesla is about to get some help building 4680 battery cells, Tesla is in talks with Michelin to test out airless tires, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please check out my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/…

In Episode 218 Gary discusses the whole arena of geospatial planning. This is the practice of using multiple different data sources to identify the best place to put new chargers in. Charge Point Operators have limited funds and lots of potential places to put chargers. They need to make the best use of their resources and put them where they will …

The new Model 3 Long Range now qualifies for the $7500 point-of-sale federal EV tax credit, the highest-performing employees at Tesla will now be rewarded with stock compensation, Elon Musk begins work on Tesla Master Plan Part 4, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please check out my Patreon at https://www.pat…

In Episode 217 Gary goes through what you should do to make the most of your EV test drive. We talk about the different sort of test drives, doing a longer run, checking your daily commute and learning about charging in public This season of the podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the free to download app that helps EV drivers search, plan, and pay for…

Tesla held its 2024 annual shareholder meeting and we got some big news out of it, including when we can expect to see Autopilot Hardware 5 roll out as well as when the Cybertruck Foundation Series will be ending and when general production will be starting. Plus: a fun new accessory for the Model Y hits the online Tesla shop, and more! If you enjo…

In Episode 216 Gary talks with james Court - CEO OF EVA England - about the whole education arena and what EVA England is doing to help educate drivers, politicians and memers of the public Guest Details: James Court : James's Website This season of the podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the free to download app that helps EV drivers search, plan, and…

A whole slew of great new software updates are coming your way soon, the Tesla mod experts at Unplugged Performance find out whether or not the new Model 3 Performance seats can fit in the old Model 3, a randomly parked Tesla’s Sentry Mode helps catch a shooting suspect, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, pleas…

In this episode, Gary looks at the 2035 date to ban the ale of new fossil fuel cars in the UK. It was 2030. Then it got moved. Is this good or bad? What are the barriers to making this happen? Will it move back to 2030? This season of the podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the free to download app that helps EV drivers search, plan, and pay for their …

Tesla’s 2023 Impact Report has lots of compelling data in it that you can use to help squash any electric-car FUD anyone might throw your way. Plus: the Tesla Semi visits Europe, Giga Mexico’s construction continues, the Bargersville Police Department gives an update on its Model Y police-vehicle pilot program, and more! If you enjoy the podcast an…

In this episode, Gary continues his look at charging solutions for those with no off-street parking. In episode 199 last season we looked at public charging solutions. In this episode, we'll look at solutions that allow you to use your own electricity supply but pipe it out to a car on the road. Guest Details: Ben Macdonald : Ben has been an enviro…

Tesla debuts another new paint color for Model S and Model X, and fans of the old Silver Metallic are going to love it. Plus: wheel updates to Model Y and Cybertruck, good news for 2024 Model 3 Performance buyers, bad news for the first-ever known Cybertruck thief, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please chec…

In Episode 213 Gary covers a topic of great importance to the majority of current EV drivers: finding and installing a home charger. Why do you need one? What should you look out for and how much will it cost? We speak with reps from a couple of the top charger manufacturers. This season of the podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the free to download a…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk details the next couple versions of FSD (Supervised), and I’ll tell you why these are going to be major updates. Plus: some Supercharging team members get rehired, there’s been another price adjustment on the new Model 3 Performance, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please check out my Pat…

In Episode 212 Gary tackles the thorny subject of car dealers. Are they set up for success when it comes to selling electric vehicles? How are they incentivised? Do they make any money from servicing now? What is the education they get given about EVs? Why don't more of them drive EVs? Guest Details: Simon Acton :Irish EV Awards 2024 Winner, eMobil…

Cybertruck adds two significant new options in the Design Studio for Foundation Series buyers, Tesla appears to be prepping a Siri-like voice assistant for the fleet, more big companies get their hands on the Tesla Semi, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please check out my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/t…

In this episode, Gary talks through a cause very close to his heart: making film and TV production green. How do prouction companies reduce emissions from diesel generators, transportation and even simple things like catering? What can the film and TV industry do to green up electricity generation, catering, transportation and recycling? This seaso…

On this week’s episode of Ride the Lightning: The Tesla Unofficial Podcast, the Cybertruck gets a massive software update that adds a ton of new features, I’ll give you my first impressions of the new Model 3 Performance, more terrible Tesla layoff news as the entire 500-person Supercharging team gets dismissed, and more (including some big Model Y…

In this episode, Gary talks with Anthony Browne the current minister for decarbonisation in the UK. We talk about his brief, some upcoming announcements and initiatives, and touch on items such as decarbonising aviation. What are his thoughts on reducing the price of public charging? What about hydrogen? What about decarbonsing aviation? Anthony Br…

Tesla held its quarterly earnings call and we got some major announcements, such as a new low-cost vehicle that’s coming sooner than you think, a big price reduction for the purchase price of FSD, the long-anticipated launch of the new Model 3 Performance, and much more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please check ou…

In Episode 209 Gary chats with a number of people who live without home charging. It's, obviously, easier if you can charge where you live. But that doesn't mean that not having a home charger makes EV ownership untenable. We talk to people who find it easy, difficult, complex, good value, or expensive. Is it expensive? How much is AC/ destination …

New details on the imminent Model 3 Ludicrous are scraped from Tesla’s own website source code, plenty of new features and improvements are on the way to the Tesla fleet in the upcoming Spring software update, a big round of layoffs unfortunately hits Tesla, and more. If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please check out m…

In Episode 208 Gary answers the questions you wanted answering. We talk with ChargeUk about price drops on public charging, 3TI about V2G, and Colin Walker about dropping EV sales amongst others! What are the questions you have about owning and running EVs? We asked you to provide the burning questions you had and we answered them (with a little he…

A new report from Reuters says that Tesla has canceled its ultra-high-volume $25,000 car in favor of going all-in on the robotaxi. Could it possibly be true? Plus: Cybertruck will soon get a boost to its Supercharging speed, the FSD subscription price gets cut in half, the Plaid Model S gets sporty new seats, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and …

In Episode 207 Gary looks at some of the tariffs you can get on the open market that provide reduced rate charging if you have an electric vehicle. We speak specifically with Alex Thwaites from OVO Energy. Guest Details: Alex is the Director Of Electric Vehicles at OVO Energy, a service dedicated to providing services to EV owners in the UK. The OV…

Tesla releases its production and delivery numbers for the first quarter of 2024, so were all the demand levers effective? Plus: the Model 3 Ludicrous’ formal unveiling appears to be imminent, a professional contractor discusses his experience as one of the world’s biggest Tesla Solar Roof installers, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would li…

In this episode of EV Musings, Gary discusses the idea that households with off-street parking and two cars should consider making one of them electric. The conversation explores the case of households with two fossil fuel cars, addresses cost and range concerns, highlights the availability of small-sized EVs, and discusses the benefits of owning a…

Tesla rolls out a fleet-wide one-month free FSD Beta trial in an effort to show everyone how good version 12 is. Plus: another fun new bit of information about the forthcoming Model 3 Ludicrous, Tesla is reportedly considering getting into the van business with Italy, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please c…