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Artwork for Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast

Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast

Ryan McCaffrey
Tesla
Cybertruck
Model Y
Elon Musk
Model 3
Electric Vehicles
Robotaxi
Full Self-Driving
Cybercab
Tesla Roadster
California
Rivian
FSD
Tesla Model Y
Giga Berlin
Model 3 Performance
Referral Program
Roadster
Optimus
Model X

Ride the Lightning: The Tesla Unofficial Podcast is the world's longest-running weekly Tesla show, made for Tesla fans and owners by Tesla community veteran Ryan McCaffrey. Each week we'll discuss and analyze everything happening with the Cybertruck, Model 3, Model S, Model X, Model Y, Roadster, and more!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes585Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
AutomotiveBusiness NewsLeisureNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast

Latest Episodes

Tesla held its long-awaited Semi truck rollout event, detailing all of the improvements they've made to the class-8 vehicle since the original 2017 version. Plus: Tesla teases the new Roadster again ahead of this week's re-reveal, new Grok functional... more

Tesla finally announces a date for the long, long, long-awaited re-reveal and demonstration of the next-generation Roadster. Plus: Cybertruck's lead engineer publicly posts a list of small but interesting changes made to the truck so far, my firsthan... more

YouTube

I've got a few Cybercab follow-ups to share with you after last week's launch event in Austin, Texas. Plus: multiple pieces of good Model Y news, some good news for Cybertruck owners on a feature they've been waiting years for, and more!

If you enj... more

YouTube

Tesla officially launched the Cybercab, and I was lucky enough to be there and take a whole bunch of rides in it. I'll tell you all about my experience, and there is a lot to tell. Stay tuned!

If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my e... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Greg Canessa
Longtime Tesla owner and friend of the host; attendee of the Cybercab launch
Individual Tesla enthusiast
Episode: Episode 579: Cybercab Launch Event Recap – I Was There and I Rode in the Cybercab!
Elon Musk
CEO of Tesla
Tesla
Episode: Episode 573: Tesla Q2 Earnings Call Recap + FSD v14 Lite Goes Wide
Ashok Elloswami
Head of the AI team
Tesla
Episode: Episode 573: Tesla Q2 Earnings Call Recap + FSD v14 Lite Goes Wide
Lars Morave
Tesla Chief Engineer (regulatory and hardware discussions)
Tesla
Episode: Episode 573: Tesla Q2 Earnings Call Recap + FSD v14 Lite Goes Wide
Franz von Holtzhausen
Introduces the Ride the Lightning Hotline segment
Episode: Episode 554: Rivian R2 Pricing Revealed
Carson Gallo
A Tesla van lifer for the past eight years, two-time Tesla employee, president of the Tesla Owners Club of Florida, and a military veteran.
Episode: Episode 539: Meet the Tesla Owner Who Loves Living Out of His Model X
Sawyer Merritt
Prominent Tesla tipster and influencer
Episode: Episode 523: Special Guest: Tesla Tipster Sawyer Merritt
Jose Garza
The recipient of Tesla's first autonomously delivered vehicle
Episode: Episode 518: Talking to the Owner of the First Autonomously Delivered Tesla
Kim Java
A longtime Tesla community friend and YouTuber covering EVs
It's Kim Java (YouTube channel)
Episode: Episode 517: Interview With a Robotaxi User

Host

Ryan McCaffrey
Host of Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast, focusing on Tesla, EV tech, and industry context.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Love the podcasts but so much ads….

    It’s way more than my other podcasts. Especially the last 10-15 minutes you can just skip it.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Kawaiii Senpai
    Australia3 months ago
  • Model S & X Event Interview

    Excellent conversation with Now, Then & When questions

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BalayAdvisory
    United States4 months ago
  • My favorite podcast

    The best podcast I’ve ever listened to!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    🫪!
    United States5 months ago
  • Loss of the S and X

    I am sorry to see the S and the X go away. I do feel that part of the reason for this is that the 3 and the Y have gotten so good that there really is less reason to have these vehicles.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    philbikes
    United States7 months ago
  • Not fun anymore

    It used to be fun to listen to, but now Its so pessimistic it just makes it not fun anymore

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ybotrobot
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners note excess ads and occasional rambling in longer episodes.
Guests and in-depth engineering discussions are a strong draw for sponsors and guests.
Positive reception of host expertise and depth on Tesla topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#7
United States/Leisure/Automotive
Apple Podcasts
#57
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#12
Canada/Leisure/Automotive
Apple Podcasts
#34
United Kingdom/Leisure/Automotive
Apple Podcasts
#91
Canada/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#194
United Kingdom/Leisure

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 581: Tesla Roadster Re-Reveal FINALLY Announced
Q: Why did non-FSD cars not have the collision detection feature?
Because the feature is tied to the newer FSD software stack; non-FSD cars are not receiving that software, so functionality isn't available without upgrading to the newer hardware/software stack.
Episode 579: Cybercab Launch Event Recap – I Was There and I Rode in the Cybercab!
Q: When is Version 14 Lite coming to Hardware 3 models?
Ashok Eliswamy indicated it is imminent and should be arriving soon for Hardware 3 S and X owners, with a more concrete ETA not pinned down but expected in the near term.
Episode 576: The First Starlink-Equipped Tesla Is Born
Q: What are your thoughts on the Starlink integration in the CyberCab and its potential impact on in-car media consumption?
It could make the CyberCab a much more compelling ride for long trips or rides with entertainment, especially if Starlink supports streaming and live events, turning the car into a high-speed media hub.
Episode 565: A Tesla-SpaceX Merger? What Would it Mean for Tesla Vehicles?
Q: What is the status of Rivian's R2 rollout?
Invitations for ordering the R2 will be issued in batches starting June 9th, with launch packages and Autonomy Plus included on the top trim; the rollout aims to balance demand with production realities, echoing the Model 3's early ramp.
Episode 565: A Tesla-SpaceX Merger? What Would it Mean for Tesla Vehicles?
Q: What are the thoughts on the Ferrari Luce design?
The host expresses strong disappointment with the Luce's exterior design, believes it looks nothing like a Ferrari, and suggests it might hurt Ferrari's brand; argues that a beautiful car that happens to be electric is a better approach.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast

What is Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly tech-leaning show centered on Tesla and the broader EV ecosystem, with deep dives into software updates, hardware rollouts, and regulatory news. Episodes frequently blend news briefs, hands-on impressions of FSD and vehicle features, and conversations with senior Tesla executives, engineers, and designers, along with listener calls and community feedback. The program often threads in operational milestones (deliveries, incentives, production), design philosophy, and real-world usability, making it particularly valuable for engineers, product teams, and heavy EV enthusiasts seeking practical context and expert perspectives. Noteworthy strengths include long-running consistency, a hands-on, opinionated host, and access to high-profil... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast:

1. Electrek
2. ev.news
3. Batteries Included
4. InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast
5. Decoder with Nilay Patel

How many episodes of Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast are there?

Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast launched 11 years ago and published 585 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast?

Recent guests on Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast include:

1. Greg Canessa
2. Elon Musk
3. Ashok Elloswami
4. Lars Morave
5. Franz von Holtzhausen
6. Carson Gallo
7. Sawyer Merritt
8. Jose Garza

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