Episode 538: Tesla's AI5 Chip Delayed
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Term
FSD chip
The FSD chip is a computer part in Tesla cars that helps them drive themselves. It processes a lot of information to make driving decisions.
Term
Apple CarPlay
Apple CarPlay lets you use your iPhone in your car. You can see maps, listen to music, and send messages using your car's screen instead of your phone.
Concept
RoboTaxi
RoboTaxi is a service that lets you call a self-driving taxi using an app on your phone. It's part of Tesla's plan to make transportation easier and more automated.
Concept
Peterson Auto Museum
The Peterson Auto Museum is a place in Los Angeles where you can see many interesting and classic cars. They often have special displays that focus on certain time periods or types of cars.
Car
DeLorean
The DeLorean is a unique car known for its shiny metal body and doors that open upwards. It became famous from movies, especially 'Back to the Future'.
Car
Deloreans
The DeLorean DMC-12 is a unique car known for its cool doors that open upwards. It's famous because it was featured in the 'Back to the Future' movies, making it a pop culture icon.
Term
AI5
AI5 is a new version of Tesla's computer program that helps their cars drive themselves better. It's like an upgrade for the car's brain.
Car
Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y is an electric SUV made by Tesla. It's popular because it has a lot of room inside and comes with modern technology. It's similar to another Tesla car called the Model 3 but is bigger.
Car
Tesla Cybertruck
Car
Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 is an electric car that's popular for being affordable and having advanced technology. It's designed to be efficient and has a good range for driving.
Car
Tesla Model X
The Tesla Model X is a large electric car that can carry many passengers and has unique doors that open upwards. It's known for being high-tech and environmentally friendly.
Car
Tesla Model S
The Tesla Model S is a fancy electric car that doesn't need gas. It's known for going really fast and having cool tech features like autopilot, which helps drive the car for you.
Term
battery pack
A battery pack is like a big box of batteries that stores energy for electric cars. It helps the car run by providing the power needed for the motor.
Term
induction motor
An induction motor is a kind of electric motor that works by using magnetic fields to create movement. It's popular because it's easy to use and very dependable.
Term
permanent magnet motor
A permanent magnet motor is an electric motor that uses magnets to help it run. This type of motor is usually more efficient and smaller than other types.
Term
energy dense cell
An energy dense cell is a type of battery that can hold a lot of energy without being big or heavy. This helps electric cars go further on a single charge.
Term
module's orientation
The module's orientation is about how the battery parts are positioned inside the battery pack. Changing this can help make the battery lighter or cooler.
Part
DC to DC converter
A DC to DC converter changes electricity from one level to another, which is important for making sure all parts of an electric car get the right amount of power.
Term
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a well-known racetrack in Germany where car manufacturers test their vehicles. It's famous for its difficult turns and is often used to improve car performance.
Term
weight savings
Weight savings means making a car lighter, which helps it go faster and use less fuel. It's important for better performance.
Term
torsional stiffness
Torsional stiffness is how well a car can resist twisting when it turns. A stiffer car handles better and feels more stable on the road.
Part
lithium-ion battery
A lithium-ion battery is a type of battery that can be recharged and is often used in electric cars because it is lighter and holds more energy than older types of batteries.
Part
suspension design
Suspension design is how a car's system that supports its weight and helps it handle bumps is built. Changes to this design can make the car lighter and better to drive.
Part
cast refrigerant manifold
A cast refrigerant manifold is a part that helps move cooling fluid around in the car. Using this part can make the car lighter and help it save energy.
Term
range
'Range' is how far an electric car can go before it needs to be charged again. It's important because it helps drivers know if they can make a trip without running out of battery.
Term
EPA testing cycle
The EPA testing cycle is a way the government checks how much fuel cars use and how much pollution they produce. It helps people know which cars are more efficient and better for the environment.
Concept
direct sales ban
A direct sales ban means that companies like Tesla can't sell their cars directly to customers and have to use car dealerships instead.
Company
Accelerate Auto
Accelerate Auto is a business that offers services related to cars, especially warranties for electric vehicles.
Term
X-Care extended warranty
X-Care is a type of insurance for electric cars that helps pay for repairs if something goes wrong, especially with the battery and motor.
Term
battery and drive unit protection
This protection means that if the battery or the part that makes the car move breaks, the warranty will help pay for the repairs.
Term
BEV
A BEV is a type of electric car that runs only on batteries and doesn't use any gas. It's completely powered by electricity.
Term
NACS
NACS is a standard for charging electric cars in North America. It helps ensure that different electric vehicles can use the same charging stations.
Car
Jeep Wagoneer
The Jeep Wagoneer is a large SUV that offers a lot of space and comfort for families. It's made for people who want a stylish vehicle that can handle both city driving and off-road adventures.
Car
Willys Jeep
Car
Chrysler Daytona
Car
Dodge Charger Daytona
The Dodge Charger Daytona is a sporty version of the Dodge Charger that's built for speed and performance. It's popular among car enthusiasts who love powerful cars.
Car
Jeep Recon
The Jeep Recon is a new electric SUV made for off-roading, which means it can handle rough trails and paths. It's for people who want an electric vehicle that still feels adventurous.
Car
Volkswagen Id
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a new electric van that looks like the old VW buses from the past. It's designed for people who want a fun and eco-friendly way to travel with friends and family.
Car
Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is a tough SUV that can go off-road, meaning it can drive on rough paths and trails. It's popular for people who love outdoor adventures and exploring nature.
Car
Rivian R1T
The Rivian R1T is an electric truck that can drive on rough terrain and is built for outdoor adventures. It's a great option for people who want a truck that's good for both work and play.
Car
GMC Hummer Evs
The GMC Hummer EV is an electric version of the famous Hummer truck. It's built for tough terrains and is designed for people who love outdoor activities but want to drive an electric vehicle.
Car
Mazda Mx30
The Mazda MX-30 is a small electric car that's good for city driving and eco-friendly. It's designed for people who want a stylish and sustainable way to get around.
Car
Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne is a fancy SUV that drives like a sports car. It's designed for people who want a powerful vehicle that can also carry more passengers and luggage.
Car
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a classic sports car that's famous for being fast and fun to drive. It has a unique shape and is loved by car enthusiasts for its performance.
Car
Lucid Gravity
The Lucid Gravity is a new electric SUV that promises to be very luxurious and high-tech. It's designed for people who want an electric car that feels premium and has a lot of space.
Car
Cadillac Escalade
The Cadillac Escalade is a big, fancy SUV that's very comfortable and has lots of space inside. It's often chosen by people who want a luxurious ride with plenty of room for family and friends.
Car
Cadillac Escalade Ev
The Cadillac Escalade ESV is a bigger version of the Escalade SUV, giving you more room inside. It's perfect for families who want a luxurious ride with extra space.
Car
Porsche Taycan
The Porsche Taycan is an electric car that drives like a sports car. It's praised for being fast and having a lot of cool features, making it a great choice for car lovers.
Car
Porsche Macan
The Porsche Macan is a smaller luxury SUV that drives really well and feels sporty. It's a good choice for people who want an upscale vehicle that's also fun to drive.
LIVE
On this week's episode of Ride the Lightning, the Tesla and EV podcast, Tesla's radically-advanced AI5-FSD chip has been delayed,
so I'll discuss what that means for prospective Tesla buyers and for the CyberCab.
Plus, Tesla fights another US state's direct sales ban, Porsche unveils an impressive new EV and more.
What's happening, friends? I'm Ryan McCaffrey, joining you for episode 538 of Ride the Lightning, your weekly Tesla and EV podcast.
We've got Daisy the Boxer to my left. Lily is somewhere in the living room.
But anyway, it is another great week of Tesla and EV news. Lots of fun stuff to talk about this week.
And I want to start here. As promised last week, I wanted to follow up on that big story of Apple CarPlay reportedly coming to Tesla's by doing exactly what I said I would,
which is making it the subject of this week's Patreon poll.
A reminder that the poll is free to vote from anybody. You don't have to be supporting me on Patreon.
You just swing on by my Patreon page and vote, and that page is found at patreon.com slash Tesla podcast or just click the link in the episode description.
This might have been a new record for most votes in a poll. 381 of you kindly stop by and cast your vote.
The poll question was, how excited are you about Apple CarPlay reportedly coming to Tesla's?
41% of you said I'm super excited, primarily for one or more apps like messages with group chat support, ways, etc.
20% of you said I'm not interested in Apple CarPlay in my Tesla.
18% of you said I'm an Android user, so until Android Auto comes to Tesla as well, this doesn't affect me.
And then neck and neck with that, 17% of you said I'm indifferent on this one.
And then 4% of you said I'm not too familiar with Apple CarPlay, but I'm eager to give it a try.
So a pretty good response there. I mean, I actually, I'll be honest, I thought there would be more Android users respond like people saying that they were an Android user.
I'm a little surprised that's only 18%. Now that could be because the bulk of my listeners are in the US and Apple is a lot more dominant in the US than in Europe.
Shout out to all my European listeners though. I know there are plenty of you out there.
But yeah, 41% of you and presumably most of you that voted in this poll, most of you listening to this podcast are already Tesla owners.
And I was talking about how on last week's podcast, I thought this was going to be more of something enticing to people that don't already own a Tesla than it would for people that already have one.
But hey, big new feature, 41% of you saying that you are excited for it.
The question now is when? Will my prediction be correct? Will Tesla be fast tracking this for the holiday update in another month or so here is when we can expect that holiday update software to push out to our cars?
We shall see.
Moving along this week as we get warmed up, anybody can now grab the Tesla RoboTaxi app and use the service.
Now the catch of course is that you have to be in one of the areas that offers the Tesla RoboTaxi, so that for now is only Austin or the San Francisco Bay area.
Although Phoenix just this week gave approval, so rides might be underway there by the time you hear this.
And if they're not, then they probably will be very very soon, but no more wait list, the RoboTaxi app, if you go to your app store and download it, you're in.
Like it's there, you just have to be in Austin or the greater San Francisco Bay area.
Another appetizer for this week, which appetizer is fitting for this story because it's about the Tesla diner.
It is a story about the exit of the executive chef from the Tesla diner, as well as a hint from the Tesla diner staff at a new full service format.
The story came from the LA Times, who wrote in part,
The chef and co-operator behind Tesla diner, one of the city's most notable and polarizing new restaurants, is exiting the project.
Staff told the LA Times that the combination electric vehicle charging station and diner will also shift to a full service restaurant model soon.
The first restaurant from electric vehicle company Tesla debuted at the border of Hollywood and West Hollywood in July, drawing throngs of fans as well as protesters for months.
Which that's, by the way, side note, the LA Times has, I don't actually know if this story was written by the automotive writer at the LA Times.
I don't want to get into this, but this guy, I'm not even going to mention his name,
a very long, if you were to look at articles from this dude over the years, just a blatant and obvious anti-Tesla bias.
I'm not sure if he wrote this, but I would politely dispute the use of protesters for months.
Like, have there been a couple instances? Yes, but by and large, that's been a very rare thing.
And it also has nothing to do with the Tesla diner, of course. Anyway, let's get back to the story.
The LA Times writes,
My long-desired Jewish deli, Greenspan wrote in a text message.
He continues saying,
End quote.
So, hey, LA Times.
I mean, I don't want this to sound like an ego thing on my part.
I want to be humbled here, but I also want to be proud of the work that I've done.
So, LA Times, you're not breaking the news of Eric Greenspan leaving the Tesla diner.
I did a month ago, in my most recent interview with Franz, in fact, just in case anybody from the LA Times is listening,
here's my receipt on that.
Meeting with Chef, it's Greenspan, I believe.
I'm blanking on the gentleman's name.
Are you meeting with his team?
I'm with him. He's no longer part of the team, but that's okay.
We're still moving forward, and I think he was great at bringing the diner up to where it is now,
but we're moving and adding some elements.
And I think, you know, I'm just excited with the team that's there, kind of hit our groove,
and it's a really great balance between, you know, whether you're in a Tesla or not,
you can go, you know, charge up, get, you know, recharge.
We have some great breakfast items coming now.
Yeah, I'm just excited where that's going to go,
and hopefully, you know, we'll be rolling out more of them in the near future.
Feels a little weird to play a clip of myself right there, but it had to be done.
Clearly, the LA Times should pay attention when I interview Tesla executives.
But anyway, I will be very curious what a proper sit-down restaurant looks like.
Now that, LA Times does get credit for,
because Franz didn't mention anything about that to me.
But yeah, I'm going to be extremely curious what that means
and how that squares with the fact that superchargers are pretty darn quick.
So you don't want too full service of a restaurant where you're there for like an hour-long meal.
I honestly imagine that full service means that there will be servers,
but the food will still be the same quick-service diner food, which would be fine.
Like that would be a logistical change more than anything,
because if you've had the chance to go there, I guess if you haven't,
I'll just try to quickly describe it to you.
So the downstairs floor is where you order your food.
I mean, if you're ordering it in person at the counter,
otherwise obviously you can order from your car.
But the downstairs on the side door is where you come in to place your order at the counter,
at the register as it were, even though it's all iPads.
And then the counter, it's around building as you all know,
it curves the counter seating curves all the way around,
and then at the opposite end of that counter on the other side of the first floor is a pickup window.
I mean, it's not literally a window, but it's where they call out your name and you go pick up your food.
Now, in my two experiences there thus far, that pickup area, there's a ton of people milling around,
because they, you know, there's just everybody's waiting for their order.
So I wonder if maybe Tesla wants to tweak the logistics here
and not have a crowd of people kind of hanging out in the downstairs dining room, the dining area.
So instead they want people seated and they're going to have servers come and take orders
and bring you, bring you your order when it's ready.
That's, in my head, that's what seems to make the most sense here,
but I guess we'll find out.
I, when I wrote my notes for this, I had written a note to myself just saying,
ah, you know, I'm, I'm eagerly awaiting my next chance to go down there
and I'm not sure that if I'll get to do it anytime soon,
but as it turns out, since I made these notes, I will be heading back down there.
I will be in Los Angeles again for the game awards,
which is kind of the, the game industry's closest analog to the Oscars.
It's like our big kind of in game industry awards thing.
It's in downtown LA.
So I am looking at, if anybody wanted to meet up,
I don't want to, I don't necessarily looking to do like a big formal thing
unless, unless I get a big response on email
and you're welcome to email me if this is of interest to you.
My email is TeslaPodcastatgmail.com.
But the night that I would be able to go to the diner would be on, after I get in,
so on the evening of December 10th, which is a Wednesday,
that's probably when I, if I'm able to get over there, which I hopefully can.
I mean, Hollywood's kind of out of the way from, I'm staying downtown
because that's where my event is.
But I'm going to do everything in my power to scoot back over the diner on this trip
because the last time I was in LA, I was not able to make it over there.
Especially if by December 10th, if they've switched to this full service thing.
So anyway, I'm going to head over to do that.
You know what, I'm also reminded, I wonder, gosh, I mean, I'm on,
I don't think I'll be able to have time because I'd really like to get back over to the Peterson Auto Museum
while I'm down there because they have an 80s and 90s display right now
that includes, they've got the one of the three gold, 24 karat gold DeLorean's
that I've seen at the Peterson, but only down in the vault,
aka the basement where the lighting isn't awesome.
It's up in this 80s and 90s display now.
And my detailer, Jeff, from Immaculate Reflections,
he was down there a couple weeks ago and sent me pictures
and it's just, you know, it's now the gold DeLorean is under proper awesome museum lighting.
So now I kind of, I want to go over and see the gold DeLorean in good lighting,
not to mention all the other cool cars.
I don't know, we'll see, we'll see if I'm able to sneak over there,
but that's neither here nor there, anyhow.
So that is an interesting update from the Tesla Diner.
Interesting stuff.
Real quick, before I continue, I wanted to mention this week's Lightning Round mini-episode
that I do exclusively over on Patreon.
So for all of you very generous folks kindly supporting me on Patreon,
be sure to check out this week's Lightning Round,
which was a conversation with Patreon backer Matt Chinander
and his journey in Tesla that has led him to owning five different Teslas,
never more than one at a time.
So he is, it's honestly, he had a really, really cool story, it was fun talking to him.
I've been, I've been trying to do these conversations with Patreon backers
just like once a month, just to kind of mix things up
and it's, I just, I enjoy talking to you guys.
I've had the pleasure of doing it in real life on occasion
when, you know, some, one of you will be coming to San Francisco
and you reach out and say, hey, can we get a burger over at In-N-Out
and I've done that plenty of times and it's just always been fun talking to you guys.
And so I thought, well, maybe I can bring that to my audience a little bit
through the Patreon Lightning Round episodes.
So check that one out.
There are now, I believe that was the 170th Lightning Round mini-episode.
So if you're not already supporting me on Patreon,
you can join at that $10 per month tier,
which is the one that unlocks those Lightning Round mini-episodes every week.
And you can instantly get access to all 170 of those.
So head on over to my Patreon page to find out more.
It's patreon.com slash TeslaPodcast
or click the link in the episode description.
Don't forget that the annual pledge is now an option as well
and you get a 10% discount on the annual pledge
as a thank you for me to you
for kindly showing support for an entire year,
all in one fell swoop.
Our headline story this week,
Tesla has delayed their Next Generation AI5 FSD chip
to mid-2027.
I saw this on not a Tesla app,
who writes Elon Musk has confirmed on X
that volume production of Tesla's Next Generation AI5 chip
will not be ready until mid-2027.
The key takeaway is that the CyberCab,
initially slated to launch alongside AI5,
will instead launch on the current generation AI4 hardware.
Elon shared the update after wrapping up a design review for the new chip,
which he attended alongside Dell CEO Michael Dell.
Elon posted, quote,
AI5 will not be available in sufficient volume
to switch over Tesla production lines until mid-2027
as we need several hundred thousand completed AI5 boards
line-side, end quote.
So first of all here,
for those of you who are planning,
who've maybe been holding off on your next Tesla purchase
until you know that you can get AI5 in your car,
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news here
that you've basically got to wait another six months
as Elon had previously stated if we remember
that AI5 would debut in late 2026.
That was the guideline we'd previously had.
So in my estimation, it is approximately a six month delay,
you know, five to eight really I guess
if you want to kind of break it down a little further.
I mean, I suppose the silver lining here for AI4 owners
is that we get a six month stay of execution of sorts
before Tesla inevitably shifts FSD development focus
primarily over to AI5.
And when I say six months stay of execution,
I don't mean that, I just mean six months
from where Tesla would have made that shift
because certainly when AI5 first comes out,
Tesla's not going to immediately shift primary development
of FSD over to that.
They're going to need to get some cars out in the wild first.
They're going to need to get an actual fleet out there
before they fully make that switch,
which is what happened with AI4 as well.
But eventually AI5 will take over
as the primary development platform.
And so whenever that is,
we've basically just got another six months
as AI4 owners of having AI4 be the primary development platform.
I suppose though that it could, not necessarily,
but could also mean that those of us with AI3 cars
now have to wait even longer for our promised retrofit
if that is, if this delay
happens to slow the deployment of FSD unsupervised,
which it might not.
It might not.
We're not sure yet.
We shall see on that.
By the way, before I move on here,
I wanted to politely challenge not a Tesla apps assertion
that this means that the cyber cab will launch with AI4
because Elon did not say that.
That is their interpretation
because to be clear, I'll say this,
they may very well be correct.
The not a Tesla app folks might be correct on this.
But, and I say that because I've cited them before
on this podcast plenty of times
and they're not just a clickbait blog
who likes to throw unsubstantiated claims
and headlines out there for clicks, right?
That's not who those guys are in my estimation,
in my experience, but that said,
again, Elon's words were specifically
quote, insufficient volume,
meaning not insufficient but in space,
sufficient volume to switch over Tesla production lines.
And so that is no doubt referring to Model Y,
Model 3, and then SX and Cybertruck.
But with cyber cab slated to go into production
in April of 2026,
we're only talking about basically one quarter
or about three months.
So there might very well be a small run
of more or less handmade AI5 boards,
not literally handmade,
but just low volume like pilot production boards
that can go into the cyber cab
for those first few months,
especially when you consider that not only
will the production rate of the cyber cab
be at its lowest in those early months,
but also that Tesla will be its own first customer
for the cyber cab.
I fully acknowledge by the way
that Tesla is out there running around
engineering prototypes of the cyber cab right now
that are most likely on AI4 chips,
but I just think it wouldn't necessarily make sense
to have what would very quickly end up
being a minuscule percentage of the cyber cab fleet
running on AI4 computers.
The Tesla AI team would no doubt
much prefer that every single production cyber cab
be running on AI5,
at least of course, until AI6 inevitably arrives.
So we shall see what happens with that,
but at the very least,
we can definitely rule out any of us
buying Ys, 3s, Ss, Xs,
or cyber trucks with AI5 in them
for at least 18 months.
The new Roadster,
given the timeline that we're
pretty well looking at now with that car,
is probably going to have AI5 in it
right from the jump, although
I have to wonder how long it will take
for that car to get FSD
if it ever does,
because not only will the Roadster fleet
be like a rounding error of the total Tesla fleet,
I mean, the Roadsters will make Ss and Xs
look like 3s and Ys by comparison
in terms of volume,
but the whole point of the Roadster, of course,
is for it to be an amazing driver's car,
the quote-unquote one last great driver's car
as Lars put it at the Tesla Takeover event
earlier this summer.
So while it'd be great to have FSD
on that car, on the Roadster,
for when you want it,
I suspect the majority of new Roadster owners
are probably going to want to be
operating the car for themselves
most of the time,
because that's where the fun is going to be.
But anyway, mid-2027
is the new timeline.
At least as of now, of course, that could change.
And with the cyber cab,
we'll see, again,
maybe not a Tesla app is right,
maybe I'm correct
that they'll get sort of pilot versions,
pre-production versions of the AI5 boards,
or I suppose a third scenario could be
that the start of production on the cyber cab
gets delayed by three months
in order to wait for AI5 to be readily available.
We shall see.
Next up this week,
Tesla is reportedly looking to phase out
Chinese-made parts at US factories.
I saw this on Tesla Roddy who wrote,
as per the Wall Street Journal report,
the shift reportedly came
amidst escalating tariff uncertainties
between Washington and Beijing.
Citing people reportedly familiar with the matter,
the publication claimed that Tesla has already
swapped out several Chinese-made components,
aiming to complete the transition
within the next two years.
The publication also claimed that Tesla
has been reducing its reliance on China-based suppliers
since the pandemic disrupted supply chains.
The company has quietly increased
North American sourcing over the past two years,
as tariff concerns have intensified.
If accurate, Tesla would likely end up
with vehicles that are even more locally sourced
than they are today.
It would remain to be seen, however,
that a change in suppliers for its US-made vehicles
would result in price adjustments
for cars like the Model 3 and the Model Y.
Well, it certainly makes sense
for Tesla to take this action
in the current political climate, right?
Tariffs are a significant part
of the current political climate.
The bonus here, of course,
being, as Tesla Roddy did note,
that the cars would become
even more American-made
than they already are, and they already topped the list.
As you recall, the number one
most American-made car
is the Model 3 performance,
with, if I recall correctly,
I believe it was 87% of its parts sourced locally.
It's crazy to think about that number going up,
but it sure sounds like it might do just that
in the next year or two.
I think it also makes logistical sense
for Tesla to do this based on
what Tesla has said in the past,
even setting aside any geopolitical anything.
Remember, in the past,
Tesla has talked about wanting to make the cars
close to the customers
to reduce shipping costs, logistics,
and emissions as well.
And so it makes perfect sense
for that to apply to the parts
that go into the cars
as well as the factories themselves.
A giga Shanghai built car
makes sense to have mostly Chinese sourced parts.
A giga Berlin built Model Y
makes sense to have mostly
German or European sourced parts.
A giga Texas or Fremont factory built car,
you guessed it,
makes sense to have mostly
North American sourced parts.
I mean, heck, as we heard all about
in recent weeks, including
pretty recently at the annual shareholder meeting,
even the AI5 FSD chip
will be fabricated in Texas
at Samsung's new plant,
at least for the North American cars
because as we did hear from Elon,
Tesla will also continue to utilize TSMC
presumably to source the chips
for the giga Shanghai made cars.
Moving along here this week,
Tesla shaved nearly
400 pounds
from the Model X.
I saw this on Car and Driver,
that's who originally reported it,
and I want to tip my cap to long-time
listener of this podcast
and Patreon backer, Joe Edgel,
who sent this to me.
And Car and Driver writes,
excuse me, when we recently
tested and updated 2026 Tesla Model X,
it had been a decade
since we'd put one through our testing ringer
which was just after its launch
for the 2016 model year.
Although the two or three row
Gullwing Door Model X looks largely the same,
we did a double take
when we put it on our scales
as the 2026 X
at 5,219 pounds
is nearly 400 pounds
lighter than it was originally.
We then tracked down Tesla's vice president
of vehicle engineering, Lars Marevi,
to hear how and where they did it.
Marevi said that they were in a hurry
to get the Model X to market initially,
and that led to a number of less
than elegant engineering solutions
and parts inherited from the Model S
that came before it.
The short version is that the weight pairing
comes from just about everywhere,
but we'll break it down from the largest
to the smallest savings
and I'm not going to read you quite everything here,
you can read the full article
on Car and Driver if you're interested,
but continuing along they said
and he's not saying this is the driving force,
but Marevi says he buys his engineers
a case of beer for a kilogram saved,
which means he handed out a lot of beer
to Model X engineers.
I think he might have mentioned that on this podcast too.
The largest weight savings came from the battery pack
and electric motors.
Switching the rear motor from an induction type
to a permanent magnet design,
along with optimizing the half shafts,
let a shed about 100 pounds.
As part of the 2021 update, meaning the new Model X,
Tesla completely overhauled the battery pack,
changing to a slightly more energy dense cell
and switching the module's orientation
from horizontal to vertical.
This also eliminated roughly 300 cells from the pack.
Along with these changes,
some modifications to the pack's structure
saved nearly 90 pounds
while keeping the usable battery capacity
roughly the same.
This is a surprising one,
especially considering that the Model X's
interior materials got a big upgrade
for 2026, but Tesla got almost 80 pounds
out of the interior bits and pieces.
This included making parts thinner,
different manufacturing process choices,
and incorporating airbag deployment requirements
into the headliner fabric.
The five-passenger bench seat variant saved 50 pounds
by ditching the pedestal mounting,
which also makes it more practical too
because the seat folds flat.
Getting rid of the center mounting hardware
in the bucket seat configuration
jettisoned 11 pounds
and revised seat belt mounting
and structure shed six pounds.
Engineers saved 44 pounds
from the high-voltage wiring optimization
of the wiring from the charge port,
DC to DC converter,
and switching from copper to aluminum wiring.
The cooling system got a lot simpler,
reducing the number of radiators
while also incorporating
Nurburgring cooling requirements
for the plaid variant,
which dropped almost 30 pounds.
Some of the Model X's weight loss
is due to moving to larger mega castings,
where eight smaller castings
in the front and rear structure
turned into four larger ones.
That saved more than 20 pounds
and also helped to boost
torsional stiffness by around 10%.
A move to a lithium-ion
12-volt battery dropped 14 pounds,
tweaks to the front and rear
suspension design netted 10 pounds.
The plastic front and rear faces
are thinner by 0.6 millimeter,
which saved another 10 pounds.
The 2026 Model X is also the first Tesla
with a cast refrigerant manifold.
This not only saves three pounds,
but the part is made of a less
thermally-conductive alloy,
which gains 0.2% efficiency.
Kudos to Car and Driver, by the way,
for getting Lars to break it down for them.
I found that super interesting.
I hope you did too,
when you list everything out like that,
it's really a lot.
I mean, that's an insane amount of weight loss.
Quick math, I know I went to journalism school,
so math isn't my strong suit.
It's about a 7% weight loss
over the original Model X,
which is quite a bit considering
that the range has only gone way up,
not just up, but way up.
For those of you who have not been around Tesla
for the very long time that I have,
the original Model X 90D,
which is what Car and Driver is comparing to here,
had a range of 257 miles of range.
The Long Range X today
gets 352 miles of range,
so not only 100 miles more about,
but it's actually even more
pronounced than that
because the EPA testing cycle,
where the range estimates come from,
has gotten tougher
over the last 10 years.
So 257 then
would be less than 257 now.
So, bravo to the Tesla engineering team.
That is just a really impressive feat
given that it's still essentially
the same car on the outside
as it was 10 years ago.
One more Tesla news story
before I move along to other EV news this week.
Tesla sues North Dakota
the state's direct sales ban.
Saw this one on Drive Tesla Canada
who wrote,
Tesla is once again going head to head
with a state over its right
to sell directly to customers.
This time taking North Dakota to court
after regulators refused to grant
the company licenses to open
two new locations, pardon me,
in Fargo and Bismarck.
According to filings first reported
by the Bismarck Tribune,
the North Dakota Department of Transportation
denied Tesla's dealership applications
in 2024,
pointing to a state stature
that bars manufacturers from selling
vehicles directly to consumers.
Tesla appealed that interpretation,
arguing its business model
is fundamentally different
from the traditional automaker dealer system
the law was designed to regulate.
But, after meeting
with the company, the state
held firm, prompting Tesla
to file its lawsuit.
A hearing before South Central District
Judge Bonnie Storbachin
is scheduled for December.
In its lawsuit, Tesla says
it does not meet the state's legal
definition of a manufacturer
because it does not sell
vehicles to franchise dealerships,
something the statute
explicitly references.
Instead Tesla sells
exclusively through its own retail network
which it says places
it outside the traditional manufacturer category
the law was meant to govern.
Traditional motor vehicle manufacturers
sell their vehicles through independent
franchise dealers.
Tesla, by contrast, sells its vehicles
directly to customers throughout the
United States. As a result
Tesla has no franchise dealerships
in any state, the company argues
in its filings.
Well, here's
you've heard me say this before, but eventually
eventually
Tesla and Rivian
and Lucid, who are all
selling cars this way
they will win all
of these state-by-state battles.
I'm convinced of that.
And the reason is
because customers want
to buy cars
directly from these companies.
They don't want to deal with dealers.
There's a reason that
dealerships are derisively
known as stealerships.
So hopefully Tesla
will win this battle.
I mean, it sure sounds like
they're in good shape based on
North Dakota's own legal
definition of a manufacturer
so we'll see what happens with this
case next month.
Before I get to
the other EV news as well as your
Ride the Lightning hotline calls
I want to mention my friends at
Accelerate Auto and their
X-Care extended warranty
coverage for EVs.
For the first time ever X-Care is offering
battery and drive unit protection
as its own standalone
product and it's now
available for all EVs.
If your EV is a
2018 model or newer
and under 100,000 miles
at the time you purchase X-Care
you are eligible.
But here's the important part.
2018 models are only
eligible until December 31st
or until the odometer
hits 99,999 miles.
After that
they age out permanently.
So if you own a
2018 as I do
this really is the final window
to celebrate the launch of
this standalone battery and
drive unit protection X-Care
is running a Black Friday offer
from now through November 30th.
You'll get 10%
off battery and drive unit
coverage the first time this
product has ever been discounted.
Just enter the referral code
B-D-U-R-T-L
meaning battery
drive unit ride the lighting.
So B-D-U-R-T-L
at the payment screen.
Again that's B-D-U-R-T-L
for 10% off
through November 30th.
Protect the two most expensive
components in your EV
and head into the new year
and again you can check your eligibility
at Xcare.com
that's X-C-A-R-E
.com
On to other EV news
and I've got three other EV stories for you this week.
Remember, gosh
I don't know when, but remember at some point
when I said that it sure
seems like everybody has now
adopted Tesla's N-A-C-S
plug and that I
didn't think there was anyone left who hadn't
I mean in North America
obviously. Well it turns out I forgot
about one
and it's my favorite punching bag
Stellantis.
So they announced this week that
Stellantis is adopting N-A-C-S
for select B-E-Vs
in North America, Japan and South Korea
giving access to
28,000 plus Tesla
superchargers. Rollout
starts in 2026
for Jeep Wagoneer S
and Dodge Charger Daytona
followed by the 2026
Jeep Recon
and other future compatible
B-E-Vs
So I said punching bag
earlier because if you've been
listening for a while you know that
I've been highly critical of Stellantis
over specifically
their EV efforts
or in my opinion lack thereof
so the Daytona
B-E-V seems to be
unfortunately a big miss
from every review I've seen
and I'm not exaggerating, I'm not trying to pick on them
like I have watched
a few reviews from
Critics I Trust, Marques Brownlee
Throttle House, Doug DeMiro
those are the three top of mine
and they've all
heavily criticized
that car
and anecdotally for what it's worth
which is nothing but
I've seen exactly one
Daytona B-E-V
out on the road, one
which is not great
even the Volkswagen ID Buz
I'm finally starting to see
in some decent numbers out on the road
but I will say somebody up the street
for me to be a little fair here
one of my neighbors up the street
seemed to have traded in their Model Y
for the Wagoneer S
because the Wagoneer
is now parked where the Y used to
be right in front of their house
and I don't see the Y anymore
they've traded it in
now the Wagoneer
the aforementioned Marques Brownlee
aka MKBHD
whose autofocus channel
that's all about cars is awesome
I do recommend it
Marques was not kind
to the Wagoneer EV
in his review
so I'll just say I hope my neighbors
aren't regretting their decision
to part with the Model Y
and go with the Wagoneer
and then finally
from this announcement
I confess that this is the first time
that I've heard of the Jeep Recon
but it turns out
that's for good reason it's because that vehicle
was just announced
alongside this NACS
announcement now here's a quick
summary of the Jeep Recon
courtesy of CNBC
sounds like that they're aiming
for the off-road market
which I think is pretty great
and
obviously
on-brand for Jeep right off-market
is very much their thing so here's the CNBC
summary they say
Jeep's new Recon all electric SUV
will start at $65,000
the American SUV
brand announced when it officially revealed the vehicle
the 2026 Jeep Recon
has been years in the making
as the idea of an electric vehicle
inspired by the brand's iconic
road Wrangler SUV
was first revealed in 2021
it's expected to begin production
early next year at a plant in Mexico
the Recon
revealed ahead of the Los Angeles
auto show includes familiar
boxy Jeep styling as well as
removable doors
a spare tire on the rear
and open air roof all synonymous
with the brand's Wrangler SUV
quote with the Jeep Recon
we're proving that electrification
isn't just compatible
with off-road excellence
it can elevate it delivering instant torque
precision control
and a quieter more connected driving experience
that's uniquely Jeep
says Bob Broderdorf
CEO of Jeep
the Recon's price
is a roughly $14,000
premium over an entry level
2025 Wrangler plug-in
hybrid
and a nearly $27,000
premium over a base
2026 Wrangler 4-door
pricing is in line
with the $65,200
Wagoneer SEV
with a range of
294 miles
but again the
294 is the
Wagoneer so hang tight
on that for a second so
first I want to say 65,000 isn't
cheap but
trying to be fair to Stalantis here
if it's truly
capable off-road
then it's cheaper than
pretty much all of the other
EV pickup trucks that are also
off-road capable
including I'm talking like Rivian R1T
yes Cybertruck
is definitely in that group too
the Hummer EVs in that group
like all the EV pickups
65k it's cheaper than those
but
I'm glad to see them
starting to get some EVs on the road
I want to say something nice
but that said
and again maybe you think I'm being too hard
on this company
I don't have any history
with them or beef with them
I just really think they've
not been serious about the EV
transition but
so here's my last point and I know
this is another dig at Stalantis
but here's the thing
$65,000 price
the range on this thing
250 miles
not that that's horrible
but the thing is
that combination
that price for that range
I'm not sure they're going to find
a lot of takers willing to pay
65k
for a 250 mile range car
and if they don't believe me
they can ask Volkswagen
about the aforementioned
ID buzz
it's 60k
and has a range of only
234 miles
and again they do not seem to be selling
I know I just said I've seen a few of them around
but they do not seem
to be moving off of dealer lots
and that's we want EVs
to move off of dealer lots and into
people's garages and
driveways so
I wish Jeep the best with this
with this recon
but I don't know
65k for 250 miles
a range
that's tough
next in other EV news this week
Mazda has quietly begun testing
its first purpose built
EV for North America
saw this on Drive Tesla Canada
who said
Mazda is on the brink of making a meaningful push
into the EV market
after years of hesitation
and a string of half measures
including the short range and short lived
MX 30
the Japanese automaker has begun real-world
testing of its first dedicated EV
designed specifically for North America
the test vehicle
recently spotted near Mazda's
R&D hub in Irvine, California
marks the start of the company's
most ambitious EV program
to date
according to a sighting reported by Automotive News
the early prototypes
are riding on Mazda's upcoming
Sky Active EV Scalable
architecture
unlike Mazda's previous electrification attempts
this is a clean sheet
platform engineered from the ground up
for battery electric driving
modern charging capabilities
and a wide range of vehicle sizes
although the engineering
prototypes appear to be built
on a patchwork of body panels
from its existing internal
combustion powered SUVs
the proportions tell the real story
the final product should
slot into the midsize
crossover category
competing directly with the segment where
Mazda already finds its strongest
US sales
Mazda has confirmed that production of its first
dedicated EV will begin in Japan in
2027 with North American sales
following in 2028
Mazda has yet to reveal
key specifications such as range
battery size
charging speed or motor output
but with the brand aiming to have
EVs account for roughly 25%
of global sales by
2030 the company can't
afford to enter the market with another short
range compliance focused
model like the MX-30
well
21 in every
4 Mazda's sold
they want to be an EV in
5 years and the first
proper EV for North America isn't
going to hit for 3
of those 5 years
good luck again
I'm not trying to be mean
but that seems like an uphill
battle but
Mazda unfortunately like
Stellantis has been another automaker
whose EV efforts have been
seriously lacking I mean you heard
the drive Tesla Canada story
there they laid it out pretty well
so 2028
still a long time away so
while it is fair to criticize
how long it has taken
Mazda to wake up
because hey I get that you can't
just wave a magic wand
and bring a new EV to market so
hopefully this will be a good car
in 2028
and provide buyers in that
extremely large crossover
SUV market with
another good option
and finally
in other EV news this week
pivoting to a non-Tesla
automaker that is
doing a good job with EVs
I'm picking on the
guys that aren't here's one that I think
is doing a good job Porsche
they have officially unveiled
the all new electric
Cayenne SUV
which happens to be and
yes this is true even though
Porsche sells the 911
the Cayenne EV
is for now
the most powerful
Porsche ever
Porsche did announce this
wide but I first saw this posted
by our Tesla tipster friend
Soyer Merritt so a tip of the cap to him
and Soyer wrote in his post
here are the details I'll just rip
through them for you it's the starting
price on this thing is 111,000
dollars if you want
the turbo version that's
165k fully loaded
meaning you're going all out
checking every box
which there are some
impressive boxes I will say as I'll
read those for you in a second but
fully loaded
230,000 dollars
the range
315 miles
the horsepower
1,139
horsepower
so that's where your most powerful
Porsche ever comes in
wireless charging
up to 11 kilowatts which
pretty quick via a
$6,000 floor plate
a 113
kilowatt hour battery
the 0-60 is as
low as 2.4 seconds
without
a rollout
which is super impressive
a curved
OLED center screen
except it's curved
well it's more like it's
folded it's like it's bent
it's tough to describe
you should google image search it
but it's sort of
flat
it's
parallel to your chest
parallel to your
torso
on the top half or maybe top 2 thirds
of it and the bottom third
folds
on a shelf
so you've got some other controls
like environmental kind of fixed AC
climate control stuff
down there which is pretty interesting
they promise
on the back of the 400
kilowatt peak charging
which handily beats
all of the Tesla's except
the Cybertruck
they're promising a 10% to 80%
charge in under 16 minutes
obviously you gotta
you gotta find a v4
Tesla supercharger or
one of the not
very many electrify America
stations that can do that
but hey it can do it the car can do it
top speed is 162 miles an hour
it's got an air suspension
rear axle steering
torque vectoring plus on the
turbo and Porsche
active ride
for better handling and comfort
a .25 drag coefficient
a 3d light strip in the rear
with animated graphics
and illuminated Porsche lettering
a 14 and a quarter inch
digital instrument cluster which is
an OLED in front of the driver
and an optional 14.9 inch
passenger display
an optional augmented
reality heads up display
that virtually projects
an 87 inch display
10 meters in front of the car
I genuinely want to see that
that sounds awesome
cargo space
panoramic sunroof with variable
light control meaning
you can adjust the transparency of it
some higher end cars are starting to do that now
and it is so cool, it is awesome
if you've not seen that
go watch a video on that
it's really really cool
heated seats, armrests, door panels
and steering wheel
the towing capacity is 7700 pounds
the battery architecture
is 800 volt
deliveries begin summer of
2026
so by all accounts
right after that spec sheet
that I just read you
it seems like a great SUV
it's just incredibly expensive
which is the case with gas powered
Porsches too
it's not unique to the EV offerings
of Porsche
and again they're typically
they are great cars
but they're expensive
so the closest competitors
for the Cayenne EV
are certainly the Model X
plus the new Lucid Gravity
as well as the Cadillac
Escalade IQ
the latter of which by the way
just won Motor Trends 2026
SUV of the Year award
the Escalade
just as a quick tangent
has got an even higher starting
price than the Cayenne EV
starts at 127k
but I'll give the
I'll give the Escalade EV this
it crushes the Cayenne
and for that matter the Model X
on range
the Cadillac Escalade IQ
465 mile range
the Lucid Gravity
if you're curious is pretty well right there
450 miles
of range on that one
anyway getting back to the Cayenne
Porsche is known
for their driving dynamics
so if you want a
great driving
full-size electric SUV
that doesn't have driver assist stuff
no autopilot
nothing resembling full self-driving
which obviously Tesla is
leading the way on
which Lucid is making an effort on
Cadillacs
GM's got the super cruise
which is supposed to be pretty good
in the areas that it works
but Porsche
no that's not
what Porsche is offering
if you want the
manual
input experience which a lot of people
still value that I do
I use FSD but I love
I love driving my Model 3
performance myself as well
but
if that's what you are after and you have the budget
for it
I suspect the Cayenne EV
will probably not let you down
as you heard there it's not out for another
6 to 8 months or so
so we'll see what the reviews are like once it gets closer
again
the Cayenne EV is clearly not
for everyone it is a vehicle
at the top end of the market
but what we do know
is that the Porsche Taycan
is amazing
in most categories
I know the software is kind of the big
the big bugaboo with those cars
hopefully
Porsche has been working on that
I mean we know that eventually they are going to get the Rivian software right
because Volkswagen Group
signed that big multi-billion
deal with Rivian
but in the short term
hopefully the Cayenne will have an
improved software experience
over the Taycan
but
in pretty much every other respect the Taycan
is pretty awesome
and people also seem to be
really liking the Macan EV
which came out not too long ago
so in my humble opinion
I think Porsche is off to a
pretty great start
in the EV department
alright that's everything I've got for you
in the world of Tesla
and other EV news
but let's move along now to the
Ride the Lightning hotline
where I've got some excellent phone calls
from all of you, the listeners
lined up and ready to go
if you want to call in
with a question, comment or discussion
topic you want to respond
to something I say
as you heard, whatever it is
please try to keep your call
to 90 seconds or less
so that I can get to as many callers
each week as possible
and so if you're wondering, okay great
I'm happy to do that, how do I send the phone call in
there are two easy ways to do that
either
use your smart phones built in voice recording
software, record the question
and then email that
file to me at my
podcast email address
email me about EV things
anytime you like
that email address is
teslapodcast at gmail.com
or you can take that
same 90 second or less call
and just leave it
as a message on the Ride the Lightning hotline
it's a toll free number
that you can call anytime
the number is
1-888-989-8752
that number again
1-888-989-TSLA
and if you know someone special
with an upcoming birthday
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or some other special occasion
you can give them a unique gift of recorded voices
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the recordings can be
podcasted or put onto a keepsake
visit lifeonrecord.com
to learn more
first up this week is a
bit of a longer call I know I just said
please try to keep it to 90 seconds or less
this one from Blake is
more than that but
Blake from Los Angeles
here lays out what I thought were
three pretty good reasons
to welcome Apple CarPlay
to Tesla
if and when that happens go ahead Blake
Hey Ryan this is
Blake from Los Angeles hope you are doing well
I wanted to
to follow up
on your podcast over the weekend
about the CarPlay in Tesla
and what kind of benefits
that people might be able to see
with
this being added
and there's three that
kind of stand out to me
and I don't know
I'd be curious what your thoughts are on this
you know in
the community as well but
the
I always found that the text messaging
in the Tesla infotainment
has been something that
you know was implemented
some years back and maybe never
has been updated
and I don't know if it's using
MMS or what but
there's the issue that I find
when you're in a text group
and you respond to
somebody that
mentioned something in the group
and it will respond directly
to them instead of within the group
there's the lack of
like emojis that kind of come up as well
the second one
I would say is
even though that Siri is
probably inferior to Grock
Grock's capabilities
as far as
you know
adding a calendar thing
or you know
adding nodes or things like that
the simple stuff that Siri can actually do
Grock is still
not capable of doing that
and especially with
the upcoming
update that everyone's been kind of talking about
and now it might be
powered by Gemini
this might be a good time for Tesla to kind of
get in and have
that available
to people outside of Grock's
AI capability so maybe there would be
a big jump in
Siri capability and whatnot
and I think that also kind of comes along with
the you know privacy
stuff that
I'm sure that Tesla is all about
things private with Grock
but you know when people are asking
hey what's the weather like around me
and Grock doesn't have that information
available to it
then you know it'd be something that
people would feel a little bit more secure
with Siri I think
that's just my opinion I guess
and then third
would be the App Store
and I think that's kind of the obvious one
even though that Tesla has
implemented their own
version of kind of the essential apps
there are still
some things that
end up in CarPlay in the CarPlay App Store
or the CarPlay apps that show up
in your you know CarPlay system
like things like Libby
or
I don't know Waze things like that
that people might be more familiar with
and I think that
would really kind of help people
to kind of you know be able
to cling on to that
lioness blanket of CarPlay
when they
take up a new Tesla for the first time
anyway
hopefully that didn't go too long
but keep up the good work
thank you so much and listen into the
podcast every week
have a good one
well Blake I will forgive you for
running that call a bit long
because you really did lay out
a great case for why CarPlay
would be beneficial to Tesla owners
or at least well obviously
those Tesla owners with iPhones
those are three great
points that you made
and I appreciate you taking the time to call in
thank you very much for that sincerely
thanks Blake
next up is Bill from Wisconsin
responding to Joel from Florida
who had called in
a few episodes back asking about
road tripping in his Model 3
here's Bill to speak to that
Hey Ryan it's Bill from
Falls Wisconsin
I'm actually calling today in response to
Joel from Florida
who said he was originally from Wisconsin
and he was asking about road tripping in a Model 3
well I can tell you
that we took our 2018 Model 3
mid-range
all the way from northwestern Wisconsin
to Corvallis, Oregon
on one trip and back
which was
4,000 miles or so
and then we did another time
as you recall we came to
Central California
by way of Corvallis, Oregon
that time as well
also in our 2018 Model 3 mid-range
both of those trips were fantastic
it was my wife and I
and our dogs
our two dogs
and in both cases
we thought it was magnificent
and had no problem
traveling light or whatever
the Model 3 was more than roomy enough
room for all of our stuff
and I would double down
on what you said
that was of course that was a Model 3
with hardware
3
AI3 and now that we have our
2024 with AI4
it's even
more of a slam dunk
because obviously it has almost 100 miles
more range
which I've never really
had range anxiety anyway
it's just a hundred miles
certainly adds some peace of mind
as well as the fact that
with AI4
other than
the fact that it watches your eyes
you could practically take a nap
when you're going through the interstates
going along the interstates with it
so anyhow
that's it I just wanted to let you know
see ya
Bill I appreciate you sharing your story
and your encouragement for Joel
or anyone else out there looking to
get out into the world
and take a road trip in their Tesla
and Joel if you're listening
I hope that if you do take that trip
that maybe if you get a chance
give me a call after it's over
to follow up
and tell me how it went
I would genuinely love to hear from you again
after the trip
safe travels to Joel
safe travels to anyone out there
that's heading out on the road
whether it's in the morning
and or this holiday season
alright I've got time for just one more call this week
it comes from
Santi in Spain
hello Ryan this is Santi from Spain
sorry for my English
I will try my best
this is an idea for the Tesla team
for enhancing Tesla's
supercharger and trip planner
for round trips
when planning a trip especially
shorter ones
you can drive at your destination
without a nearby charging station
to recharge for the return journey
as a result the current trip planner
might leave you with insufficient battery energy
to drive back home
or even reach the nearest supercharger
on the way
to address this I suggest
adding a round trip option
to the in-car map interface
this would enable the system
to calculate not just the energy
needed to reach your destination
but also the additional
range required to return
to the nearest supercharger
or your starting point
with a safe buffer
thank you
great idea here
I genuinely love this
I love it
it would definitely help people out
and make trip planning even smoother
and less stressful
so thank you so much for calling in with that
I hope the Tesla team is listening
and taking notes on that one
alright that is all the time
I've got for the ride the lightning hotline
this week but keep your calls coming
the call and instructions
for how to submit a call
I gave you those at the top of the segment
so refer back to those
and I will of course get to more phone calls
on an upcoming episode
but for now
what is going on with me and my car as well
my car is
gonna just hang out in the garage for a little while
my family and I
had a very good fortune of heading out
on a trip this week over Thanksgiving
with my extended family
with my in-laws
so no doubt I will be looking to
get my car cleaned back up again
once I get back
there's no sense in cleaning it now
before I leave it's just gonna
accumulate a bunch of dust
so it'll just hang out in the garage
and be ready for me when I get back
as for an entertainment recommendation
for this week
I'm gonna take a
or I guess a buy
on this one
I've downloaded a bunch of shows for my trip
we'll see what's good and what's not
and then I'll get back to you
on next week's podcast
but I do definitely have a pro tip of the week
for you
it comes from Corey in Westchester County
New York
Hey Ryan, shout out to you
for ten fantastic years
of Ride the Lightning the Tesla
and the official podcast
you've been a fantastic
addition to my weekly routine
love listening to you
love listening to your insights
even the personal
insights and just wanted to thank you again
for ten great years
and I do have a pro tip
for you
I think it's something that
those of us in the northeast
and in snowy areas need to remember
when you drive
in snow it's really
important to turn down
your braking regen
and turn down your acceleration
so put it in the chill mode
turn down your braking regen to low
that reduces the risk
of a spin out
so as we're getting into
the winter months
at some point in the next few months
it's a good thing to remember beforehand
so again congratulations
to you for ten years
I hope the puppies are all doing well
Thank you for those extremely
kind words Corey
I really really do appreciate that
and what you've called in with here
this isn't just a pro tip it's a safety tip
so thank you very much
for sending this in
honestly this one seems so
vital for particular climates
that I'm surprised that Tesla hasn't already
implemented it automatically
if it detects
if the car detects extremely cold temperatures
and or snowy conditions
using the external
thermometer that it and
every cars got built into it
as well as the cameras too
like the cameras can see if it's snowing or not
so maybe they will at some point
but in the meantime
thank you for letting folks know
what to check for manually
I definitely could use more
great pro tips
if you've got a Tesla or EV related pro tip
something about your car
about our cars
that may not be super obvious
that's a just a good thing
that other people
would appreciate knowing
feel free to call in with it
and you send those in the same way
that you send in the regular ride the lightning hotline calls
which again I gave you the instructions
for just a couple minutes ago
a quick word about a few friends
of the podcast before I go
starting as usual with abstract
ocean.com
we've got a million great aftermarket accessories
for your Tesla or your Rivian
as well for that matter
a lot of different lighting kits
if you want to change the color
of the lighting on the interior of your car
the puddle lights as well
they've got a good selection of cool
custom puddle lights you can put down there
like the TESLA
wordmark light
just all kinds of great stuff
in the lighting department
also they've got the tempered glass screen
protectors that are great to
custom fit for every Tesla
and it's basically it's the same
glass that
Corning uses for Gorilla Glass
so it's tough
it's custom fit
I definitely recommend it
it's a very key component of your Tesla
or Rivian interior
so you want to keep it protected grab yourself
one of their fourth generation tempered glass screen protectors
or one of the other million
great aftermarket accessories
to get a
15% discount
on your first order at abstractocean.com
Pile everything you like
into your online shopping cart
and when you get to check out use the coupon code
RTLPodcast
that's all one word
no spaces RTLPodcast
for 15%
off of your first order
the snap plate
as well as the newer stronger snap plate
plus available for all the Tesla's
and they've got the Rivian
included there as well
snap plate is great
you can get it at everyamp.com
slash RTL or click the link in the
episode description
and there's a discount code here as well
whichever products you choose
get them into your online shopping cart
and check out use the coupon code
RTLPodcast
for a nice discount as well
so why
why use the snap plate
plus well if you
either want or legally need
to have a front license plate on your car
the one that Tesla gives you
the front plate
mount that Tesla gives you
sticks to your car
with tape automotive tape
that's a no
that's a no-go in the McAfrey household
you want something that's
not going to leave anything behind
if you ever want to remove it
and that is the case with the snap plate
when it's on it's on there securely
but if you ever want to take it off
for any reason maybe you're detailing the car
taking it to a cars and coffee show
whatever the case may be
it'll come off and leave
nothing behind and when it's on
it's a nice clean
minimalist design so again
get yours at
everyamp.com
slash RTL and don't forget to use
the coupon code RTL
at checkout
immaculate reflections
the detailer in my neck of the woods
who I use both my cars
Jeff is the name of the owner
and master proprietor there master detailer
he's awesome
he's a great human and a great
detailer as well
and he is offering as usual
a ride the lightning listener discount
for any service that you book in with him
so if you're in or going to be in
the greater San Francisco Bay area
with your Tesla or another car that you love
make an appointment ahead of time
and take it over
to immaculate reflections and I promise
that you will not regret it
you will leave happy when your car is done
whether you're doing paint
protection film on some
or all of the car
paint correction to get your paint
finished looking as good as it possibly can
and or
ceramic coating so that you don't have to
wax the car for the next five plus years
whatever you want to do
Jeff at immaculate reflections
will work with you work with your budget
and again I genuinely
promise I know this sounds
very hyperbolic
but I it's I'm being very sincere
with him when I say that
you will leave happy
everyone that I've ever steered
to immaculate reflections and it's been a lot of people
at this point over the years
they nobody has ever complained to me
ever once they've only ever said wow
the car looks great thank you so much for
this recommendation in fact
one of my long time listeners
sent me a note
that who has a an original
2012
Model S so one of
the early not a signature series but
an early early production Model S
has had the car 13 years
and it's finally
time to move on he's upgrading
to a
2026 plaid Model
S and he's taken it
over to immaculate reflections
and I can't wait to see
when the car is done what
he thinks of it I know he's going to be super happy
so go to the website
irdetailing.com
you'll see a contact button
right in the middle of the page there near the top
or in the upper left corner
click that reach out
get on the appointment
get on the schedule with immaculate reflections
and again your car
your car will thank you
will thank yourself
you can find this podcast
on any of the big podcast services
just search
ride the lightning Tesla
on whichever podcast service you prefer
then click the follow button
and when you do that
it means you will get a notification
every time there's a new episode
which is every Sunday at 9am eastern
6am pacific
unless
you are supporting me on Patreon
you will get a new one
for just 5 bucks a month
the support tiers start at just 5 bucks a month
there's that most popular tier
I was talking about earlier in the podcast
that's the 10 dollar per month tier
that one gets you
the entire stash
of the lightning round mini episodes
that I do each week
let me try that again
rewind as well as
the perk that you get
at that base level
per month tier
it's actually 2 perks at the 5 dollar tier
you get early access
to each week's episode
and you get
an ad free episode
as well
and that's the early version you get
the early access version is the
ad free version
so you're getting both of those perks
in fact I can tell you right now
that next week's episode number 539
if you're with me on Patreon
you'll get
extra early access to it
because I've already recorded it
as I said I'm going away with my family
for the Thanksgiving holiday
it's a great privilege to get to do that
I'm very very grateful
to get that opportunity
and you know I really want to
just take a break
from all my work
from my day job and yes even ride the lightning
even though I love it
just nice to just take a break
to think about any other
real responsibilities
and so I have pre-recorded an episode
for you for next week
and those of you that are with me on Patreon
will get very very early access
to that
and I hope even if you're not with me on Patreon
you'll just enjoy that next week
when it does come out
and you get a chance to hear it
but anyway
if you would see it in your heart
to support what I'm doing here on Patreon
click the link in the episode description
or just go to Patreon.com
slash Tesla podcast
and you'll see it all laid out
for you
the $5 tier and those perks you get
the $10 tier
and all those perks you get
and on and on and so forth
so check out the Patreon page if you get a chance
I would be very appreciative
if you took the time to take a look at it
oh and don't forget
that you can email me anytime
at TeslaPodcast
at gmail.com
you can also follow me on X
and or on Instagram
I have the same username on both of those
social media platforms and that username is
DMC
underscore Ryan
and uh and yeah
that'll about do it for this week's Ride the Lightning
last thing before I go
is to say hello and thank you
to the top tier Patreon backers
one of the perks they get
is getting their names shouted out
at the end of each week's episode
so I'll start with the Roadster in Space tier backers
Pete White
Lyle Austin
Steve Radspinner
Fernando Cordero
Sean Nightig
Neal Weaver
Jackson Wallace
Rolf and Jennifer Evers
Howard Anthony Smith
Victoria Aya Caveto
Tesla Hitchhiker 42
Doug Carey
Michael Gallo and Tony Figueroa
The Maximum Plaid Crew
Huge thanks and a hello
go out to
Jonathan Wales, Cameron Clark
Daniel Grummer, Seth Capello
Nick and Tony
The Galpin Family
Ryan from New York City
Darren Nickel, Cos Barnes
Patrick Wisnesky, Gil Cabrera
Todd Badger, Joe Edgel
Kevin Yank
The Owners Club of San Joaquin Valley
Will Steadman
Jeremy Harris
Chris Beach
Tom Mills
Cory O'Donnell
Aaron
John Cody
Joel Sap
Paul Casarino
Chris Osborne
KB
Adam Lavoie
Jason Chalukis
Charles Clement
Damon Klein
Jeff Brown
Jerry Slinger
Kenneth Corbett
Brian Bertoglio
Kim Bae
Troy Sievers
Chip Hooper
Matt Shinander
Robert Moran
Rob, Christopher Mann and Michael Williams
And last but certainly not least
the grandfathered in plaid level supporters
who kindly and generously support me
at that plaid tier
They are George Casiopo
Logan Willis
Peter Chalet
Eric Randolph
Dory and Steve Guberman
The Tesla Owners Club of Taiwan
Ron Lee
Charlie Gillespie
Jeff Angwin
Chase Cabanillas
The Lydia Family
Aaron Altschul
Matt Nixon
The Tesla Owners Club of Wisconsin
Ish
Elon Musk
Peter and the Bear Boys of Colorado
That will wrap it up
for Ride the Lightning Episode 538
again
I hope you enjoy next week's
pre-prepared episode for you
I will get back to the usual
weekly up to the minute
well up to the week
anyway up to the week
analysis
when I get back
and I move on to episode 540
but the person that I've spoken with
for next week's episode
very interesting person
very interesting Tesla lifestyle
that this person is leading
so I'll leave it for you
to discover and listen to that
but to my American listeners
I would like to wish all of you
a happy Thanksgiving
safe travels if you are on the road
either in your Tesla
or heading out via
airplane
but regardless I hope all of you
have a wonderful week
I am grateful to get this
some time away with my family
all the best to you and yours
happy electric motoring
again 539 I'll be coming at you
next week and then I'll be back
live for episode 540
I'll see you then
music
Elon Musk
people don't like Elon Musk
the guy found a PayPal and Tesla
and people are like yeah but he's a troll and a bad dad
I'm like so was mine
he did nothing to fight climate change
so have you been in a Tesla
have you been in a Tesla
my buddy let me drive a Tesla
I laughed out loud at how fast it went
been clinically depressed my entire life
on dozens of medications
in a Tesla for 13 seconds
cured forever
I mean I think a Tesla
is the most fun thing you could possibly
buy ever
that's what it's meant to be
our goal is to make
it's
it's not exactly a car
it's actually a thing to maximize
enjoyment
it's maximum fun
About this episode
Tesla's AI5 chip has been delayed until mid-2027, impacting the launch of the CyberCab, which will now use the current AI4 hardware. The episode also covers Tesla's legal battle against direct sales bans in North Dakota, the unveiling of Porsche's new electric Cayenne, and updates on Tesla's diner transitioning to a full-service model. Additionally, listeners can engage with a poll about the potential introduction of Apple CarPlay in Teslas, with varied responses from the community. The episode wraps up with listener calls discussing road trips in Teslas and suggestions for enhancing trip planning features.
Accelerate Auto
AI5
Apple CarPlay
battery and drive unit protection
battery pack
BEV
cast refrigerant manifold
DC to DC converter
direct sales ban
energy dense cell
Cadillac Escalade
Chrysler Daytona
Delorean DMC-12
Dodge Charger
GMC Hummer EV
Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Jeep Recon
Jeep Wagoneer
Jeep Wrangler
Lucid Gravity
Mazda MX-30
Porsche 911
Porsche Cayenne
Porsche Macan
Porsche Taycan
Rivian R1T
Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla Model 3
Tesla Model S
Tesla Model X
Tesla Model Y
Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Original notes
Tesla's radically advanced AI5 FSD chip has been delayed, so I'll discuss what that means for prospective Tesla buyers and for the Cybercab. Plus: Tesla fights another US state's direct-sales ban, Porsche unveils an impressive new EV, 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 consider a monthly or (10% discounted!) annual pledge. Every little bit helps and there are stacking bonuses in it for you at each pledge level, like early access to each episode at the $5 tier and the weekly Lightning Round bonus mini-episode (AND the early access!) at the $10 tier! And NO ADS at every Patreon tier!
Also, don't forget to leave a message on the Ride the Lightning hotline anytime with a question, comment, or discussion topic for next week's show! The toll-free number to call is 1-888-989-8752.
INTERESTED IN A FLEXIBLE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR YOUR TESLA? Be a part of the future of transportation with XCare, the first extended warranty designed & built exclusively for EV owners, by EV owners. Use the code Lightning to get $100 off their "One-time Payment" option! Go to www.xcelerateauto.com/xcare to find the extended warranty policy that's right for you and your Tesla.
P.S. Get 15% off your first order of awesome aftermarket Tesla accessories at AbstractOcean.com by using the code RTLpodcast at checkout. Grab the SnapPlate front license plate bracket for any Tesla at https://everyamp.com/RTL/ (don't forget the coupon code RTL too!).
Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast
Ryan McCaffrey
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