meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast

Episode 530: What Panasonic's Next-Gen Battery Means for Tesla

Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast

Ryan McCaffrey

News, Automotive, Business News, Leisure

4.71K Ratings

🗓️ 28 September 2025

⏱️ 80 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Panasonic is working on a next-gen battery cell that could bring serious improvements to Tesla vehicles. But how will Tesla choose to utilize it? Plus: more details are seemingly unearthed about the upcoming more-affordable Model Y, Nissan pulls one of its EVs from the US market, 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.

DOUBLE-EV RAFFLE FOR A GREAT CAUSE: ClimateXChange is back with their 10th annual EV raffle, and this year there are TWO raffles: a Luxury Raffle with a grand prize of ANY EV you want up to $120,000, and a second Mini-Raffle with a grand prize of any EV up to $45,000 (such as a Model 3 or Model Y). Enter now and get a bonus entry into their $10,000 Early Bird Raffle at https://www.carbonraffle.org/rtl 

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!). 

BONUS: If you're in or going to be in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, bring your car to be professionally detailed at Immaculate Reflections! They're offering a Summer special: $200 off of any paint correction service, $500 off of any ceramic coating package, and 15% off of any PPF package. Check out his website at irdetailing.com

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

On this week's episode of Ride the Lightning, the Tesla and EV podcast, Panasonic is working on a next-gen battery cell that could bring serious improvements to Tesla vehicles.

0:10.5

But how will Tesla choose to utilize it?

0:13.8

Plus, more details are seemingly unearthed about the upcoming more affordable model Y.

0:19.6

Nissan pulls one of its EVs from the U.S weekly Tesla and EV podcast.

0:52.2

This one's publishing on September 28th, 2025, but I am recording a bit

0:57.5

extra early this week. It is Thursday evening as I sit down to record this. And the reason for that

1:04.3

is I will be traveling to Los Angeles tomorrow because on Saturday I will be at the Los Angeles

1:10.2

Comic-Con checking off a career bucket list item.

1:14.6

I get to interview one of the co-creators of Grand Theft Auto, which is obviously probably the biggest video game franchise period.

1:24.6

You can make the case for Call of Duty, but Call of Duty comes around every year gta is far far far less often and when gta hits it's always just a not just a video game moment but a true pop culture moment um anyway it's the houser brothers down dan and sam that started started Rockstar and helped build Grand Theft Auto into what it is.

1:48.1

I've never in my 20 now, just about 23-year career had the opportunity to interview either one.

1:54.7

And I am getting to sit down with Dan Houser.

1:57.4

He left Rockstar, started his own company not too long ago.

2:01.6

So he's kind of out promoting that, talking about that. He's got a new graphic novel. So yes, I am excited for that,

2:08.5

and that will be on Saturday. So that's, again, I'm recording Thursday night. Come out to L.A.

2:14.2

If you're in L.A., come on out to the out to the LA Comic-Con if you're interested in checking

2:18.1

out that panel. But if not, it's also being live streamed on IGN.com as well over at my day job.

2:26.5

I guess even making that invitation would only apply to Patreon backers hearing this episode early

2:32.7

because by the time this episode goes out wide

2:35.4

on Sunday, the interview will have already happened. But anyway, I'm leaving Friday afternoon,

2:40.6

so I wanted to get the podcast out prior to getting on the plane, just in case anything with

2:45.8

my travel were to go sideways. And as always, when I do record earlier than normal, I'll let you know that if I miss

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Ryan McCaffrey, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Ryan McCaffrey and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.