Episode 544: My 10 Tesla and EV Predictions for 2026
Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast
Ryan McCaffrey
4.7 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 4 January 2026
⏱️ 105 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
I make my annual Tesla predictions for the new year, bringing other EVs into the conversation this year as well. Plus: Tesla posts its Q4 and full-year 2025 numbers, 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 you can support for just $5 per month. 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!).
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, I make my annual Tesla predictions for the new year, bringing in other EVs into the conversation this year as well. |
| 0:11.6 | Plus, Tesla posts its Q4 and full year 2025 numbers and more. Happy New Year, friends, I'm happy New Year friends, I'm Brian McCaffrey, joining you for episode 544 of Ride the Lightning, |
| 0:45.4 | my weekly Tesla and EV podcast. This one's publishing on January 4th, 2026. I'm recording it here on |
| 0:53.2 | Friday evening, January 2nd. As usual, I'm flanked by my two |
| 0:57.4 | canine companions. I've got a snoozing Daisy the boxer over on the couch to my left, who is very |
| 1:03.0 | happy and tired after our nice long walk today. And then to my right, oh, and she's got a squeak toy, |
| 1:09.3 | so we'll see if you end up hearing any of that through the microphone on the podcast. |
| 1:14.3 | We've got Lily the Silly Labrador, who is trapped inside for a little while here. |
| 1:20.2 | She has gone into heat, her first heat, which is, you know, she's right in the range. |
| 1:24.0 | She's like 10 and a half months old. |
| 1:25.5 | So not unexpected, but that means she's got to stay on our premises and not be out in the wild for a little bit until that's done. So trying to keep her busy with some good chew toys and things because she's just got energy. She needs to get out. I've got plenty of information I want to get out to you and fun stuff, I hope, |
| 1:45.8 | kind of a mix of information and fun stuff on this week's episode. |
| 1:49.7 | My first of 2026. |
| 1:52.5 | So happy New Year again, everybody. |
| 1:55.3 | 2026, for me, I have the great privilege to say it will mark my eighth year as an EV driver, which is crazy to me because it still kind of feels like just yesterday that I was, as I always used to say in the early days of this podcast, the kid with his face pressed up against the glass looking in on the outside looking |
| 2:19.1 | in, wanting to be inside and be part of the EV ownership group. And now I have really had the |
| 2:28.0 | privilege. It is a true privilege to have one. In fact, and now two great EVs, and that is something that I genuinely try not to |
| 2:36.8 | take for granted. In fact, I mean, I'm still paying for one of them off. So it's a good reminder |
| 2:42.2 | every month to not take it for granted because I'm still paying for it. But yeah, this is my |
| 2:47.9 | my eighth year as an EV driver. And let's see, this is, in terms of calendar years, |
| 2:54.6 | I believe it's now the 12th year that Ride the Lightning has existed, but it's really it's year 11 for the |
| 3:02.9 | moment. The anniversary comes along at the beginning of August, but boy, it has been a heck of a run, |
... |
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.