Cleantech Talk

CleanTechnica's Jose Pontes and Zachary Shahan talk EV sales trends in Europe, the US, China, and the world as a whole. In particular, they spend a lot of time talking about BYD's growing leadership, Volkswagen Group's fresh rise in the EV market, and Tesla's sales trend, business approach, and potential crises around the world.

GM Energy's Chief Revenue Officer, Aseem Kapur, and Director of Clean Energy Transportation at PG&E Lydia Krefta join CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan to discuss a new Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) pilot program eligible to GM EV owners in Northern California. GM EV owners in the region can now enroll and get up to $4,500 in incentives to unlock the power of bidirectional charging. That means their GM electric vehicle can supply energy back to their home, or eventually even to the grid.

Brian Nelson, ABB's Renewables Segment Leader in the United States, sits down with CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney to discuss the ins and outs of innovation accelerating the solar economy, the timeline for the next leap forward, and what it means for end-users, utilities, developers, and EPCs.

Mark Z. Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University and author of seven books, including “No Miracles Needed,” talks with CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan about renewable energy development over the last 25 years as well as how and why carbon capture & storage is a scam. Read more here: https://cleantechnica.com/2025/02/19/we-need-to-keep-our-eye-on-the-ball-to-save-the-planet/

In this episode, the co-founder and CEO of Climatize, Will Wiseman discusses how Climatize is helping everyday Americans fund solar, energy efficiency, and EV projects via their platform while allowing investors to earn up to 10% annually. Will also discusses what a Trump 2025 presidency means for the United States in terms of renewable energy investments and infrastructure. Founded in 2023, Climatize is an SEC-registered impact investing platform that allows investors to fund renewable energy projects while earning up to 10% annually. Climatize has helped to fund millions of dollars worth of solar projects across the United States. Climatize works with dozens of renewable energy developers across the United States to source projects for its platform. Climatize's investing platform allows any investor in the United States over the age of 18 to invest in renewable energy projects. Climatize was a finalist in Fast Company's 2024 World Changing Ideas list for both the Company of the Year and Impact Investing categories. Climatize is also a 2024 Keeling Curve Prize winner. For more information about Climatize please visit https://www.climatize.earth/. During the course of his 10+ years in the industry, Will has had a hand in every function of the solar energy business including, but not limited to finance, project management & construction where he built 15 solar arrays. He holds two MSc in Renewable Energy Engineering from KTH, the Royal Institute of Technology. Will Wiseman and his co-founder, Alba Forns, are 2023 Forbes 30 under 30 recipients.

In this episode, we delve into the world of alternative plastics. As plastic usage continues to rise, against a backdrop of climate change and the need to reduce emissions and waste across the globe, there is a desperate and time-sensitive need to scale plastics that don't cost the earth. Lignin Industries is a Swedish-founded company that has done just that, having developed a new bio-plastic from lignin, the second most abundant organic material on Earth. CEO Fredrik Malmfors is this week's guest. Fredrik Malmfors joined Lignin Industries in April 2023. His background includes 17 years at Accenture, over two spells. His final position at Accenture was leading their Nordic supply chain work. Malmfors' time at Accenture was punctuated by several years at Swedish agricultural cooperative Lantmännen (agriculture, machinery, bioenergy and food products in 20+ markets) in senior leadership positions.

CleanTechnica sits down with LandGate CEO & co-founder Yoann Hispa to discuss the past, present, and future of renewable energy technology and data. Yoann Hispa is CEO and co-founder of LandGate, a leading ClimateTech and PropTech company. Prior to that, he was Executive Director of Engineering at Ruspetro, and led the engineering and drilling operations for a Private Equity's mineral acquisitions which successfully divested for a 3x. Yoann has 19 years of experience in the energy and carbon industry in various technical and leadership roles. He has been an Instructor of Energy Land Resources at UT-Austin and at the Realtors Land Institute for several years. Yoann holds an Executive MBA from the University of Colorado, an MS in Geosystems Eng. from the University of Texas at Austin, an MS in Geomechanics from the University of Birmingham (UK), an MSc in Civil Engineering from ESTP (Paris, France), and a BS equivalent in Math/Physics.

In this episode of CleanTech Talk, Scott Cooney and Zach Shahan discuss the current state of climate action, reflecting on past US clean energy and EV policies from Obama and Biden, discuss some of the achievements of the Biden administration, and look into the implications of the recent US presidential election and challenges ahead. They explore the impact of local politics on climate initiatives, the role of complacency in political engagement, and the future of electric vehicle adoption in the US. The conversation also touches on global trends in renewable energy and the influence of fossil fuel companies on climate policy — globally and in the US. Scott and Zach delve into the complexities of climate change a little bit, the illusion of technological solutions and geoengineering, and the geopolitical implications of Donald Trump being elected ... twice. They also discuss the evolution of Elon Musk's thinking, influence, and involvement in political narratives, particularly regarding climate issues. The conversation culminates in a critical examination of Musk's transformation from a cleantech leader to a far-right political influencer, highlighting the challenges and responsibilities of influential leaders in addressing climate change.

Phillip Kobernick, Associate Director of Energy Programs at Peninsula Clean Energy, and Zach Shahan, CEO of CleanTechnica, talk about why Level 1 EV charging is king, and why it's critical for California to achieve its EV charging goals. Phillip and Zach also talked about other matters, such as building codes, the duck curve, and Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs).

Justine Johnson, Michigan's Chief Mobility Officer and head of the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), talks with CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan about how Michigan's mobility and electrification strategy, guided by the MI Healthy Climate Plan, is innovating and moving the EV ecosystem forward. They really are leading the way on some of the cutting-edge EV topics of the day.

CleanTechnica talks with Withum — a top 25 advisory, tax, and accounting firm that specializes in renewable energy tax credits (among other important topics) and the cleantech industry — about the complex and changing world of these vital credits and what you need to know for your business to thrive in 2025.

CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney, during Climate Week, talks with Mallika Talwar regarding climate change communications and the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication; Sara Newman, founder and executive director of the Climate Mental Health Network; and Zoe Berman, COO of Sound Future, about partying to help save the planet.

CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney talks with Alexia Akbay, CEO of Symbrosia, about natural solutions to reduce livestock methane emissions; a representative of Nuclear Matters, a nuclear advocacy org; Joshua Nodiff, creator of the Climate Imaginarium.

In this episode of the CleanTech Talk podcast, we sat down with Chris Rauscher, Head of Grid Services & Virtual Power Plants at Sunrun, to discuss how the company is empowering homeowners to become energy producers, ensuring a more resilient, sustainable, and efficient grid. We dive into how VPPs are revolutionizing how we think about power generation and grid stability and what went into the making of the country's largest virtual power plant in addition to the company's recent milestone of hitting one million customers.

I recently interviewed Mike Spagnola, president and CEO of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), for our CleanTech Talk podcast series. It was an atypical and interesting conversation for me, because it wasn't with someone entrenched in and coming from the EV industry. This is a more conventional auto guy who's coming at the EV topic from a "normal auto guy" perspective.

In this CleanTech Talk discussion, we focus on the potential for Rivian to seize the moment and explode in scale as it rolls out more affordable, highly appealing models and buyers turn away from Tesla as CEO Elon Musk becomes more and more focused on right-wing politics. Enjoy the discussion between CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney and Rob Simon!

CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney interviews Joseph Constanty, NIU Senior Director of Global Strategy & Growth, about NIU's new partnership with Best Buy to infiltrate the US market, among other things.

Teague Egan, Founder and CEO of EnergyX, talks with CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan about the lithium gold rush, where they're extracting lithium, how to extract and refine it better, the strong US policies that are building a battery supply chain in the country, and ⁠EnergyX's big new project in the US⁠ (https://cleantechnica.com/2024/06/20/energyx-announces-major-lithium-development-in-ark-la-tex-region/). Enjoy the show!

While automotive EV growth increases with a clear path towards a dominant position for electrics on the roads, why haven't electric motorcycles seen similar growth as electric autos in the U.S.? They are contributing to large climate improvements in other nations. How can we see the same in the U.S? Also, one million eBikes are sold in America annually and they have replaced a significant amount of automobile use. Whether that is from kids riding an eBike to school rather that traveling in their parent's car or consumers using them for quick, easy, and very affordable local transportation, eBike use has contributed towards less carbon emissions and a healthier lifestyle for eBike owners. This industry has been unregulated and has become dangerous, though. What legislation and regulation is coming and how will this affect the eBike industry and their use? CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney talks with Andy Leisner about these matters.

Jose Pontes and Zach Shahan of CleanTechnica discuss EV sales GROWTH; Tesla sales trends in China, Europe, and the US; and the big EU tariffs on electric vehicles produced in China.

CleanTechnica Founder Scott Cooney talks with Jason Marks, Founder & CEO of TELO, and Forrest North, Founder & CTO of TELO, about their history in the EV industry (and pole vaulting) and then primarily about the history, design, and benefits of TELO electric trucks.

Nina Haiman, NYSERDA Program Manager for Clean Transportation, talks with CleanTechnica Founder Scott Cooney about the health benefits of electric buses and transitioning New York State's massive school bus fleet to electric buses.

Scott Howard of CBRE and Nigel Broomhall of Invisible Urban Charging discuss why commercial real estate owners need to deploy good EV charging infrastructure across their portfolios, the constraints they operate within, and how an integrated solution can enable scale and repetition for EV deployment.

Mark Z. Jacobson, Director of the Atmosphere/Energy Program and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University, talks with CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney about California switching more and more to solar power and wind power as well as electricity prices in California and in other states using a lot of renewable energy.

In this special episode of CleanTech Talk, Zachary Shahan provides a full-picture perspective on Tesla Full Self Driving (version 12.3) and its potential for robotaxis (or not).

In this episode, we talk about how Salesforce is helping use AI for climate solutions to cut carbon emissions. CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney interviews Naomi Morenzoni, Senior Vice President of Philanthropy at Salesforce, for this podcast.

Ravi Mikkelsen, CEO & cofounder of Atmos Financial, talks with CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney about how the financial system can accelerate the cleantech revolution.

There is an urgent need to better address fire risks associated with energy storage systems—and sufficiently mitigate them. Chris Groves, Product Manager, and Mishaal SyedNaveed, Fire Protection Engineer at Wärtsilä Energy Storage & Optimisation, discuss baseline fire testing requirements and the importance of exceeding them.

Xcelerate Auto's KJ Gimbel and Milad Davoodi sit down with CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney to discuss current EV myths and concerns of mainstream EV buyers, useful answers and solutions for these concerns and questions, and some of the great benefits of electric cars. They also discuss some crazy (and hilarious) auto dealer stories regarding buying EVs.

CleanTechnica's Zach Shahan, Scott Cooney, and Derek Markham talk about how much has changed in the cleantech revolution in the past 16 years, from solar power to electric vehicles to biodiesel.

KJ Gimbel, founder and CEO of Xcelerate Auto, talks with CleanTechnica about the benefits and obstacles to electrifying government fleets, including police fleets. This is a true deep dive into the culture and process in public sector fleet management and leasing.

We recently spoke with Carina Brockl, Chief Revenue Officer at Aurora Solar, about the effect the Inflation Reduction Act is having on the US solar industry. On a less positive note, she also talked about "Net Energy Meting 3.0" in California and high interest rates. She talked about trends in the solar industry and effectively making solar sales. There's much more, too. Listen to the whole podcast!

CleanTechnica talks with Milad Davoodi, COO of Xcelerate Auto, about EV myths, real-world EV charging needs, road trips and towing with EVs, EV battery life and replacement, and extended warranties for EVs. Listen in for a lot of fun anecdotes as well as great information!

In this episode, CleanTechnica's Zach Shahan talks with Markus Flekenstein, Head of ARENA PLM International-PreSales at PTC; Varena Junge, co-founder of Yook; and Tim Klenner, Supply Chain Manager at ProGlove about a partnership between these companies to cut supply chain emissions. By seamlessly integrating Arena's cloud-based PLM with ProGlove's solutions and leveraging Yook's carbon footprint analysis platform, the collaboration optimises your product lifecycle development. This synergy not only enhances efficiency but also contributes to a more environmentally conscious and carbon-efficient approach.

Aimée Christensen, Founder and CEO of Christensen Global, talks with CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney about climate crisis, resilience, and highlights from the recent COP28 conference. Aimée Christensen brokered the first ever bilateral agreement on climate change between the US and another nation (Costa Rica, in 1994), and has helped build the sustainability platforms for, among others, the United Nations, Microsoft, Google, and Virgin, where she helped Sir Richard Branson develop the Carbon War Room.

Dr. Ray Gallant discusses the variety of grid-connected, off-grid, and portable charging products currently available for construction as well as what's in the works. He will also touch on how innovation in charging technology is benefiting both on- and off-road EVs. Also, on the heels of Volvo CE publishing its own brand-agnostic software protocol for 48V off-board DC chargers so that other OEMs and suppliers may use it in the development of their own charging solutions, Ray discusses the importance of collaboration throughout the industry and along the entire supply chain for progress on decarbonization and the technology that supports it.

For many organizations, Scope 3 emissions not only make up the highest amount of their total emissions footprint but are also the most difficult to address. According to Deloitte's Sustainability Action Report, 86% of companies reported challenges just MEASURING it, let alone ACTING on reducing it. Join Dave Rimkus, Associate Director of Supply Chain Renewables at Schneider Electric; Vishnu Nair, Head of Operations for Zeigo Activate; and CleanTechnica's Jo Borras as they unpack why Scope 3 is so complicated, and what to do about it.

Building upon the first podcast with Volvo CE, this episode will take a deeper dive into electric construction equipment. Much of the talk around EVs has applied to on-road use, but off-road vehicles are a significant contributor to global warming too. In fact, the buildings and construction sectors combined account for 38% of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. Electric construction equipment is starting to be used globally as a way to address this issue. Dr. Ray Gallant will share the current landscape of the technology and what advancements are on the horizon, what fleets need to know about switching to electric machines, why it's important to start reducing off-road emissions now, and how electric machines are opening up new opportunities for companies. He'll also touch on why this matters to all audiences, even those not in the construction industry, because many organizations work with partners in their value chain who use construction equipment.

Meeting the targets needed to avoid the worst effects of global warming is going to take an integrated and comprehensive effort. When it comes to EVs, that means we need to focus on more than just electric cars. Other vehicles, including construction equipment, are part of the solution. This podcast will touch on the trends that are changing the world — urbanization, sustainability, political instability, technology — and where Volvo Group is headed to help address these: connectivity, automation and electromobility, with a focus on emobility. It will also introduce the topic of electric construction equipment (early use cases and the potential) which will be expanded on in the second podcast.

To reach net zero, corporations need to power their operations with renewable energy. What solutions are available to achieve this? A combination of expert advice and software can accelerate the clean energy transition. Katie Mills, Head of Zeigo Power, and Meghan McIntyre, Senior Energy Analyst & Business Strategy Lead at Zeigo Power, join Zach Shahan, CleanTechnica CEO, for a wide-ranging conversation that covers everything from the best practice for how companies should approach decarbonizing their business operations, to how corporations secure contracts with clean energy projects, and, finally, where they see the PPA industry going.

This episode explores the dynamic landscape of the home solar market. We dive into the current challenges, including a downturn in publicly traded solar stocks and shifting demands in major markets like California. Despite these hurdles, there's a noticeable shift towards solar and battery systems. Looking ahead, we anticipate significant trends such as the rise of micro-grids and a spike in demand due to environmental concerns and advancements in solar technology. We also discuss the “15-cent rule” and its implications for solar adoption. We examine incentives for homeowners, including federal tax credits and state-level initiatives, particularly the burgeoning solar storage market set for growth in 2024. Innovations in solar products, such as efficient solar panels, and energy storage. The episode further addresses how solar products enhance energy security, offering homeowners a dependable power source and reducing grid dependence. We also discuss the projected growth of the US solar market, which is expected to surpass hydropower in 2024. We also tackle the barriers preventing widespread solar adoption among homeowners, such as financing options, misinformation, and regulatory variability, and how these are being gradually overcome. This analysis offers insights into the evolving solar landscape, its challenges, opportunities, and future outlook. Marcus Joo, Cofounder of EnergyPal, talks with CleanTechnica Founder Scott Cooney about these matters in this podcast interview. Looking into solar for your home? Get a free quote at: https://energypal.com/cleantech

Decarbonization is today's challenge for everyone. When it comes to making serious inroads in reducing emissions, there are leaders, there are laggards, and there's everyone in between. Join Ian Lawrence, Zeigo Network Manager, and Zach Shahan, CleanTechnica CEO, as they discuss the need for corporate leaders to build connections and learn about decarbonization tactics to make real progress. Discover how software can empower action through education, connections, and actionable opportunities.

Visiting family members who don't believe in climate science for the holidays? Here are some tips on how to talk to them at the big family dinner table.

Cristy Hatter, VP of Brand at Lectric eBikes, sits down with CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney to talk about the best selling eBikes in the USA and CleanTechnica's 2023 Holiday Wishbook. Fun fact: after Tesla's top selling Model Y and Model 3, Lectric eBikes are the 3rd best selling EVs in the USA! Learn more in the full podcast.

The Charging Interface Initiative Inc. (CharIN Inc.) and the American Center for Mobility (ACM) have teamed up to advance electric vehicle fast charging and interoperability. Erika Myers, Executive Director at CharIN North America, and Reuben Sarkar, CEO of ACM, talk with CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan about EV fast charging.

Laura Eve, VP, SaaS Sustainability Solutions for Zeigo, a suite of decarbonization software solutions, talks with CleanTechnica's Jo Borras about the corporate decarbonization imperative. 42% of Fortune 500 companies have set a major climate milestone for 2030, or have achieved one already (up 11% from last year). But what does decarbonization actually entail, why is it so hard, and how can software help businesses achieve their goals?

In this episode, CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan talks with Sara Nichols from the Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition about drag racing an electric school bus with a diesel school bus, a funny thing bus drivers don't like about electric buses, EV charging and EV adoption in rural North Carolina, how clean cities coalitions can help lead the EV revolution, and more.

Electriciens sans frontières (Electricians Without Borders or EWB) is a French international aid nonprofit organisation, which has impacted the lives of millions of people over the last 30 years in more than 40 countries. Targeting the most isolated and vulnerable, it improves their access to safe, sustainable, and clean energy and water, for public services (education, health) and income-generating activities. As a result of winning the 2020 Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Energy category, EWB has been able to extend clean energy access to 23,000 rural, low-income Madagascar residents and beyond. In this episode, CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan interviews Tania Chauvin, Senior Project Manager, Electriciens Sans Frontières.

Fires happen. Battery fires happen. Mishaal SyedNaveed, Fire Protection Engineer at Wartsila, and Noah Ryder, Managing Partner at the Fire & Risk Alliance, discuss how to do more to prevent fires at grid-scale battery storage facilities.

In this episode of CleanTech Talk, Jo Borras explores the secret sauce behind RecycLiCo's patented black mass recycling technology with CEO Zarko Meseldzija, who highlights the importance of efficiency, circularity, and urban mining.

Today's energy grid needs more flexibility to balance supply and demand as traditional “peaking” generators retire, electrification expands, and extreme weather events multiply. While virtual power plants have been providing value to the grid for years, their potential value only continues to increase as the number of distributed energy resources (DERs) grows. Mike Smith, CEO at CPower, sat down to discuss how CPower helps customers optimize their DERs, meeting the demands of our energy grid while rewarding customers for reducing their energy use. Learn how Virtual Power Plants ensure that no DER value is left behind as we collectively work towards a clean energy future.