Podcasts about terawatt infrastructure

In 2021, Neha Palmer co-founced Terawatt Infrastructure with a bold mission: create the backbone for America's electric trucking revolution. Within its first year, Terawatt secured a billion-dollar investment. But as the company developed plans for a nationwide charging network, it confronted the daunting challenge of building infrastructure for an electric truck market that barely existed.  High-profile bankruptcies like Nikola Motors cast long shadows over the sector's viability, raising questions about whether heavy-duty transport can truly be electrified. In this episode, Lara talks with Neha about how Terawatt aims to transform freight transport despite market skepticism. Neha explains Terawatt's strategic approach to site selection, innovative charging designs for fully-loaded trucks, and the vision for a revolutionary California-to-Texas network. Credits: Hosted by Lara Pierpoint. Produced by Erin Hardick. Edited by Anne Bailey and Stephen Lacey. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor.Register here for Transition-AI 2025 in Boston on June 12th, 2025. Use promo code LATITUDEPODS10 for 10% off your ticket.

John Rappaport is the Chief Investment Officer at Keyframe Capital, a special situations fund manager. They help management teams solve complex asset and corporate financing requirements. In finance speak, this is often referred to as structured capital—the process of separating a company's capital structure into layers, enabling each layer to be fit for an investor seeking that specific risk-return profile.As John shares, structured capital can often be a good fit for companies in the energy transition, as those in renewable energy and adjacent categories often have high upfront capital costs and a relatively low cost of ongoing production.John has spent much of his career in financial roles within the energy and transportation sectors. Prior to founding Keyframe in 2020, he joined Cyrus Capital Partners in 2008, and before that, he worked for Sankaty Advisors, a division of Bain Capital. He has lectured on structured capital and economics at Yale University and sits on the boards of many companies in the energy transition space, including Wonder Capital, Utility Data, and Sealed, among others.So, let's dive into the wonky but important world of structured capital.In this episode, we cover: [1:57] Overview of Keyframe Capital[2:52] The origin of Keyframe and a story about Terawatt Infrastructure[11:25] Understanding structured capital[17:01] Examples of structured capital: Infrastructure as a service[21:10] Keyframe's thesis-driven approach[25:56] The data center financing challenge[31:02] When and how founders should engage with structured capital providers[35:48] Keyframe's current focus areasEpisode recorded on Jan 21, 2025 (Published on Feb 6, 2025) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

50 episodes later… Thank you all for joining us on this journey. We are so pleased to celebrate this milestone by hosting Neha Palmer, CEO and Co-Founder of TeraWatt Infrastructure! Neha Palmer's career in energy is extensive, with experience in utilities, finance and technology. In her role most prior to TeraWatt, as Head of Google's Energy Strategy, she led Google to be the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the world.    In this episode we will dive into the electric heavy-duty vehicle space. This sector is notoriously hard to decarbonize, yet accounts for 23% of US transportation emissions. Tackling it has major benefits for our air and Earth. To do so, Terawatt's approach includes thinking of electric heavy-duty vehicle infrastructure in the same way as we think about building energy solutions to data centers. The demand is high, the scale is large, and the capital is intense. Tune in to hear Neha's thoughts.    Thank you to Energy Dialogues for making this (and all our prior episodes!) happen.    Keynotes: How to tackle complicated electrification issues Why is the energy transition a ‘once in a generation' transition? What lessons is TeraWatt taking from global electrification leaders?   And follow us on: Newsletter: https://www.energy-terminal.com/newsletter-signup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-terminal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energyterminal/  

Transport Topics is the news leader in trucking and freight transportation. Today's briefing covers the president requesting aid for the Port of Baltimore, a Terawatt Infrastructure announcement, and Hub Group forming a joint venture with a Mexican carrier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“We start to look at the advantages of the technology, and we start to really focus in on where can we go forward? What are the things we're doing and how do we get there collectively so that it is the industry, and the infrastructure side actually coming together and making those choices and implementing these safety features or implementing these (technologies)… There's no one right solution…It's collaboration and it will always have to be.” Michele Mueller on Electric Ladies Podcast There's a reason automakers are calling themselves “mobility” companies today, not just automakers. It's because technology is such a dominant piece of the vehicle and transportation sector writ large. How do these technologies change our daily routines? Listen to this fascinating interview on Electric Ladies Podcast with Michele Mueller, Manager of Connected, Automated and Electrification at the Michigan Department of Transportation, in the heart of the auto sector. You'll hear: How new technologies are transforming vehicles, not just electrifying them, and turning them into more than transportation. How the Michigan DOT is staying in touch with communities across the state, to ensure they meet their needs, including underserved populations. How the Michigan DOT is collaborating with the auto industry, including automakers, suppliers, entrepreneurs and regulators to balance all interests but putting the traveling public first. How the Michigan DOT is innovating and testing new technologies, including updating their infrastructure with the new federal funding (Infrastructure Investment Act, Inflation Reduction Act) Plus, insightful career advice “One is, I would say do something you enjoy doing. Find your passion. I found my passion and even on a bad day, it's a good day, right? I get up in the morning, I get excited to do and to achieve what I've set forward. I think the other thing is, don't expect to change the world tomorrow, right? It takes time. It's taken me a very long time. It still takes me every day to look at things. Things aren't going to change overnight, and some things may require a little more energy and a little more pushing and challenging of yourself and others to actually get to achieve that.” Michele Mueller on Electric Ladies podcast   You'll also want to listen to: (some might be recorded under our previous name, Green Connections Radio) Tiya Gordon, Cofounder and COO, itsElectric urban EV charging systems Linda Zhang, Chief Engineer, Ford F160 Lightning EV Suzy Deering, Chief Marketing Officer of Ford – on bringing change to a legacy industry as an outsider. Genevieve Cullen, President, Electric Drive Transportation Assn. – on financial benefits for buying EVs in the new legislation, and EVs coming to market soon Kristen Siemen, Chief Sustainability Officer of General Motors Neha Palmer, Founder/CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure on charging for EV trucks Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

What was it like to found a startup dedicated to building EV fleet charging hubs after nearly a decade of leading energy strategy for Google? In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with the brilliant Neha Palmer, CEO at TeraWatt Infrastructure, who had the foresight to anticipate the future real estate, operational & interconnect needs of EV fleets across the country. Fast forward to today & TeraWatt has properties in 18 states, just completed a large EV hub project near LAX, & has key partnerships with companies like South Korea's SK Signet. Neha also talked about how she started her career as a gas engineer at PG&E & an Associate at Goldman Sachs before transitioning into cleantech, as well as her advice for those looking to join the cleantech industry.If you're looking for your next role in cleantech, take a look at our industry-leading clients' latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. If you're a cleantech employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier candidates, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. 

“People who have been to space really do speak about it with great reverence. And it is for that reason that we want to take people to space in our car. Neutral zero emission spaceship, spaceship vacuum, which as you saw is not a rocket. Enormous balloons. It's a very gentle flight. We want to take leaders to space. We want to take artists to space. We want to have teachers go to space.” Jane Poynter at Earth Day Network's Climate Leadership Gala As Virgin Galactic takes another set of civilians into space, think about all the emissions they are adding to the very airspace they are celebrating.  Space Perspective says they are doing similar space travel but without hurting the planet. Imagine how much energy those trips use. And, though they are also doing climate research up there, the capsules and rockets are not generally carbon neutral. Can they be? Listen to veteran space executive and former Biosphere 2 leader Jane Poynter, CEO and cofounder of Space Perspective describe how they are doing carbon neutral space travel in this extraordinary conversation with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson conducted at the Earth Day Network Climate Leadership Gala (so there will be a lot of background sound).  You'll hear: How Space Perspective is making space travel carbon neutral (from fuel to materials). Who is paying for it (and what it will cost you to take ride with them) The general carbon footprint of today's space shuttles and private companies' space travel. How her experience in Biosphere 2 led to Space Perspectives. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… “There are so many ways to make a difference, right?... I think at the end of the day, you have to be true to yourself and what is it that fires you up. And, and what is it that that does light that fire within you that you have to pursue, that you're driven to pursue, and then go pursue it. And, you know, sometimes it takes going in at a level that maybe you don't feel is your level. Maybe it's beneath you, but if you are trying to move into a slightly adjacent career, you have to do that. Cuz you have to work your way up sometimes. And it's also the best way to learn.” Jane Poynter on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here too. You'll also like:         Kristen Siemen, Chief Sustainability Officer of General Motors         Suzy Deering, Chief Marketing Officer of Ford – on bringing change to a legacy industry as an outsider.        Neha Palmer, Founder/CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure on charging for EV trucks        Jackie Birdsall, Toyota, Senior Engineer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Jennifer Gerbi, Ph.D., Deputy Director and Acting Director, ARPA-E, the innovation arm of the Department of Energy Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review!    

Fleet operators understand that the future of urban mobility is electric, but facilitating a paradigm shift of this size comes with unique challenges. Creating electrification solutions that are not just capable, but also reliable and cost-effective is complex – So, how can fleet operators overcome the challenges needed to electrify at scale? In this episode, we talk with Peter Cohen, Director of Business Development at TeraWatt Infrastructure, as he explains how different types of fleet operators (heavy-duty trucking, urban, and logistic fleets) can successfully scale up their fleet electrification with the right strategy and a tailored solution.

“People who have been to space really do speak about it with great reverence. And it is for that reason that we want to take people to space in our car. Neutral zero emission spaceship, spaceship vacuum, which as you saw is not a rocket. Enormous balloons. It's a very gentle flight. We want to take leaders to space. We want to take artists to space. We want to have teachers go to space.” Jane Poynter at Earth Day Network's Climate Leadership Gala With all the news coverage of NASA and private companies going to space, including with civilians, it's important to remember the carbon footprint of those journeys. Imagine how much energy those trips use. And, though they are also doing climate research up there, the capsules and rockets are not generally carbon neutral. Can they be? Jane Poynter says they can be carbon neutral and is putting her money and reputation on the line to prove it. The veteran space executive and Biosphere 2 leader now founded Space Perspectives, with the blessing of Carl Sagan's widow too, to take civilians into space in a carbon neutral way. Listen to Jane Poynter explain how in this extraordinary conversation with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson conducted at the Earth Day Network Climate Leadership Gala (so there will be a lot of background sound).  You'll hear: How Space Perspective is making space travel carbon neutral (from fuel to materials). Who is paying for it (and what it will cost you to take ride with them) The general carbon footprint of today's space shuttles and private companies' space travel. How her experience in Biosphere 2 led to Space Perspectives. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… “There are so many ways to make a difference, right?... I think at the end of the day, you have to be true to yourself and what is it that fires you up. And, and what is it that that does light that fire within you that you have to pursue, that you're driven to pursue, and then go pursue it. And, you know, sometimes it takes going in at a level that maybe you don't feel is your level. Maybe it's beneath you, but if you are trying to move into a slightly adjacent career, you have to do that. Cuz you have to work your way up sometimes. And it's also the best way to learn.” Jane Poynter on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here too. You'll also like: ·       Kristen Siemen, Chief Sustainability Officer of General Motors ·       Suzy Deering, Chief Marketing Officer of Ford – on bringing change to a legacy industry as an outsider. ·       Neha Palmer, Founder/CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure on charging for EV trucks ·       Jackie Birdsall, Toyota, Senior Engineer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Jennifer Gerbi, Ph.D., Deputy Director and Acting Director, ARPA-E, the innovation arm of the Department of Energy Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

Accelerating the adoption of zero emission trucks is an enormous undertaking that involves fleets, regulators, OEMs, utilities, local communities, and more. Today's episode will unravel the complicated landscape of US policies that are at the heart of decarbonizing road freight. Anthony Harrison is Head of Policy and Communications at Terawatt Infrastructure and a seasoned pro in the clean energy industry. He walks listeners through the national, state, and local policy landscape to better understand the forces at play shaping supply and demand of zero emission vehicles in the US.Follow the Net-Zero Carbon PodcastOther FreightWaves Shows

Accelerating the adoption of zero emission trucks is an enormous undertaking that involves fleets, regulators, OEMs, utilities, local communities, and more. Today's episode will unravel the complicated landscape of US policies that are at the heart of decarbonizing road freight. Anthony Harrison is Head of Policy and Communications at Terawatt Infrastructure and a seasoned pro in the clean energy industry. He walks listeners through the national, state, and local policy landscape to better understand the forces at play shaping supply and demand of zero emission vehicles in the US. Follow the Net-Zero Carbon Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we have a pretty interesting capital provider joining us. Ethan Goldsmith is an Investment Partner at Keyframe Capital and helped found TeraWatt Infrastructure (the fleet charging behemoth). We went through the usual stuff around his background, early career, what they are doing, how they source deals, and their unique points but the core of this conversation in my opinion is really in their model. Since their inception, they saw that ClimateTech would require more flexible capital structures given that the pure equity model wasn't going to work given how capital-intensive most of these technologies are. They set up their fund to include those flexibilities. As an example, they might find a firm that is in need of funding, they could write a check in return for equity, but then in a few months, they might issue a specific project finance product for that use case. If the portfolio company needed to raise that in the form of equity for dollars, they would quickly be eradicating their cap table space. This to me is the most important aspect of this entire conversation and I'm glad we had the chance to speak with Ethan to go through it. There are other interesting topics here but this is key for other fund builders to consider. Enjoy the episode! Topics: 1:57 Intro7:35 What led them to recognize the infra -- VC Gap14:27 Getting into PE/VC19:13 Building TeraWatt24:47 Key Takeaways from starting TeraWatt26:47 Differentiating their model through flexible capital31:36 Their Verticals38:11 Managing deal flow40:58  They spend a lot of time in the market before investing because of their model42:32 How they help their portfolio co's45:45  Advice to hardware and capital-intensive startups in ClimateTech48:36 Obvious Prediction50:47 Final thoughts Links: Connect with Ethan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-goldsmith-186b3627Keyframe Capital Website: https://www.keyframecapital.com/Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/Join the Slack Channel:  https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/emailFollow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner__________We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/Support the show

What will it take to build out a heavy-duty truck charging network? The answer may surprise you. Neha Palmer, CEO of Terawatt Infrastructure, chats with host Tyler Cole to explain why the nation's EV hub buildout might have more to do with data centers instead of traditional truck stops. Terawatt combines expertise in real estate, electric vehicles and charging, project development, operations, and energy to accelerate buildout of HDEV charging stations. More info available at www.terawattinfrastructure.com or reach out at info@terawattinfrastructure.com.Follow the Net-Zero Carbon PodcastOther FreightWaves Shows

What will it take to build out a heavy-duty truck charging network? The answer may surprise you. Neha Palmer, CEO of Terawatt Infrastructure, chats with host Tyler Cole to explain why the nation's EV hub buildout might have more to do with data centers instead of traditional truck stops. Terawatt combines expertise in real estate, electric vehicles and charging, project development, operations, and energy to accelerate buildout of HDEV charging stations. More info available at www.terawattinfrastructure.com or reach out at info@terawattinfrastructure.com. Follow the Net-Zero Carbon Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neha Palmer, CEO and cofounder of TeraWatt Infrastructure joins us to talk about powering the electric vehicle infrastructure that keeps the supply chain moving. We'll look into challenges and opportunities behind creating and delivering electric charging infrastructure for commercial fleets using electric vehicles.At UniGroup Logistics, getting you from point A to Point B is just the beginning. We're the problem-solvers that drive, that move, that hustle day in and day out. So your company can reach, lead, thrive and drive the future.Follow the Loaded and Rolling PodcastOther FreightWaves Shows

Neha Palmer, CEO and cofounder of TeraWatt Infrastructure joins us to talk about powering the electric vehicle infrastructure that keeps the supply chain moving. We'll look into challenges and opportunities behind creating and delivering electric charging infrastructure for commercial fleets using electric vehicles.Follow the Loaded and Rolling PodcastOther FreightWaves Shows

“So we went out to the communities and we met with them and said,' what do you want in your downtown? There's this rail line that goes through the middle of your downtown. What's your vision for that?' And they all said, we think rail is a really big part of our future right now….We'd love to use that to spur economic development in our downtown. We think it creates foot traffic and then creates economic opportunity….How can you help us as small towns? How do we make the most of that?” Julie White on Electric Ladies Podcast Public transportation today looks very different than ever before. It's because communities are different, “commuting” is different, and what makes up “public transportation” is different. Covid is only part of it. Systems have changed, priorities have changed and funding options have changed, especially with the new federal legislation too. How so? Listen to this fascinating interview on Electric Ladies Podcast with Julie White, Deputy Secretary of Transportation in North Carolina, a state that take “multi-modal” to a whole new level. You'll hear: How communities look at how they get from point A to point B in this brave new world of mobility. How NC DOT got to know what their communities need – in a state with a wide range of types of communities – and what we can learn from them. What kind of impact the new federal legislation and funding is having and will have as it rolls out across the country. What “institutionalizing change” means and how NDCOT is doing it. Plus, insightful career advice from Julie's many years in state government and transportation, such as….: “First, have a proactive plan.  So, if you don't know where you want to go, you cannot get there, right? So, map out what is it you want to do with your career and map out a proactive plan to get there. And then, the second step is, be willing to throw the plan away…. But the point of the plan was, I'm not willing to let life happen to me. I'm going to make life happen. We have the life we largely have, the life we build.” Julie White on Electric Ladies podcast You'll also like: (some might be recorded under our previous name, Green Connections Radio) Tiya Gordon, Cofounder and COO, itsElectric urban EV charging systems Linda Zhang, Chief Engineer, Ford F160 Lightning EV Suzy Deering, Chief Marketing Officer of Ford – on bringing change to a legacy industry as an outsider. Genevieve Cullen, President, Electric Drive Transportation Assn. – on financial benefits for buying EVs in the new legislation, and EVs coming to market soon Kristen Siemen, Chief Sustainability Officer of General Motors Neha Palmer, Founder/CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure on charging for EV trucks Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

“There's a huge barrier for ev adoption in this country…it's lack of public charging infrastructure… So, my co-founder and I said, there's got to be a solution…And it came to us that…why can't we just make the (apartment) buildings the source of the energy instead of having to put in all this new infrastructure on the street?....And then to incentivize that building that we're pulling that power from, we're revenue sharing back to them. So they're creating a public amenity, they're earning money every month, drivers are able to charge and park, and cities are able to meet their decarb goals.” Tiya Gordon on Electric Ladies Podcast One of the biggest hurdles to electric vehicle adoption is access to charging. With millions of people living in cities, what if they could charge similar to how they pay for parking?  Well, Its Electric has found a way to do just that and they are bringing it out one city block at a time. How? Listen to this fascinating interview on Electric Ladies Podcast with Tiya Gordon, COO and Cofounder of itselectric and host Joan Michelson. Its Electric is a novel EV charging infrastructure that leverages the power that's already available to the residences on a given block to provide EV charging. Tiya is a designer, who went from designing museum exhibits to designing this novel charging system – and share that story too. You'll hear: How Its Electric works – enabling EV charging and helping the residences and the grid at the same time. How it's a democratic (small “d”) solution that works on a first-come, first-served basis. How it would serve a huge potential EV market that today has no where to charge. Which legislation would support this concept and which would make it harder to provide EV charging. Plus, insightful career advice from Tiya's evolution from museum designer to EV charging entrepreneur: “I would encourage people that, especially if they have that experience, if they can make that terrifying leap from a larger, more established career path to something in climate tech, something in the world that is new and fresh and innovative, but needs that steady hand of an experienced career, that's where their value can be tremendous, because then they're bringing in that expertise, they're bringing in that calm, that ease, but then they're helping a company that's doing something that's truly innovative, achieve what they're out to do.” Tiya Gordon on Electric Ladies podcast You'll also want to listen to: (some might be recorded under our previous name, Green Connections Radio) Linda Zhang, Chief Engineer, Ford F160 Lightning EV Suzy Deering, Chief Marketing Officer of Ford – on bringing change to a legacy industry as an outsider. Genevieve Cullen, President, Electric Drive Transportation Assn. – on financial benefits for buying EVs in the new legislation, and EVs coming to market soon Kristen Siemen, Chief Sustainability Officer of General Motors Neha Palmer, Founder/CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure on charging for EV trucks Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

Welcome back to another episode of the pod! This week, we sat down with Neha Palmer, CEO and Co-founder of Terawatt Infrastructure. Check out the show notes below: * (0:00-13:00) Getting DER-pilled at PG&E, favorite DER, extra-curricular activities and protecting powDER, Neha's ideal last job, and hottest energy takes* (13:00- 22:30) The Terrawatt Infrastructure pitch, EV charging for fleets and what's special about Terrawatt's model * (22:30- 32:00) Location, location, location and optimization, optimization, optimization, rise of the electrocartographer* (32:00-42:10) Overcoming the interconnection challenge, balancing growth and reliability in the process* (42:10-52:10) What electrification means for how companies run their EV fleets and where hydrogen fits in, plans beyond EVs * (52:10-56:01) Energy czar of America, and dope or nope* (56:01-59:30) Big Shouts to Keyframe, Vision Ridge, and the youths. Plus interconnection analysts, Twitter and Terrawatt Friendly reminder that you can always find us on Spotify, iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. Thanks for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

How Ford Built The F-150 EV - Linda Zhang, Ford F-150 EV Chief Engineer “We talked to all customers. So we talked to truck customers, because part of it is, this is such a big population of customers that we want to evolve into an electric…We also talked to customers who weren't truck owners, but may have wanted to be and didn't go there for whatever reason that might be. And those would be pain points that then we'd have to try address right. And actually what came out of this is, really the building blocks for how we came up on this truck.” Linda Zhang at MOVE 2022 Converting the best-selling truck in America into an electric vehicle is a huge risk. The Ford F-150 has a macho image, which is not the typical EV buyer, to put it gently. So the massive success of the F-150 Lightning really shows the evolution of the electric vehicle and of the market for them. How did they do it? Listen to this fascinating interview with the woman who literally made it happen, Linda Zhang, Chief Engineer of the F-150 Lightning. It was conducted at a huge conference known as MOVE 2022, Reimagining Mobility, in front of an audience of hundreds of people, re-airing here on Electric Ladies Podcast. You'll hear: How Linda and her team at Ford started the design process and decisions they made What new innovations they put in this truck, besides converting it to an EV, that were gamechangers Who is buying this truck, unexpectedly so, and what it tells us about the future of electric vehicles. How they are managing the supply chain issues while reducing their carbon footprint. Here's insightful career advice from Linda's colleague Suzy Deering, Chief Marketing Officer of Ford …. ““Number one, go learn something from scratch and get really, really get dirty. Like get in there and understand from a scrappy standpoint. You're going to fail and you're going to learn things and then some things are going to work, some things aren't….if you're not uncomfortable, then you're not growing. And if you're not growing, you're not learning. If you're not learning, you're not per, you're not progressing….and Don't chase the title.” Suzy Deering on Electric Ladies podcast   You'll also want to listen to: (some might be recorded under our previous name, Green Connections Radio) Suzy Deering, Chief Marketing Officer of Ford – on bringing change to a legacy industry as an outsider. Genevieve Cullen, President, Electric Drive Transportation Assn. – on financial benefits for buying EVs in the new legislation, and EVs coming to market soon Telva McGruder, Chief Diversity Officer of General Motors – on pivoting that 100+ year old company from gas-powered cars to electric cars Kristen Siemen, Chief Sustainability Officer of General Motors Neha Palmer, Founder/CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure on charging for EV trucks Jackie Birdsall, Toyota, Senior Engineer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Reach us on Twitter @joanmichelson

This is a repost of Episode 111, originally aired on July 17, 2022. This conversation is the 4th most popular Future of Mobility podcast in 2022. ... Neha Palmer is the CEO and co-founder of Terawatt Infrastructure, a company that's focused on scaling commercial EV charging infrastructure across the U.S. Key topics in this conversation include: The biggest challenges that need to be overcome while scaling commercial EV charging Neha's learnings from her previous role as Head of Energy Strategy at Google The complexity of integrated renewables into the grid How to design a reliable and sustainable charging hub Commons misconceptions about charging networks Links: Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/AlexRodrigues https://www.linkedin.com/in/neha-palmer/ www.terawattinfrastructure.com Neha's bio: Neha Palmer is the CEO and co-founder of Terawatt Infrastructure, a company that's focused on scaling commercial EV charging infrastructure across the U.S. Neha previously served at the Head of Energy Strategy at Google where she led the development of electric infrastructure and electricity procurement for the global data center fleet, helping to make Google the first company of its size to achieve 100% renewable energy for operations. Previously, Neha held leadership roles at Pacific Gas and Electric, and worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs. Neha holds an MBA in Finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. About Terawatt TeraWatt Infrastructure provides permanent, durable solutions for the future of fleet transportation. The company designs, operates and owns electric vehicle charging hubs for fleet operations leveraging a robust combination of property assets, financing capabilities and deep energy expertise. With a business model based on well-established economics of renewable energy project development and a proven real estate strategy, Terawatt was founded, in the absence of anything like it, to be the nation's reliable, long-term partner in the inevitable transition to all-electric transportation. Future of Mobility: The Future of Mobility podcast is focused on the development and implementation of safe, sustainable, effective, and accessible mobility solutions, with a spotlight on the people and technology advancing these fields. linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/ brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/ Edison Manufacturing: At Edison Manufacturing, our specialty is building and assembling highly complex mobility products in annual quantities of ten to tens of thousands utilizing an agile, robust, and capital-light approach.

“The vision for electrification is based on the maturing of the technology. Getting it to a price point, a performance point, and a consumer acceptance point, where this actually can serve all of these consumer needs and we can make it affordable and it works…. This is what being a transportation provider looks like… Also, in just a growing access to public (charging) infrastructure where people, rural and urban, whether they need it or not, want to be able to see infrastructure to know that if I had to (charge my car), I could.” Genevieve Cullen on Electric Ladies Podcast Electric vehicles are on a roll. Sales are booming, doubling every month almost. Automakers offer about 70 models now, have dozens more coming, and committed to going only-electric by 2035. And, we have the massive rollout of charging stations from the massive new federal legislation.  And these vehicles are cool. About 76% of buyers of the new the all-electric version of the iconic Ford F-150 truck are new to EVs, and tax credits are now usable at the time of purchase.   For a master class in where we are exactly in electric vehicles, listen to this fascinating interview with the master of EVs, Genevieve Cullen, President of the Electric Drive Transportation Assn., the EV trade group, on Electric Ladies Podcast with host Joan Michelson. Genevieve has been in the EV business for decades.  (Editor's Note: This was recorded live at an event, so the audio is a bit less clear than usual. Thanks for understanding.) You'll hear: How automakers are making vehicles for all needs and budgets now – with more to come. What's really in the new federal legislation, whether you're a manufacturer, a dealer, a consumer, or in the automotive supply chain or battery business. Where the infrastructure is today, and where it's rolling out, and when. How the automotive supply chain is reducing its carbon footprint and being more transparent. Plus, insightful career advice …. “I do think what's really valuable is to own your expertise. Know what you're good at and absolutely highlight it, monetize it, but don't be afraid to keep adding to it. Don't get stuck in a silo.…Just like, oh, this is where the industry is going and I should get smart about this. So, you have to always keep learning, adding to your skill set, particularly as it like reinforces the thing that you love.” Genevieve Cullen on Electric Ladies podcast   You'll also want to listen to: (some might be recorded under our previous name, Green Connections Radio) Telva McGruder, Chief Diversity Officer of General Motors – on pivoting that 100+ year old company from gas-powered cars to electric cars Kristen Siemen, Chief Sustainability Officer of General Motors Suzy Deering, Chief Marketing Officer of Ford – on bringing change to a legacy industry as an outsider. Neha Palmer, Founder/CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure on charging for EV trucks Jackie Birdsall, Toyota, Senior Engineer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Margaret Lewis, New Flyer electric buses Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Reach us on Twitter @joanmichelson

“We'll have over 50% of our facilities producing EVs here in the U.S. by 2025. We've announced four battery plants here in the U.S., a number of supply chain agreements, again, to really get those critical minerals happening here. So, so really excited to see where this, this is going to take us.” Kristen Siemen on Electric Ladies Podcast General Motors announced it was going all-electric by around 2035, in some ways pushing the legacy automakers to accelerate their transitions too. They also committed to reducing their carbon footprint overall aggressively, from materials, to how they power their plants, to the supply chain. How are they doing it? Listen to Kristen Siemen, Chief Sustainability Officer at General Motors in this remarkable interview with host Joan Michelson on Electric Ladies Podcast about how General Motors is pivoting its entire manufacturing process to electric vehicles, and driving more innovation at the same time. You'll hear: How GM is bringing its 25 year history in electric vehicles to 21st century mobility needs. How GM is allocating the $35 billion they committed to this transformation to EVs – in all types of vehicles, from luxury cars to Hummers. What it's going to take for EVs to go mainstream. How the much-needed EV infrastructure gets built, including with the new federal legislation and GM's recent charging deal. Plus, insightful career advice …. “It's really about being transparent, you know, and being comfortable to give your opinion and, and ask for what you want to do and where you want to work or, or what type of assignment you'd like to have. And so, it all circles back to that passion. If you like what you're doing, you're going to work harder and you're going to be the person that they want on the team.” Kristen Siemen on Electric Ladies podcast You'll also want to listen to: Telva McGruder, Chief Diversity Officer of General Motors – on pivoting that 100+ year old company from gas-powered cars to electric cars Suzy Deering, Chief Marketing Officer at Ford Motor Company, on disrupting a 100+ automaker. Neha Palmer, Founder/CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure on charging for EV trucks Maureen Kline, Head of Sustainability, Pirelli Tires, on smart and sustainable tires Jackie Birdsall, Toyota, Senior Engineer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Reach us on Twitter @joanmichelson

“I started this meeting every Friday that was called Marketing Modernization, but, really, it was kind of almost like an open mic type of meeting, because I had teams come in and they could make a choice as to what topics (we would talk about). I'd say, ‘What is it you feel that we're not doing that we should be doing? Or what's holding you back from making some of the changes we need to make?' It's my favorite meeting of the week….It's not just my team, it's multiple different people across the organization.”  Suzy Deering on Electric Ladies Podcast   Ford, GM and other major automakers committed to going all-electric by around 2035 – but how? How do you do it – without losing your core customers? How do you know the right approach? To answer these questions Ford brought in a woman with no experience in the auto industry. Literally. Listen to Suzy Deering, Chief Marketing Officer at Ford Motor company in this extraordinary interview with host Joan Michelson on Electric Ladies Podcast as she takes us into the room as she disrupts how Ford thinks about marketing vehicles. It might change how you do your job too. You'll hear: How coming from totally different industries helped Suzy disrupt Ford to reach different customers What Ford has in common with Verizon and tech other companies might surprise you Why “what are we missing” and “what are we spending too much time on” can transform the conversation, the processes and the outcomes. How to drive change in a big organization – even as an outsider coming in. Plus, insightful career advice …. “Number one, go learn something from scratch and get really, really get dirty. Like get in there and understand from a scrappy standpoint. You're going to fail and you're going to learn things and then some things are going to work, some things aren't….if you're not uncomfortable, then you're not growing. And if you're not growing, you're not learning. If you're not learning, you're not per, you're not progressing….and Don't chase the title.” Suzy Deering on Electric Ladies podcast You'll also want to listen to: Telva McGruder, Chief Diversity Officer of General Motors – on pivoting that 100+ year old company from gas-powered cars to electric cars Neha Palmer, Founder/CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure on charging for EV trucks Maureen Kline, Head of Sustainability, Pirelli Tires, on smart and sustainable tires Jackie Birdsall, Toyota, Senior Engineer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Reach us on Twitter @joanmichelson

This week Johan and William  are joined by David Schlosberg. David has a big passion on environmental energy, and has gone from PV systems to EV systems, he is vice president of Energy and Utilities in TeraWatt Infrastructure. In this field, David focuses on large infrastructures and on big transportation vehicles, and this is what is discussed in this weeks episode.  

“We asked the Forest Stewardship Council to go on the ground and do the whole certification process, just like they do for paper…Then they're following that rubber throughout the chain of custody all the way through to the factory here in Georgia….We have just produced the first FSC certified tire.” Maureen Kline on Electric Ladies Podcast With President Biden's recent signature on the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. is making the largest investment in mitigating climate change in history, $369 billion.  Part of those funds go toward boosting the transition to electric vehicles, from charging to creating a sustainable supply chain – augmenting the Infrastructure Bill investments earlier this year.  One of those parts is tires. As the rubber literally hits the road with these huge government investments in transforming our auto sector, Listen to Maureen Kline, head of sustainability for Pirelli Tires, explain how Pirelli is making sustainable – and smart! – tires to host Joan Michelson on Electric Ladies Podcast. It might change how you buy your next car. You'll hear: How Pirelli is using outside sources like the Forest Stewardship Council to help them make sustainable tires in a credible and responsible way. What “smart tires” are, how they work, and how they keep passengers safer than “normal” tires do. How Maureen got Pirelli to include an option in the company's 401K plan options to invest according to ESG criteria. Plus, insightful career advice …. “I think what's really important is to gain knowledge of sustainability and weave it into every career… Use all possible, learning opportunities, whether it's online courses, listening to your podcast, reading, and just get your overall sustainability education in order. And then you can really start diving into how to make what you do, more sustainability focused.” Maureen Kline on Electric Ladies podcast You'll also want to listen to: Telva McGruder, Chief Diversity Officer of General Motors – on pivoting that 100+ year old company from gas-powered cars to electric cars Neha Palmer, Founder/CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure on charging for EV trucks Sandrine Dixson, Co-President of the Club of Rome (country leaders, CEOs) on transitioning to a net zero economy Jackie Birdsall, Toyota, Senior Engineer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Margaret Lewis, New Flyer electric buses Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Reach us on Twitter @joanmichelson

“I think what's really interesting and intriguing to me is the collaboration from the DOT and the DOE. there certainly is an overlap when you think about electrification, it's a transportation question, but it's also an energy question and both of those things have to be really coordinated to have success here…. They have to be developed in tandem and coordinated is something that really hasn't been, on their radar before.” Neha Palmer on Electric Ladies Podcast With the new Inflation Reduction Act signed into law – on top of the Infrastructure Bill a few months ago – the  government's investments in electric vehicles and the charging to support them has been supercharged.  That includes those medium and heavy duty trucks that transport the goods we buy to stores near us, and the delivery trucks that bring our stuff to our doorsteps, and even buses.  These vehicles have unique needs because they run nearly or literally 24/7. How will this work? Listen to Neha Palmer, CEO and cofounder of TeraWatt Infrastructure explain it to host Joan Michelson on Electric Ladies podcast. This is a rebroadcast from last year, so we do not mention the IRA specifically.   You'll hear: What kind of infrastructure we need to keep electric fleet vehicles moving stuff to us. How the DOE & DOT can and should coordinate every step of the way. Where the power comes from to power these trucks and the tricky process to get it to them wherever they are when they need it. How they feed energy back to the grid, as well as take power from it. Plus, insightful career advice …. “I think that people should feel comfortable being scared….You've got to leave before you're ready to leave. Embrace challenge and go before you're a hundred percent feel confident about that next step. It will allow I think, an acceleration of your career, but also your ability to make impact.” Neha Palmer on Electric Ladies podcast Read Joan's related Forbes articles here too. You'll also want to listen to: Anne Kelly, Ceres Government Relations VP, on the business community's support for climate-related legislation Telva McGruder, Chief Diversity Officer of General Motors – on pivoting that 100+ year old company from gas-powered cars to electric cars Sandra Bargman & Chantal Bilodeau, of the Climate Cabaret, on using storytelling to inspire action on climate change Maureen Kline, Pirelli Tires, Sustainability head Jackie Birdsall, Toyota, Senior Engineer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Margaret Lewis, New Flyer electric buses Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Reach us on Twitter @joanmichelson

We're bringing you something different today. It's an episode of one of our favorite podcasts, called Watt It Takes hosted by Emily Kirsch of Powerhouse Ventures.  We talk a lot on Catalyst about how to finance and build climatetech. What we don't always get into are the personal stories of people who are trying to do that work. That's exactly what Watt It Takes does. The show tells the stories of founders who are building a zero-carbon world — their upbringings, their risks, their failures, and their breakthroughs. This episode is about Neha Palmer, CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure, which builds large-scale electric vehicle charging hubs for medium and heavy transport. Tens of millions of delivery vans and semi trucks move around the clock to keep supply chains humming. These medium- and heavy-duty vehicles make up more than 25 percent of transportation emissions in the US — even though they only make up 10 percent of all vehicles on the road. We need to electrify medium and heavy-duty vehicles to meet our climate goals. But, how do we build and operate the charging infrastructure to power them? That charging network is exactly what TeraWatt Infrastructure is building. TeraWatt develops, owns, and manages charging infrastructure for these large vehicles. The company integrates hardware, software, and grid services along with on-site chargers. TerraWatt has a growing portfolio of land in strategic locations across the country that enables it to build and operate that charging infrastructure. TeraWatt brings together a team of experts from data centers, transportation logistics, and electric cars. The more complex the high-powered charging needs, the better suited TeraWatt is for the task. Watt It Takes host Emily Kirsch sat down with Neha to learn what it takes to electrify a sector with such massive energy demand. They talked about founding TeraWatt after Neha left Google, where she was a key figure in that company's ambitious renewable energy strategy. And they discuss the unique demands of heavy-duty transportation. Powerhouse is an innovation firm that works with leading global corporations to help them find, partner with, invest in, and acquire the most innovative startups in clean energy, mobility, and climate. Powerhouse Ventures backs seed-stage startups building innovative software to rapidly decarbonize our global energy and mobility systems. You can learn more at powerhouse.fund, and you can subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.powerhouse.fund/subscribe. If you like the show, subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Catalyst is supported by Antenna Group. For 25 years, Antenna has partnered with leading clean-economy innovators to build their brands and accelerate business growth. If you're a startup, investor, enterprise, or innovation ecosystem that's creating positive change, Antenna is ready to power your impact. Visit antennagroup.com to learn more. Solar Power International and Energy Storage International are returning in-person this year as part of RE+. Come join everyone in Anaheim for the largest, B2B clean energy event in North America. Catalyst listeners can receive 15% off a full conference, non-member pass using promo code CANARY15. Register here.

Neha Palmer is the CEO and co-founder of Terawatt Infrastructure, a company that's focused on scaling commercial EV charging infrastructure across the U.S. Key topics in this conversation include: The biggest challenges that need to be overcome while scaling commercial EV charging Neha's learnings from her previous role as Head of Energy Strategy at Google The complexity of integrated renewables into the grid How to design a reliable and sustainable charging hub Commons misconceptions about charging networks Links: Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/NehaPalmer https://www.linkedin.com/in/neha-palmer/ www.terawattinfrastructure.com Neha's bio: Neha Palmer is the CEO and co-founder of Terawatt Infrastructure, a company that's focused on scaling commercial EV charging infrastructure across the U.S. Neha previously served at the Head of Energy Strategy at Google where she led the development of electric infrastructure and electricity procurement for the global data center fleet, helping to make Google the first company of its size to achieve 100% renewable energy for operations. Previously, Neha held leadership roles at Pacific Gas and Electric, and worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs. Neha holds an MBA in Finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. About Terawatt TeraWatt Infrastructure provides permanent, durable solutions for the future of fleet transportation. The company designs, operates and owns electric vehicle charging hubs for fleet operations leveraging a robust combination of property assets, financing capabilities and deep energy expertise. With a business model based on well-established economics of renewable energy project development and a proven real estate strategy, Terawatt was founded, in the absence of anything like it, to be the nation's reliable, long-term partner in the inevitable transition to all-electric transportation. Future of Mobility: The Future of Mobility podcast is focused on the development and implementation of safe, sustainable, effective, and accessible mobility solutions, with a spotlight on the people and technology advancing these fields. linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/ brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/ Edison Manufacturing: At Edison Manufacturing, our specialty is building and assembling highly complex mobility products in annual quantities of ten to tens of thousands utilizing an agile, robust, and capital-light approach.

"It takes work and it takes commitment to really screen in versus screen out....We are approaching this in many ways...We don't simply need an electrical engineer or a mechanical engineer, or a person with a computer science degree. What are the skills that we're looking for? What are the interests that we need in the talent that's coming in? And we're helping the leaders in the organization write job descriptions in a different way than we have written them before." Telva McGruder on Electric Ladies Podcast General Motors announced it would phase out traditional internal combustion engine vehicles and only focus on electric vehicles by 2035. But how? What does that mean for the plants? For talent and recruiting? Listen to Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson's engaging and fascinating conversation with Telva McGruder, Chief Diversity Officer of General Motors, who has spent 28 years at GM, starting as an engineer. You'll hear: How their recruiting has changed for the new auto sector focus on alternative fuel vehicles. How GM is converting their 100+ year old manufacturing system for these new vehicles. How GM quickly pivoted some of their plants to manufacture ventilators during the height of the pandemic. The differences between male-dominated leadership at GM and female-dominated leadership there. Plus, insightful career advice, especially for women... "Mid-career women are great at getting results....But if we say making a difference is making a difference for the people around you and making a big difference for the business you're in. And, and maybe for the communities that you move in, that takes practice, and it takes really sitting back and looking at how should I behave every single day, so that I'm making a difference for people." Telva McGruder on Electric Ladies Podcast You'll also want to listen to (some were recorded under our previous name, Green Connections Radio): Sue Ozdemir, Exro Technologies – on the technology behind electric vehicles Maureen Kline, Pirelli Tires, Sustainability head – on sustainable, smart tires Neha Palmer, CEO/Cofounder of TeraWatt Infrastructure – on building charging for EV trucks, fleets Lisa Brown, Ph.D., Regional Marketing Lead, Volkswagen of America - on how to get more women in automotive leadership Katie Sloan, Southern California Edison, eMobility – on how to increase EV adoption at scale Jackie Birdsall, Toyota, Senior Engineer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles – on how fuel cell vehicles work Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson    

Tens of millions of delivery vans and semi trucks move around the clock to keep supply chains humming. These medium- and heavy-duty vehicles make up more than 25 percent of transportation emissions in the US — even though they only make up 10 percent of all vehicles on the road. We need to electrify medium and heavy-duty vehicles to meet our climate goals. But, how do we build and operate the charging infrastructure to power them? That charging network is exactly what our guest, TeraWatt Infrastructure CEO Neha Palmer, is building.TeraWatt develops, owns, and manages charging infrastructure for these large vehicles. The company integrates hardware, software, and grid services along with on-site chargers. TeraWatt has a growing portfolio of land in strategic locations across the country that enables it to build and operate that charging infrastructure.TeraWatt brings together a team of experts from data centers, transportation logistics, and electric cars. The more complex the high-powered charging needs, the better suited TeraWatt is for the task. Emily sat down with Neha to learn what it takes to electrify a sector with such massive energy demand. They talked about founding TeraWatt after Neha left Google, where she was a key figure in that company's ambitious renewable energy strategy. And they discuss the unique demands of heavy-duty transportation.Powerhouse is an innovation firm that works with leading global corporations to help them find, partner with, invest in, and acquire the most innovative startups in clean energy, mobility, and climate. Powerhouse Ventures backs seed-stage startups building innovative software to rapidly decarbonize our global energy and mobility systems. You can learn more at powerhouse.fund, and you can subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.powerhouse.fund/subscribe.To hear more stories of founders building our carbon-free future, hit the “subscribe” button and leave us a review on Apple podcasts.Watt It Takes is brought to you by Baker Botts. Founders and leaders of clean energy companies around the world turn to Baker Botts for legal advice at every stage of their journey, from incorporation to exit. To scale your clean energy business faster, visit bakerbotts.com.

“Part of our culture, a core value, we call it disciplined innovation. So, innovation that leads to execution is our goal. It's a lot of fun to be able to spitball together different ideas…But then to kind of boil that down and say ‘what makes a great business model? What also helps real people in the real world like us? What would we want to do? How would we want to drive it? What would we want to see for our families?” Sue Ozdemir on Electric Ladies Podcast Besides being cool and fun to drive, electric vehicles are examples of how to innovate.  Six big automakers are transitioning their entire product line to EVs over the next few years, but our guest today, a former GE executive, says that big corporates can't innovate. Why? What's a better way? Listen to Sue Ozdemir of Exro Technologies – which makes key EV engine parts – explain why corporates struggle to innovate and how they do it so well, in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies podcast host Joan Michelson.   You'll hear: How Exro's technologies make EVs run—and better. Why she says corporates can't innovate What “disciplined innovation” is and whether it stifles potentially magical ideas. How to recruit for innovation, as well as for technical skills. How to get hired in a new or young industry – at any age and stage. Plus, insightful career advice …. “Generally speaking, all females, you just have to be a little bit ahead of your game all the time. You have to know a little bit more, you have to be a little bit more prepared. You have to kind of let things slide a little bit more often…And, don't apologize for the room that we own. We worked hard to be here and we own the space…We deserve to be here. And don't apologize for that.” Sue Ozdemir on Electric Ladies podcast You'll also want to listen to: Mia Bevacqua, CarParts.com – on how electric vehicles work Maureen Kline, Pirelli Tires, Sustainability head – on sustainable, smart tires Neha Palmer, CEO/Cofounder of TeraWatt Infrastructure – on building charging for EV trucks, fleets Katie Sloan, Southern California Edison, eMobility – on how to increase EV adoption at scale Jackie Birdsall, Toyota, Senior Engineer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles – on how fuel cell vehicles work Margaret Lewis, New Flyer electric buses Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla has a conversation with Neha Palmer, CEO of EV charging infrastructure developer at TeraWatt Infrastructure. Many also know her as the former Head of Energy Strategy at Google. Neha recently wrote an article for Wired titled “Electric Vehicle Charging is the Next Billion-Dollar Market.” She spoke about the potential and challenges of the transition to vehicle fleet electrification. At Google, Neha drove a large part of the adoption of renewables, so you won't want to miss out on her insight into this critical topic. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Neha's background and current role [02:16] Opportunities for EVs [06:56] The gap between availability and charging [11:26] Integrated systems as a resource for the grid [18:15] Preparing the energy sector [22:11] The role of utilities in electrification [29:53] Accomplishments at Google [33:28] Neha's roles in the energy sector Neha's career has always been in the energy industry. She's worked on the finance side, in renewables, and has been an engineer. For the last decade, she worked at Google, helping lead its energy strategy to ensure it had the cleanest energy sources possible. Additionally, she helped the company focus on infrastructure, large substations, and transmission lines coming into project energy procurement. Currently, Neha is the CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure and has been there for about a year. TeraWatt was purpose-built to develop a large-scale EV charging infrastructure focused on medium and heavy-duty vehicle fleets. For those vehicles that will have a large battery size, TeraWatt provides an end-to-end solution that covers everything from the charge site location to working with the utility and managing the site once it's operational.  Collaboration for EV infrastructure Electrification and electric vehicles require many moving parts to come together. The operations site must be managed to ensure there is a sufficient energy supply. Resources such as on-site generation and storage are leveraged. Finally, the effect on the grid must be considered. TeraWatt provides that complete stack of services. Energy, technology, and transportation have operated relatively independently since their inception. To succeed with EVs, these areas will need to operate tightly together. The technology required for EVs is more than putting batteries in vehicles instead of combustion engines. These state-of-the-art vehicles are a wholesale renewal of technology. Energy and transportation both rely heavily on subsidies or policies, which have been made independently for centuries. Collaboration among those three industries is critical for this transition to be successful. Preparing for the impact of EVs Interactivity is going to be required to scale electrification quickly. A slow policy process is making its way through various states and grid operators. That needs to accelerate and have clear rules so that the value of installed equipment is known. There needs to be interconnection reform as it's currently a long process. Besides that, almost every location has its own rules. Having a better line of sight in terms of what it takes to get a project on the grid will be helpful.  Even the most forward-leaning grid operators and utilities that want to promote electrification aren't quite anticipating the amount of impact EVs might have on their grid. Most utilities that are invested have to run an integrated resource plan process to anticipate the actual load growth on the grid. The adoption of electric vehicles needs to start being included in those integrated resource plans, and it needs to start being anticipated in the next two years. Resources & People Mentioned Electric Vehicle Charging is the Next Billion-Dollar Market | WIRED  TeraWatt Infrastructure Anaheim Resort Transportation Connect with Neha Palmer On LinkedIn Neha Palmer is the CEO and co-founder of Terawatt Infrastructure, a company that's focused on scaling commercial EV charging infrastructure across the U.S. Neha previously served as the Head of Energy Strategy at Google, where she led the development of electric infrastructure and electricity procurement for the global data center fleet, helping to make Google the first company of its size to achieve 100% renewable energy for operations. Previously, Neha held leadership roles at Pacific Gas and Electric and worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs. Neha holds an MBA in Finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://smartenergydecisions.com Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Event Operations Director, Lisa Carroll at lisa@smartenergydecisions.com Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Transportation is one of the top carbon emitters and much of it is caused by shipping stuff to us and air travel. So, to reduce global warming, we need to transform these sectors. How? Listen to this fascinating panel from the UN COP26 conference in November with the heads of sustainability/ESG (environment, social, governance) from Ikea, Jet Blue, Amazon & others, moderated by the Aspen Institute. You'll hear: What these companies are doing to reduce their shipping footprints. What alternative fuels work in airplanes today and what's coming soon. How you can make choices that reduce shipping energy use and emissions. What these companies need from regulators to reduce their emissions. You'll also like: Neha Palmer, CEO, TeraWatt Infrastructure, on charging electric trucks and buses. Maureen Kline, Pirelli Tires, Sustainability head Katie Sloan, Southern California Edison, eMobility Jackie Birdsall, Toyota, Senior Engineer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Margaret Lewis, New Flyer electric buses Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson   and @electricgalspod

“I think what's really interesting and intriguing to me is the collaboration from the DOT and the DOE. there certainly is an overlap when you think about electrification, it's a transportation question, but it's also an energy question and both of those things have to be really coordinated to have success here…. They have to be developed in tandem and coordinated is something that really hasn't been, on their radar before.” Neha Palmer on Electric Ladies Podcast As the new infrastructure bill's investments roll out across the country, one key area that will be front and center is electric vehicle charging, which is right at the intersection of the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation. And it's not just passenger cars. It's also fleet vehicles and trucks. Those medium and heavy duty trucks that transport the goods we buy to stores near us, and even the delivery trucks that bring it to our doorsteps, or even city buses.  These vehicles have unique needs because they run nearly or literally 24/7. How will this work? Listen to Neha Palmer, CEO and cofounder of TeraWatt Infrastructure explain it to host Joan Michelson on Electric Ladies podcast.   You'll hear: What kind of infrastructure we need to keep electric fleet vehicles moving stuff to us. How the DOE & DOT can and should coordinate every step of the way. Where the power comes from to power these trucks and the tricky process to get it to them wherever they are when they need it. How they feed energy back to the grid, as well as take power from it. Plus, insightful career advice …. “I think that people should feel comfortable being scared….You've got to leave before you're ready to leave. Embrace challenge and go before you're a hundred percent feel confident about that next step. It will allow I think, an acceleration of your career, but also your ability to make impact.” Neha Palmer on Electric Ladies podcast You'll also want to listen to: Maureen Kline, Pirelli Tires, Sustainability head Katie Sloan, Southern California Edison, eMobility Jackie Birdsall, Toyota, Senior Engineer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Margaret Lewis, New Flyer electric buses Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

Today's guest is Neha Palmer, CEO of TeraWatt Instructure.TeraWatt Infrastructure is building tomorrow's permanent EV charging infrastructure through a robust combination of property assets, financing vehicles, and deep energy expertise. The company designs, operates and owns on-site distributed energy systems that take the cost and complexity out of EV charging infrastructure while providing market protection and upside opportunities through capital backing and ownership. Neha brings two decades of leadership experience in the energy industry to her role at TeraWatt. Most recently, she led energy strategy for Google's global data centers. As the first hire focused on data center energy, Neha built out and led the team developing electric infrastructure and electricity procurement for the global fleet, covering dozens of sites over four continents. Before Google, Neha held leadership roles at Pacific Gas & Electric and worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs. She holds an MBA in Finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BS in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.In this episode, Neha shares what led her to focus on energy, her role as CEO at TeraWatt, and the startup's business model and customer base. We also compare the progress between transportation fleets and passenger vehicles, how Neha thinks about private v public EV charging infrastructure, and the way government can accelerate the EV revolution. This is a must-listen episode for those interested in understanding more about the future of electrifying transportation.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at info@myclimatejourney.co, where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded January 10th, 2022To learn more about TeraWatt Infrastructure, visit: https://terawattinfrastructure.com/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/terawatt-infrastructure

When we imagine what our energy transformation will look like, we tend to focus on the shiny new toys — solar panels, electric vehicles, Tesla powerwalls, and Nest Thermostats. While those products are necessary for a carbon net-zero future, they are in no way sufficient. Today on RYA, I chat with Benjamin Birnbaum, partner at Keyframe and co-founder of TeraWatt Infrastructure. Ben is consumed with the energy transition technologies that we don’t see, but are critical to fighting global warming and climate change.  In this episode, Ben and I take a deep dive into real estate’s disconnect between the boardroom and boiler room. We also explore how New York City’s Local Law 97 addresses this challenge with a pathbreaking effort to spur the transformation of New York City real estate to cap carbon emissions.  Tune in as we discuss:Ben’s career journeyThe challenges cities must address in order to meet net-zero emissions goals The true costs and challenges of electrifying transportation, and why Ben and his partners started TeraWatt InfrastructureBiden’s ambitious infrastructure plansKeyframe’s new approach for funding the cleantech revolution