EVready Podcast

In this episode of the EV Ready Podcast, Chris Nihan interviews Marissa Galizia, the Senior Director of Partnerships at Voltus. They discuss the complexities of the power grid, emphasizing the significance of demand response and the evolving landscape of energy management.

Their discussion covers the roles of independent system operators (ISO) and utilities, the challenges associated with balancing supply and demand, and the innovative programs designed to boost grid resilience and sustainability.

They highlight that the grid necessitates careful balance, with independent system operators managing supply and demand. Galizia explains how demand response can prevent blackouts by balancing energy use, especially as the grid faces increased demand from AI and electrification.

Virtual power plants (VPP) are emerging to aggregate energy users in support of the grid, allowing participants to earn revenue by reducing energy consumption. The conversation also reveals how utilities are evolving to incorporate new technologies and customers, particularly in deregulated markets that are more receptive to demand response programs.

They discuss innovative programs like Carbon Response that focus on reducing carbon emissions. Lastly, the partnership between Voltus and EV Ready is emphasized, illustrating how such collaborations drive sustainability and economic benefits for energy users, particularly through enhancements in EV charging stations.

In this episode of the EVready Podcast, host Chris Nihan, President of EVready Energy, sits down with Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint, to discuss the company's latest developments and strategic directions. The conversation is timely, given ChargePoint's recent earnings call and subsequent layoffs. Here’s a sneak peek into the topics they covered:

• An insightful discussion about the factors leading up to the recent layoffs and what they mean for the company's future.

• An exploration of the biggest challenges facing the EV industry today.

• Rick shares his excitement about recent technological advancements within ChargePoint.

• A segment on how current political climates and election outcomes could impact ChargePoint and the EV industry at large.

In this episode of the EVready Podcast, Al Levy, Chris Nihan, and Jon Frederick dive into the world of electric vehicles (EVs) and the automotive industry at large. Jon comes from years of auto dealership experience and now is the behind-the-scenes person at the Car Dealership Guy Podcast.

Together, they share their experiences with electric vehicles, tackle the challenges associated with EV adoption, and examine the future profitability of this burgeoning sector. Technology's role within EVs, the importance of consumer education, and the need for affordable EV options are also key topics of discussion.

The conversation rounds out with a look at the timeless appeal of classic cars. Chris and Al recount their early adoption of EVs and their ongoing fascination with their technological advancements. Meanwhile, Jon discusses the specific challenges and opportunities that car dealerships face with the rising global EV sales and the potential impacts of Chinese EV manufacturers on the U.S. market.

Additionally, they explore changing consumer preferences, the increasing importance of personalization in the auto industry, and how dealerships might leverage EV charging services to enhance customer experience. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the need for dealerships to adapt to the evolving automotive landscape in order to remain relevant and valuable to customers.

In this episode of the EVready Podcast, Chris Nihan interviews Amy Dobrikova, VP of Fleet Solutions at Rexel Energy Solutions, and Ben Bercham, National Director of EV Charging. They discuss the role of distributors in the EV charging value chain and the value that Rexel Energy Solutions brings to the industry. They also talk about the importance of education and the factors to consider when selecting a charging solution, such as reliability, warranties, innovation, and business integrity. Amy and Ben emphasize the need for education and consultation when working with customers to help them navigate the complexities of electrification.

Key Takeaways:

• Distributors play a crucial role in the EV charging value chain, providing value-added services and expertise to customers.

Deana Haynes provides a breakdown of the various types of commercial real estate that would benefit from EV charging stations and how piloting is the best strategy for success. She shares a piece that she was part of developing for CBRE, highlighting how the adoption of electric vehicles leads to increased demand for workplace charging stations. 

Chris and Deana cover focusing on the end user's needs, the standardization of the Tesla plug, and what strategy CREs need to implement when diving into investing in EV charging infrastructure.

Meet Heiko Schmidt, VP of Network Strategy and Monetization at Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging North America. Heiko discusses why Mercedes Benz decided it was necessary to invest in a fast-charging network, the relationship with Ionna (the coalition of auto manufacturers building a high-powered network), and the key qualities that a Mercedes network will bring to consumers in North America.

Join host Chris Nihan as he explores an important topic in the world of electric vehicles (EVs) with special guest Mark McNabb, former COO of VW America and former CEO of Electrify America, the largest public universal fast charging network in the United States.

In this episode of The EVready Podcast, Mark shares his expertise on alleviating the common concern known as 'range anxiety' among drivers. Discover why building reliable and fast EV charging infrastructure is essential for accelerating the transition to electric vehicles.

Chris also poses questions about the massive evolution the automotive industry faces in manufacturing and supply chain, and how dealerships are changing the perception of would-be car buyers. They dive into the hardware and software side of EV chargers and which EV charging company will come out on top?

Tune in and subscribe to learn more and stay in the know with the EVready Podcast.

Join us for another episode of the EV Ready podcast with our host, Chris Nihan. Today, we invite Pat Romano, former CEO and current advisor of ChargePoint - a leader in electric vehicle infrastructure, to the EVready Podcast. Listen as Pat shares his insights about the electric vehicle industry, discusses his ongoing involvement with ChargePoint, and reveals his future ambitions in the fields of robotics, energy, and nuclear energy.

During our conversation, Pat gives his insights into the challenges faced by the auto industry as it transitions into electric vehicles, and shares his views on the future of charging network providers. He also emphasizes on how the current market conditions could trigger a long-term growth cycle for the industry.

Pat touches on the marketing opportunities for businesses and consumers while charging, the potential influence of European oil and gas companies, and the importance of residential charging infrastructure. 

Meet Ken Parkman, General Manager of Retail Market Development with Toyota North America

Chris Nihan, founder of EVready Energy and Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint discuss how ChargePoint views the future of EV charging, their driver-centric approach, and why educating electricians, dealerships, and drivers are key components to successful EV adoption. Rick highlights some unique characteristics of the EV community, and how the act of charging an EV creates a relationship with drivers in a way we've never seen before.