Stu's EV Universe

Stu speaks with John Hipchen, Executive Director of the Electric School Bus Coalition.  For years, bright yellow school buses were followed by a trail of dirty diesel fumes.  Now that is starting  change.  The health benefits to our children and our environment depend on school buses getting cleaner and electrification promises a much healthier ride for our kids.  But the transition will have its challenges and hurdles.  What needs to change?  Will it be a smooth ride?  Will the federal money available be enough, or is it just the start?  Tune in to find out!   

Support us on Patreon at: www.patreon.com/StusEVU 

Learn more about Evolve KY at: www.evolveky.org 

Topics: Electric School Buses, Electric School Bus Coalition, Federal Funding, EV Charging Infrastructure, Electric School Bus Conversions, Lion School Bus, Thomas Built School Bus, Zero Emission, EV Total Cost of Ownership, EV, Electric Vehicle, Infrastructure Bill 

Stu chats with Justin Morgan, chairperson of automotive technology at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. Sinclair has the distinction of being the oldest automotive program in the nation (starting in 1906). Morgan looks to the future by providing innovative programs like the intensive training program Tesla Start. And most recently the college has acquired a GM EV1 to bring a bit of history to the program. Ambitious offerings designed to train the next generation of technicians — looking ahead to an electric future!  

Support us on Patreon at: www.patreon.com/StusEVU  

Learn more about Evolve KY at: www.evolveky.org   

Topics: EV Repair, EV1, GM EV1, Dayton Ohio, Community and Technical Colleges, Tesla Start, Automotive Technicians, Chevy, Bolt, EV Education, EV Service, Electric Vehicle 

Stu talks with Jack Smith, who traces Horatio Nelson Jackson's 1903 journey -- the first cross-country automobile trip in the United States.  Smith drives a 60's-era VW bus, converted to electric, dubbed the Rust Bus.  Each journey had its own unique set of challenges.  Drive on this adventurous path with us and find out more!   

Support us on Patreon at: www.patreon.com/StusEVU 

Learn more about Evolve KY at: www.evolveky.org 

Topics: VW, Volkswagon Bus, Horatio's Drive, Ken Burns, Tom Hanks, Cross-country trip, Adventure, Road Trip, EV West, Skateboard, Electric Skateboard, Documentary

Stu talks to Ed Fessler who has raced cross country since he was a teen. Now, after catching the EV bug with his Tesla, he has taken the leap to electric on two wheels. Tune in to find out more!  

Check out Ed's youtube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCo_Uni6STTB66DvmVQIf8bg  

Support us on Patreon at: www.patreon.com/StusEVU   

Learn more about Evolve KY at: www.evolveky.org   

Topics: Electric Dirt Bike, Off Road Motorcycles, Hare Scramble Racing, Cross Country Racing, Motocross, KTM Freeride E-VC, Stark VARG, Tesla, Tesla Model 3, Kentucky, Indiana

Stu speaks with Rap Hankins about his community of Trotwood, Ohio and his journey to make this great community better.  For underserved communities, there can be a lot of challenges, and Rap is working hard to make sure that his neighbors aren't left behind as we move towards a cleaner, more equitable future with electric vehicles.  EVs are fun, but we also explore the deeper side of what it means to be part of a greater EV family and what it means for future generations.  This is easily one of my favorite discussions to date.  Have a listen!   

Support us on Patreon at: www.patreon.com/StusEVU 

Learn more about Evolve KY at: www.evolveky.org 

Topics: Volkswagon, Equity, VW, VW ID4, VW e-golf, Tesla, EV Evangelism, Ohio, Trotwood Ohio, Community, Kentucky, Appalachia

Gas?  Where we are going we don’t need gas!  In this episode we go back to the future as we talk to Joost de Vries, CEO of DeLorean Motor Company, to discuss the reimagining and rebirth of the iconic Delorean. And who better than Joost, with a lifetime in the automotive industry working for the likes of Tesla in its infancy and Karma Automotive. Can lightning strike again?  

Support us on Patreon at: www.patreon.com/StusEVU  

Learn more about Evolve KY at: www.evolveky.org  

Topics: DeLorean, Tesla Roadster, Tesla Model S, Fisker Karma, Back to the Future, Joost de Vries, DeLorean Motor Company, DMC, Karma Automotive

In this episode, Stu speaks to Berea, Kentucky's Police Chief Eric Scott. Berea is currently the only city in Kentucky to purchase EVs as cruisers. It’s now been a year since they were deployed in the community. Find out how they have been received by the community, how the officers adapted, how the costs compare to their “traditional” gas vehicles, and how these vehicles have effected their police work. All this rolls into their overarching wholistic approach to community policing. You’ll even meet Buddy their police puppy!  

Support us on Patreon at: www.patreon.com/StusEVU   

Learn more about Evolve KY at: www.evolveky.org  

Topics: Tesla, Ford, Mustang Mach E, Cybertruck, Ford F-150 Lightning, Police, EV, Electric Vehicle, Kia EV6, City Fleets, Adopt a Charger, Level 2 Chargers, DC Fast Chargers

Join us for our one-year anniversary episode!  Stu's extra special guest is Zan Dubin-Scott, an EV pioneer and the co-founder of Plug-in America.  Zan and Stu share a common passion -- marketing.  Within these few delightful minutes we explore the past, present and future of marketing as it relates to electric vehicles and hear about the early days of our EV revolution!   

Support us on Patreon at: www.patreon.com/StusEVU 

Learn more about Evolve KY at: www.evolveky.org 

Topics: Tesla, Elon Musk, Electric Vehicles, EVs, Electrify America, Normal Now, Nissan LEAF, Plug-in-America, Super Bowl, Super Bowl Ads, Advertising, GM, BMW, EV Vans, Commercials, EV1, Tom Brady, Hertz, National Drive Electric Week, NDEW, Tesla Superchargers, DC Fast Chargers

On this episode, Stu talks to Sunny Gulati, one of Evolve KY's most active members. Sunny was kind enough to take me for a spin in his Tesla Model Y with Full Self Driving (FSD) so that I can experience it first hand.  What are FSD's strengths?  What are its weaknesses?  Will it ever be ready for prime time?  Will Sunny's wife stop punching him in the arm for having FSD on?  Answers to all of those questions and more on this special "drive along" episode!    

Support us on Patreon at: www.patreon.com/StusEVU 

Learn more about Evolve KY at: www.evolveky.org 

Topics: Tesla, Tesla Model Y, Electric Vehicles, EVs, Nissan LEAF, Full Self Driving, Automation, Auto Pilot