The Amped EV Podcast

If you're an EV owner, you can likely attest: Oftentimes, there's a problem with charging infrastructure. Maybe it was deployed in an area that doesn't make much sense, or the charging software is malfunctioning. Maybe it isn't well-lit. Maybe there isn't any security in the area for the EV driver. Plus, the driver is there for a while – wouldn't it be great if there was a snack or, even better, a restroom?

BP Pulse has noticed this too, saying "there has got to be a better way!" As a result, the company is planning to amp the EV charging experience up to 11 via new "Gigahubs" – a series of large electric vehicle fast-charging hubs that will be built near airports and other high-demand locations, to serve ride-hail and taxi fleets around the country. The first one is being deployed near LAX, and BP Pulse plans to have it up and running in time for the 2028 Olympic games.

To learn more about the ambitious project to change how we think of the charging experience as we know it, we invited Vic Shao, president of BP Pulse's fleet division, onto the show.

The Buzz: www.thebuzzevnews.com
Autel Energy: www.autelenergy.com

The EV headlines just don't stop coming, and each one poses more questions than it answers. We are expecting more than 100 new EV models between now and the year 2026. China is allegedly leading the EV arms race, but the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill is throwing billions of dollars at revitalizing the U.S. electricity grid as well as deploying new charging stations all around the country. Not to mention, a shift to EVs means a shift to generally more expensive parts, but less overall maintenance. It's a lot to consider, especially when it comes to the future of the automotive aftermarket.

Where are these trends leading the automotive industry? What does all this mean for vehicle care? What does it mean for you, specifically? You'll need to read the electric tea leaves to find out.

The Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers have partnered to release a Joint EV Trends and Outlook Forecast: An update on trends driving change in the EV market. The report covers topics such as projected growth for EV sales, the impact of adoption on aftermarket parts sales, data on the impact to the service and repair sector, and more.

It's an overwhelming amount of information, but thankfully today we have two guests more than capable of unpacking it all: Mike Chung, the director of market intelligence for the Auto Care Association (ACA), and Philip Atkins, the director of strategic research & planning for MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers.

The Buzz: www.thebuzzevnews.com
Autel Energy: www.autelenergy.com

Electric commercial trucks are out there, and fleets are starting to use them in shorter routes that work for their limited battery range. In these cases, the limited range has a workaround, but what about if you are limited in what cargo you can haul? That's what is happening to trucks hauling goods that need to be kept cool. Typically there's a workaround to that too – if you don't mind investing in a diesel generator to keep your load cool, and that doesn't make a lot of sense when the tractor is electrified.

Enter the electric transportation refrigeration unit (TRU). The industry is just starting to break the surface on these, but Carrier Transicold has been one of the refrigeration pioneers leading the way. On this episode of The Amped EV Podcast, we talk to Mike Noyes, vice president and general manager, Carrier Transicold – Americas, to learn about what it takes to keep goods cool on the road without the use of diesel.

The Buzz: www.thebuzzevnews.com
Autel Energy: www.autelenergy.com

In late October, the EPA announced nearly $1 billion was awarded through the Clean School Bus Rebate Lottery program to support 389 school districts across the country with their school bus electrification projects. The intention of this program is to accelerate electrification by giving schools the financial resources to transition their diesel bus fleets to all-electric.

On this episode of The Amped EV Podcast, we catch up with the transportation director, Rick Grisham, at one of those school districts, Richland One School District in Columbia, South Carolina, the 11th-largest school district in South Carolina, to understand why the district wants to transition to electric, what the process has been like and who the major stakeholders are to make the district's plans a reality.

One of those stakeholders is Proterra, who is working with Richland One from start to finish to guide them through the transition process. We also talk with Mabel Feng, the director of product management at Proterra, to hear about the technology that powers the school buses, charging solutions, infrastructure and management software Richland One is using.

The Buzz: www.thebuzzevnews.com
Autel Energy: www.autelenergy.com

What do you do when you're given a $1 million check to find an integrated Class 3-5 EV chassis? If you're working with The Shyft Group, you ask for $8 million more to develop one yourself.

The Shyft Group is betting that by designing and manufacturing its own Class 3-5 Blue Arc chassis and bodies in-house from the ground up, using well-respected component suppliers like Dana for eAxles and Hendrickson for single leaf-spring suspensions, the company can lead the pack when it comes to electrifying commercial fleets. Considering the company recently secured an initial pre-order of 2,000 units from one of the largest dealer groups in the Carolinas, the strategy looks to be coming up roses.

To tell us more about designing and manufacturing an all-electric delivery walk-in van in-house, we invite Daryl Adams, The Shyft Group president and CEO, onto the show.

The Buzz: www.thebuzzevnews.com

Everyone is talking about EVs, so getting caught up in the hype is easy. The problem is, EVs aren't yet suitable for every use case, and jumping into electrifying your fleet with eyes closed can have severe consequences. There's so much to think about: What are your routes? What infrastructure do you need? How much range do you need? The list goes on. Get the answer to any of these questions wrong and you might dig an electrified hole that isn't easy to escape.
Fear not, though – there is help to be had. Geotab's EV Suitability Assessment Tool is a great place to start the journey. To walk us through how it works and about saving money via the Inflation Reduction Act, we invite Charlotte Argue, senior manager of Sustainable Mobility at Geotab, onto the show.

The Buzz: www.thebuzzevnews.com

EV charging is easier said than done, and it's one of the biggest hurdles to successful full-scale EV adoption. Now, imagine you own a fleet of electrified vehicles. If you don't have the right infrastructure in place, your what-seemed-to-be solid EV investment is now one built on sand.

On the surface, it can seem like that EV infrastructure rests solely on your shoulders – but it doesn't have to.

"Charging-as-a-service" is more than just industry buzzwords. It offers the opportunity for businesses with fleets of EVs to stay focused on their core business instead of being a "charging manager." Though, this opens a new challenge – there are a lot of new names in the charging-as-a-service space. Voltera is one of those new names, and there's no better way to kick the tires on a new service than to have a conversation. That's why we connected with Matt Horton of CEO, Voltera. Voltera sites, builds, owns, and operates strategically located, fit-for-purpose charging facilities to enable EV deployment and operation at scale. But how do they work with fleets to meet specific application needs, and what advice do they have in the Wild West that is charging infrastructure equipment?

The best way to explain what it's like to drive an electrified vehicle is to convince them to get behind the wheel, and that's exactly what Volvo Trucks North America recently did for us during its Electromobility Summit in Dublin, Va. The one-pedal driving, the instant torque, the regen braking... we get the full experience – all while carrying a 79,000-lb. payload behind us.

The goal for Volvo Trucks was to host customers, dealers and the media to dive into the nitty gritty of electric truck acquisition and operation–going beyond the VNR Electric truck itself to also discuss financial support and services, infrastructure development and more. And, of course, we came with a stack of electric truck questions a mile high.

Thankfully, we had the ever-cheerful Andy Brown, product marketing manager, Volvo Trucks North America in the passenger seat to give us a rundown on the truck's specs, how charging works, how truck drivers can manipulate regenerative braking while driving and all sorts of other topics.

By the way, you may remember that this isn't the first time Volvo Trucks invited us to experience the VNR electric, but last time we were just riding along. This time we took the hot seat for ourselves.

You know that old saying "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again"? Keep that one in the back of your head as you watch this week's episode, because when it comes to installing charging infrastructure at scale, chances are you won't get far if you give up early on.

It isn't easy. Installing charging infrastructure takes a lot of effort, time and money. But, West Michigan International – a truck dealer in Michigan – thought the reward would be worth the struggle, as the business hopes to use the chargers as a passive revenue source moving forward.

To walk us through the ins and outs of this charging installation project, we invited Ed Reitman, the dealer principal for West Michigan International and Jason Gies, vice president, eMobility business development at Navistar, onto the show.

When people start talking about EVs, the big ol' lithium-ion battery tends to get a lot of the limelight. But EVs have dozens of other components needed to make them operate as expected, including another, smaller battery. Just like a car with an internal combustion engine, most EVs require a 12V battery in addition to the big one at center stage.

In fact, the 12V battery is supremely important to successful EV operation. But why? And what makes a 12V battery in an EV different than one you'd find in any other vehicle?

To answer our questions, we've invited Allison Lentz Bubar, SVP of marketing & DIT strategy at Advance Auto Parts onto the show.