CleanTech Talk — Tesla, Solar, Battery, Climate, AI, EV, & Other Tech News & Analysis
266 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★★ - 5 ratingsCleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan interviews cleantech leaders, top researchers, and investment experts in the fields of electric vehicles (EV), batteries and mining, solar energy, climate change, artificial intelligence (AI), and more.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Investing Thoughtfully In The EV & Cleantech Mineral Boom
April 14, 2023 21:29 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBWill McDonough, co-founder and CEO of EMG Advisors, talks with CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan about investing in the minerals critical to EV batteries and the EV revolution. Tune in to get an insight into one clear approach to investing in the future!
Designing the Future at Italdesign
April 09, 2023 03:27 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBThe legendary Italdesign's Laura De Martini recently sat down with CleanTechnica's Jo Borras to discuss Italdesign's Climb-E autonomous transportation urban concept, how robotaxis will make cars more like living rooms, and blurring the line between living space and mobility.
Kanthal SVP Talks Electrifying Industrial Heat for Steel, Cement, & More — Part 2
March 28, 2023 10:05 - 43 minutes - 40 MBPart 2 of: The CleanTech Talk guest today is Dilip Chandrasekaran, SVP of Swedish firm Kanthal, recently promoted to head of business development for the global steel segment and previously head of R&D and technology for several years. He’s been in industrial heat in steel and other segments for years since his materials sciences PhD. Kanthal works globally to assist firms to electrify industrial heat, and Dilip knows the problems and the opportunities.
Kanthal SVP Talks Electrifying Industrial Heat for Steel, Cement, & More — Part 1
March 27, 2023 15:51 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBThe CleanTech Talk guest today is Dilip Chandrasekaran, SVP of Swedish firm Kanthal, recently promoted to head of business development for the global steel segment and previously head of R&D and technology for several years. He’s been in industrial heat in steel and other segments for years since his materials sciences PhD. Kanthal works globally to assist firms to electrify industrial heat, and Dilip knows the problems and the opportunities.
Farms Are Going Electric & Autonomous and Hylio’s 14’ Diameter Crop Sprayers Are Leading the Way
March 20, 2023 10:03 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MBPart 2 of: Arthur Erickson is the founder and CEO of Hylio. A Texas native, he took his aerospace degree and moved into drone technology heavily. Potentially 15% of America’s farms have agricultural drones already as spotters or sprayers, and Hylio is big in the sprayer side already, delivering a product which is competing with DJI and John Deere very well. The conversation covered precision agriculture, radical energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, the competition, and the huge op...
Autonomous 14’ Diameter Drones from Hylio Are Displacing Crop Dusters & Tractors
March 19, 2023 10:30 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBArthur Erickson is the founder and CEO of Hylio. A Texas native, he took his aerospace degree and moved into drone technology heavily. Potentially 15% of America’s farms have agricultural drones already as spotters or sprayers, and Hylio is big in the sprayer side already, delivering a product which is competing with DJI and John Deere very well. The conversation covered precision agriculture, radical energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, the competition, and the huge opportunities...
One of the World's Biggest Tech Firms Tackles E-bike Safety
March 16, 2023 06:42 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBBosch has been one of the most influential mechanical and electrical engineering firms of the last hundred years, and its work appears in just about everyone's cars, factories, and even kitchens. Now, it's also in your e-bikes, where Bosch is putting that cutting-edge expertise to work making e-bikes riders, and their homes, safer. Bosch General Manager of E-bike Systems, Claudia Wasko, joins Jo Borrás to talk e-bike batteries, li-ion batteries, and more!
Climate Change's Hidden Risks — Part 2
March 14, 2023 20:11 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBJoin us for a thought-provoking discussion on clean technology and the pressing issue of climate change with author and expert, Michele Wucker. In this podcast, we delve into the concepts of "gray rhinos" and "black swans" as they relate to the current and future state of our planet. Wucker, author of "The Gray Rhino: How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore," brings a unique perspective on how to navigate the overwhelming and often ignored risks of climate change. Tune in t...
Navigating Climate Change's Gray Rhinos — Part 1
March 14, 2023 03:58 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MBJoin us for a thought-provoking discussion on clean technology and the pressing issue of climate change with author and expert Michele Wucker. In this podcast, we delve into the concepts of "gray rhinos" and "black swans" as they relate to the current and future state of our planet. Wucker, author of "The Gray Rhino: How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore," brings a unique perspective on how to navigate the overwhelming and often ignored risks of climate change. Tune in to...
More Green Batteries for Europe & USA
March 06, 2023 04:14 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBFREYR CEO Tom Jensen talks at length with CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan about its plans for battery gigafactories in Europe and the USA, these regions catching up to China in EV battery production (including the battery supply chain), and innovating in EV battery development and production.
Getting More Lithium
February 28, 2023 05:58 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MBThe EV revolution needs one thing above all others: batteries. And batteries need lithium. Summit Nanotech CEO and Founder Amanda Hall talks with CleanTechnica about what she and her team are doing to help bring more lithium to the EV battery market.
How Many People Are On Waitlists For Electric Cars?
February 20, 2023 05:08 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBAlmost every decent electric car — and even some indecent ones — has a long waitlist these days. How many people are really just waiting for an electric car and delaying a new car purchase? How much is the auto industry being affected by this and blaming it on other things?
What Do EVs from GM, Ford, Volvo, BMW, Rivian, Volkswagen, Toyota, & Mercedes-Benz Have in Common?
February 12, 2023 12:01 - 28 minutes - 26.6 MBWhat do EVs from GM, Ford, Volvo, BMW, Rivian, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz have in common? If they came with a Level 2 home charger, Qmerit probably installed it. As the go-to installation partner for just about everyone in the EV space (except, of course, Tesla), Qmerit has a unique insight into the challenges facing a wide spectrum of EV buyers. Today, Qmerit founder and CEO Tracy Price talks about EV home charging with our own Jo Borras, and explains why so many OEMs have turned...
Building the Future: A Conversation with Bent Flyvbjerg on "How Big Things Get Done" — Part 2
February 08, 2023 17:00 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBAre you tired of hearing about big cleantech projects that never seem to come to fruition? Join us as we sit down with Bent Flyvbjerg, first BT Chair of major program management at Oxford, co-author of the upcoming book "How Big Things Get Done," and leading expert in the field of project management. He'll share his extensive research and data analysis on the methods and strategies used to successfully plan, execute and deliver large, complex projects such as infrastructure and transportatio...
Building the Future: A Conversation with Bent Flyvbjerg on "How Big Things Get Done" — Part 1
February 07, 2023 18:52 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBAre you tired of hearing about big cleantech projects that never seem to come to fruition? Join us as we sit down with Bent Flyvbjerg, first BT Chair of major program management at Oxford, co-author of the upcoming book "How Big Things Get Done," and leading expert in the field of project management. He'll share his extensive research and data analysis on the methods and strategies used to successfully plan, execute and deliver large, complex projects such as infrastructure and transportatio...
Smart EV Charging & A Smarter Grid
January 29, 2023 00:08 - 34 minutes - 31.2 MBAvangrid and ev.energy talk about smart EV charging, and how a smarter grid can be more resilient and responsive than you might think.
Solar Permitting Made Smooth & Easy
January 23, 2023 16:50 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBAccela’s Amber D’Ottavio, Vice President of Product Management, joins us to discuss their new rooftop solar power permitting platform that helps contractors and municipalities get on the same page and make greener choices.
Mangrove Lithium — Lithium Resources, Refining, & Localization
January 06, 2023 21:22 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBCleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan interviews Mangrove Lithium CEO and cofounder Dr. Saad Dara about lithium resources, lithium refining, and localization of the EV battery supply chain.
Combining Heat Pumps + Water Tanks + Computers to Save Homeowners Money
December 29, 2022 12:00 - 44 minutes - 41 MBThis is part two of our interview with Dr. Jane Meila, CEO and co-founder of Harvest Thermal, a growing San Francisco Bay Area manufacturer and distributor of heat pump based home heating systems. Michael Barnard explores Melia’s experiences in fluid dynamics, quantum cybersecurity and wind turbine flow modeling before explore Harvest Thermal’s solution. That solution intelligently uses a hot water tank with a heat pump to time shift the lowest cost, lowest emissions electricity into optimiz...
Harvest Thermal Timeshifts Home Heating to Save Money
December 29, 2022 04:10 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBDr. Jane Meila is the CEO and co-founder of Harvest Thermal, a growing San Francisco Bay Area manufacturer and distributor of heat pump based home heating systems. Michael Barnard explores Melia’s experiences in fluid dynamics, quantum cybersecurity and wind turbine flow modeling before explore Harvest Thermal’s solution. That solution intelligently uses a hot water tank with a heat pump to time shift the lowest cost, lowest emissions electricity into optimized hot water and heating for home...
Diving into EV Battery Mineral Market & Automaker Evolution with Mining Investor
November 21, 2022 05:32 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBBrian Menell, CEO and Chairman of TechMet, talks with CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan about the lithium market, broader EV battery mineral market, and US Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This is actually perhaps the best discussion we've had on these matters, thanks in good part to TechMet's unique position in the market investing in lithium mines and lithium mining startups.
Deep Insight into the Lithium Market
November 21, 2022 05:32 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBBrian Menell, CEO and Chairman of TechMet, talks with CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan about the lithium market, broader EV battery mineral market, and US Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This is actually perhaps the best discussion we've had on these matters, thanks in good part to TechMet's unique position in the market investing in lithium mines and lithium mining startups.
EV Charging Infrastructure, Public Health Equity, & EV Subsidies
November 07, 2022 06:57 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBDianne Martinez, Chair of East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), talks EV subsidies, EV charging infrastructure, public health equity, and more.
Virtual Power Plants, Solar Net Metering, & More
October 21, 2022 05:54 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBCleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan talks with East Bay Community Energy CEO Nick Chaset about virtual power plants, clean and distributed renewable energy, solar net metering, and more.
Ford F-150 Lightning & Mustang Mach-E Magic — Owner Interview
October 17, 2022 23:39 - 56 minutes - 51.7 MBAaron Smith, CEO of the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA), recently took delivery of his Ford F-150 Lightning, and he already used it to power some essentials during an electricity outage, and also some of his neighbors' stuff. However, first, we talked about his experiences with his other EV, the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The E-Bike Brand Loved By Hot Wheels & Lil Nas X
October 14, 2022 18:06 - 39 minutes - 36 MBLegrand Crewse is one of the leaders of the e-bike revolution in America — and his company, SUPER73, is bringing established gearhead brands like Hot Wheels and Indian Motorcycles as well as celebrities like Lil Nas X along for the ride!
Grids & EVs — Flexibility, Resiliency, & Fearful Myths
October 14, 2022 05:57 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBJo Borras, Zach Shahan, and Steve Hanley discuss electric vehicles and the grid, including flexibility & resiliency enabled by EVs as well as myths about the grid's ability to integrate EVs. They also discuss electric hypercars.
Microgrids As A Service
October 04, 2022 18:02 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBXendee co-founder and CTO Michael Stadler talks with CleanTechnica CEO Zachary Shahan about microgrids and Xendee's "microgrid as a service" technology.
Electrifying School Bus Fleets for Municipalities
September 27, 2022 20:01 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBDuncan McIntyre, Founder and CEO of Highland Electric Transportation, talks with CleanTechnica's Jo Borras about electrifying school bus fleets for municipalities.
Why Did Ron DeSantis Veto The Florida Solar Net Metering Bill?
September 20, 2022 13:52 - 51 minutes - 46.7 MBFlorida solar energy experts and political experts on the right and the left discuss Ron DeSantis' decision to veto a bill that would have harmed rooftop solar net metering in the Sunshine State. Why did he do it?
Diving DEEP Into Inflation Reduction Act & EV Subsidies
September 14, 2022 18:20 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBJo Borras and Loren McDonald dive into the intricacies of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and discuss who gets what when it comes to rebates, incentives, and tax credits.
Clean Energy Benefits in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
September 08, 2022 03:04 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MBWe discuss the various clean energy benefits available to people via the new Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
Tesla #2 in Auto Sales in California!
September 07, 2022 00:18 - 34 minutes - 52.6 MBTesla has become the 2nd best selling auto brand in California, only trailing Toyota. It also has the 1st and 2nd best selling vehicles in the state (the Tesla Model Y and Tesla Model 3). How high can Tesla fly?
What Tesla Needs In Order To Dominate The Market
August 30, 2022 04:29 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBTesla is clearly the king of electric vehicles today, but what does it need to do to go from 1–2% of the auto market to 10%+ of the auto market?
What Data Is Your Car Tracking & Sharing?
August 29, 2022 07:29 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBBraintrust Partners CEO Tim Hayden discusses all the data that you might, or might NOT, expect your car to be sharing with the world, from biometrics and purchase history to location history and where you’re speeding. Be careful out there, kids.
The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT (bleh) & Innovation from Chinese EV Startups
August 26, 2022 02:40 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBSteve Hanley, Jo Borras, and Zach Shahan talk about the new Dodge Charger Daytona SRT (bleh) concept electric vehicle as well as true EV innovation coming out of Chinese smart electric vehicle startups like NIO and XPeng.
Hey, Clean Energy Industry — Let's Not Get Under Joe Manchin's Thumb Again!
August 20, 2022 15:11 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBMike Casey, founder and President of Tigercomm, a 100% cleantech communications firm, talks with CleanTechnica CEO Zachary Shahan about the history of the fossil fuel industry's influence on US politics, the influence it had (including on Senator Joe Manchin) on delaying and almost killing recent US climate legislation, whether or not ANY politicians fear the political power of the renewable energy industry, and how to change all of that for the better.
Pros & Cons of EV & PHEV Subsidies in Inflation Reduction Act
August 15, 2022 17:38 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBCleanTechnica's Zach Shahan, Jo Borras, and Steve Hanley discuss the EV and PHEV subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act, including their various pros & cons. They also discuss the role of dealers in the new legislation.
The Interesting Battery Mineral Component of the IRA
August 10, 2022 21:19 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBCleanTechnica's Zach Shahan, Jo Borras, and Steve Hanley discuss the Clean Vehicle Credit in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 in this episode of CleanTech RoundTalk, especially focusing on the exclusion of any EVs using battery minerals from China and what that means. We also touched on PHEVs with small batteries being eligible for the tax credit as it's currently written. (Image courtesy of Albemarle Corporation.)
In the Belly of the BEAST — Electric School Buses & More
August 10, 2022 16:44 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBCleanTechnica's Jo Borras talks with Vice President of School Bus, Contracts and Grants at GreenPower, Michael Perez, about electrifying school buses, the BEAST (GreenPower's electric school bus), and more.
Creating Carbon-Free Mobility
August 10, 2022 04:59 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBToday, CleanTechnica's Jo Borras talks with Ben Shapiro (not THAT Ben Shapiro) about cutting carbon emissions in transportation. Ben is a Manager with RMI’s Carbon-Free Mobility team, aiming to catalyze rapid progress on emissions reductions in the transportation sector. His work focuses on pairing knowledge of both the electric power and transportations sectors to identify barriers and opportunities to vehicle electrification, while also listening to and leveraging the distinct expertise an...
Canoo x Walmart vs. Rivian x Amazon
August 01, 2022 17:45 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBJo Borras, Steve Hanley, and Zach Shahan talk about Walmart's order for thousands of Canoo EVs, especially in response to Amazon's partnership with Rivian — and all kinds of relate topics.
Decarbonizing Data Centers — It's Fun!
July 29, 2022 17:07 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MBIn this episode of Cleantech Talk, we dive into the fun of decarbonizing data centers with the Hitachi Environmental Business Division's Justin Bean and Jody Heyroth.
Datacenter Decarbonization — It's Fun!
July 29, 2022 17:07 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MBIn this episode of Cleantech Talk, we dive into the fun of datacenter decarbonization with the Hitachi Environmental Business Division's Justin Bean and Jody Heyroth.
Herbert Diess Out As Volkswagen Group CEO, Oliver Blume In
July 27, 2022 06:35 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBHerbert Diess is out as CEO of Volkswagen Group. Steve Hanley, Jo Borras, and I offer our thoughts on Diess, Volkswagen Group, new CEO Oliver Blume and his leadership at Porsche, Ferdinand Piëch, Elon Musk and Tesla, and more.
Cost of Renewable Energy — Rising, Yet Growing More Competitive
July 26, 2022 14:31 - 26 minutes - 23.8 MBCleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan talks with BloombergNEF's Head of Economics & Modeling, David Hostert, about how despite rising renewable energy costs, renewable energy is getting more and more competitive and dominating new power installations.
Automaker EV Sales Trends, VW ID. Buzz — CleanTech Roundtalk
July 21, 2022 05:04 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBCleanTechnica's Zach Shahan, Jo Borras, and Steve Hanley talk about EV sales trends at Volkswagen, Tesla, NIO, XPeng, and BYD. They also discuss the new Volkswagen ID. Buzz and how much appeal it might or might not have. Listen in!
Electric Tractors — So Much To Love
July 20, 2022 18:32 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBSteve Heckeroth made a name for himself as an architect designing solar "umbrella homes" in California, until he discovered EVs and, he believes, a way to turn back the clock on human-driven climate change. As founder and CIO of electric tractor company Solectrac, Steve believes that agriculture can save the world.
The Change We Need To Save The Planet
July 20, 2022 15:14 - 45 minutes - 42 MBWith more than 20 years' experience helping automotive brands understand consumer psychology, Chargeway founder Matt Teske talks climate change, consumerism, and what kind of change really needs to happen to save the planet.
Making E-Bike Repairs Easy — Handlebar Jack
July 11, 2022 15:46 - 33 minutes - 51.6 MBOn the side of the road with a thrown chain or flat tire? With a 20 lb road bike, that's not so bad — but with a 70 lb e-bike, it's a different story. Andy's inventions at Handlebar Jack are here to make unexpected e-bike repairs easier.