Directly Current: The EV Politics Podcast

• 25: EV Fleets with Libby Bittman, Wex

  One of the biggest sources of electrification isn't your home or your neighbors', but the commercial fleets and trucks that power American business. Wex is a company doing fuel card services, but their EV charging solutions have taken off and they're continuing to invest in it despite federal headwinds.  In this episode of Directly Current, host Max Patten speaks to Libby Bittman, the Business Development Director for EVs and Mobility at Wex. Previously, she's worked at companies like ChargePoint, ChargeLab, and Tesla. Libby also has an EV car, truck, and motorcycle in her household, so she's no stranger to the electric liffetyle. Max and Libby discuss how EV adoption continues to prove itself on cost of ownership merits in the commercial sector even without the White House's support. Regardless of politics, businesses love margins! Some of the ground Max and Libby cover; Why Fuel Cards Need an EV Analogue Charging Hubs dedicated to business fleets Electric motorcycles are very fun, but unlike cars and light duty, aren't yet cost-competitive! Libby is a great speaker, advocate for EVs, and a pragmatic and seasoned participant in the business world. Enjoy! Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VeV_AXRb88 Or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more: Wex for EVs Sawatch Labs Fleet Electrification/Emissions Software Stay plugged in: Subscribe to Directly Current Support our work at American EV Jobs Alliance Shop EV Politics merch

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• 24: Charging Ahead with Electric Era, CEO Quincy Lee

  Max speaks to Quincy Lee, founder and CEO of Electric Era, a charging business that's integrating high-quality hardware with smart software and batteries to deploy rapidly at retailers like Costco for low cost. It's a story of entrepreneurship, quality-obsession, and paving the infrastructure for the future. Electric Era's Site Quincy's Twitter Quincy's LinkedIn American EV Jobs Alliance Messaging Campaign Subscribe to Directly Current

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• 23: Improving EV Towing and Camping with Toby Kraus, CEO of Lightship

  Electric towing is hard, particularly when you're hauling a big family-sized camper that can halve a Rivian's range. Lightship is a startup that's laser-focused on solving that pickle by engineering a smart trailer that not only makes itself more aerodynamic in motion, but also pulls its own weight with an e-axle and independent battery system. It's a clever piece of tech but it also costs a pretty penny. Max speaks with Toby Kraus, the CEO of Lightship, on what it's like building EV hardware in Colorado and how he and the team are dealing with challenges like unpredictable tariff policy. He also hints at some future developments that might drive down the price tag much as EVs themselves have gotten cheaper and more accessible. Lightship's Website for the AE.1 Subscribe to Directly Current Learn More About the American EV Jobs Alliance

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• 22: The Long, Messy Road To Desirable EVs with Declan Kavanaugh

  Long before the Tesla Roadster or GM EV.1 were a twinkle in engineers' eyes, there were people hard at work making whacky electric cars in their garages. Declan Kavanaugh, a college student and budding engineer interning at startup Telo Trucks, is one such enthusiast, taking pride in buying cheap EV curiosity projects from the 1970s and restoring them with modern-day battery technology and upgrades. He documents his efforts in entertaining fashion on YouTube. This episode is a fun one for the nerds among you, and if you're still unsure what a kilowatt is worry not, Max and Declan break down some of the jargon as they dive down the messy history of electric cars into our present day. In the present, they discuss the buzz around Telo as well as Slate Auto's cheap mini electric pickup, examining how new niches are starting to become possible with better commoditized technology that can (hopefully) be built for affordable prices in America. Mentioned Links: Declan's YouTube Channel TELO TRUCK's Website Follow The Podcast: Subscribe to Directly Current Learn More About the American EV Jobs Alliance Reach Out to Max with Feedback: [email protected]

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• 21: Building Electric Trucks In America (with Harbinger Motors' John Harris)

  Harbinger Motors is making medium-duty electric trucks in America, which believe it or not, almost no one else is. While Rivian, GM, Ford, and Daimler have rolled out light duty vans for deliveries, John Harris wants to make chassis for vehicles with higher gross vehicle weight ratings for delivery customers with those needs. Of course, we talk tariffs—an ongoing and changing development for the auto industry—and how his company is dealing with them through vertical integration. Mentioned Links: Harbinger Motors' Website Follow The Podcast: Subscribe to Directly Current Learn More About the American EV Jobs Alliance Contact Us: [email protected] 

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