Episodes

Interested in a piece of a $400 billion pie from which Tesla once took a $465MM bite? Chris Creed, Chief Investment Officer of the Department of Energy’s Loan Program’s Office spoke to me about how the pie is made available to innovators or scalers in renewable energy and energy infrastructure. He discussed suitable projects, financial metrics and loan terms. Recent LPO facilities include the subject of our Episode 33, the ACES Delta hydrogen storage program, $2.2BN for Nevada’s Thacker Lithium ...

GE’s “fuels guy” and current Global Hydrogen Value Chain Leader at GE Vernova, Dr. Jeffrey Goldmeer, shares his 23 years of experience and insight on energy generation, energy transition, the electric grid, and the role of hydrogen. We got technical in an accessible way about electric grid characteristics and how the transition to carbon-free sources influences them. One thousand six hundred miles of existing hydrogen pipeline, 50+ years of experience burning hydrogen as a fuel (100,000+ hours ...

You get a billion! And you get a billion! And YOU get a billion! (repeat 4 more times). The Department of Energy recently announced seven recipients of a total $7 billion who will build hydrogen hubs around the U.S. The auto and steel sectors, concentrated around Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, are covered by the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2). Neil Banwart, MachH2’s CIO, talked with Ali Tabibian about how the hub will use scale to demonstrate the economics of hydrogen across dive...

Cars that drive themselves not enough for you? How about trucks? 80,000 pound trucks. Flying down the highway. Peter Vaughan Schmidt, CEO of Torc Robotics, an independent autonomy holding of Daimler Truck, describes his “no hobbies” focus on long-haul, Class 8 applications. From, “no hobbies”, to scalable commercial deployment in 2027, to “no limits” afterwards! You can read the related article here (3 minute read). More information on your host Ali Tabibian and GTK Partners.

Cars that drive themselves not enough for you? How about when they do it at 192 MPH? And head-to-head on a racetrack. With no remote intervention. In total darkness. Paul Mitchell, Chairman and President of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, and I talk at the Las Vegas International Speedway. He tells me how this is possible, what it means for all of us, and what’s next. A raw transcript is here. More information on your host Ali Tabibian and GTK Partners.

A summary for executives, capital allocators, technologists, geeks and generally enthusiastic people. A behind-the-curtains view of trends in M&A, financing, AI, autos, autonomy, electric vehicles, and the Internet of Things. A raw transcript is here. More information on your host Ali Tabibian and GTK Partners. Links to mentioned companies: Torc and Daimler Trucks; Indy Autonomous Challenge; Mercedes Benz in-vehicle NFT (no joke); L’Oreal’s generative AI; Foretellix’s ADAS development platform...

Can electric batteries provide power for heavy-duty and long-haul applications in trucking, mining, agriculture and shipping? Probably not. Most insiders think hydrogen power will be required. Will a simultaneous investment in hydrogen production, its distribution networks and hydrogen-capable vehicles pay off? Probably not. Leveraging more economically justifiable uses for hydrogen outside of transportation may provide a path. We explore how projects like the massive ACES Delta hydrogen storag...

Joachim Rosenberg is with Volvo Group, one of the world’s largest producers of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. He is Executive Vice President, Volvo Group Strategic Initiatives and President Volvo Energy. Joachim describes Volvo’s deep and sincere commitment to sustainability throughout its value chain, including its suppliers, its own operations, and in the “second life” of its products after their initial use by customers. Joachim touches on the full suite of powertrain technologie...

This is one of a series of quick-take episodes on automobile technologies, specifically sensing and LiDAR-enabled sensing, recorded at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. LeddarTech has become a comprehensive end-to-end environmental sensing company by enabling customers to solve critical sensing, fusion and perception challenges across the entire value chain. The company offers cost-effective and scalable solutions that support Level 2+ to Level 5 full autonomy. You can find a transcript and web player her...

This is one of a series of quick-take episodes on automobile technologies, specifically sensing and LiDAR-enabled sensing, recorded at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. AEye develops advanced perception systems that act as the eyes and visual cortex of autonomous vehicles. The company’s solution, based on LiDAR, is particularly suitable for high-performance applications. You can find a transcript and web player here. Learn more about AEye and Blair, GTK and your host Ali Tabibian. If links aren’t active ...

This is one of a series of quick-take episodes on automobile technologies, specifically sensing and LiDAR-enabled sensing, recorded at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. Lumotive delivers critical semiconductors to LiDAR systems providers for both automotive and other applications. The company’s optical semiconductors enable non-mechanical beam-steering technology to deliver differentiated performance, cost, reliability, and size for software-defined LiDAR with advanced perception capabilities. You can fin...

Atif Askar is the head of Business Development, Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions for Traton, one of the world’s largest producers of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Traton is controlled by the Volkswagen Group. Why are battery-powered commercial vehicles almost always the most appropriate form of sustainable vehicles, and why is hydrogen fuel likely not necessary? What are the associated challenges and timelines? Atif explains Traton’s approach to meeting the challenge of climate ...

Jan Krönig is the head of Strategy & Corporate Development for Daimler Truck, the world’s largest producer of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. When are battery-powered vehicles most appropriate, and when is the answer hydrogen fuels? What are the challenges and timelines associated with each? Jan explains Daimler’s approach to meeting the challenge of climate change. You can find a transcript and web player here. Learn more about Daimler and Jan, and about GTK and your host Ali Tabi...

Listen to Maryam Rofougaran, co-founder of Movandi, discuss how the Company’s suite of silicon and software solutions will accelerate the promise of 5G mmWave networks. Maryam provides an overview of Movandi, as well as of her time at Broadcom, which came about from the acquisition by Broadcom of Maryam’s first startup, Innovent. Maryam’s career has been about leading engineering teams whose products have usually had the largest global market share for the integration of myriad wireless technolo...

Listen to Jon Gordon, Co-founder of Universal Hydrogen, discuss how the Company intends to make a flexible and economical carbon-free future possible in the world of aviation. Jon provides an overview of Universal Hydrogen and very nicely creates a “visual” (in audio) of the Universal Hydrogen solution, which involves capsules and manageable retrofits of turbo-prop aircraft. Jon describes how, compared to typical venture investments, a longer horizon is necessary for UH2’s endeavors. Learn more...

Listen to Amy Davis, President of the New Power Segment of Cummins, Inc. a $20 billion engine manufacturer discuss the path this revered manufacturer is taking to remain at the forefront of providing the best powertrains and power sources for commercial transportation. Amy provides an overview of Cummins and her career within the company. She provides a broad and detailed survey of alternative powertrain technologies such as electric and hydrogen-based, discusses where applications are likely to...

Listen to a panel of experts on AI & robotics discuss the applications of these technologies to defense. More about GTK, your moderator Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com. A raw transcript is here.

Listen to Prith Banerjee, Chief Technology Officer of software simulation firm ANSYS, discuss the benefits of applying physics-based simulation with machine learning techniques. Prith describes how his career in IoT has convinced him that ANSYS is the right platform to influence asset performance management, predictive analytics, digital twins, and real-time product design feedback. These advances reduce product development cost, improve quality, improve service margins, and will significantly c...

Listen to Reilly Brennan, co-founder and partner at early-stage venture fund Trucks VC, discuss his investments in the transportation and autonomy space. Reilly describes how his investment criteria and portfolio have changed over time and shares his thoughts on the Future of Transportation. Learn more about Trucks and Reilly and his must-read weekly newsletter, The Future of Transportation. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If link...

Listen to A. Charles Thomas, PhD., Chief Data & Analytics Officer of General Motors discuss how data analytics are influencing every part of GM. Charles describes his objectives, processes and success metrics for bringing a “data centric” approach to …

CES was kind enough to reach out to us, suggest we record an episode from the floor of the 2019 CES show, and offer us studio space. – Hear our reflections on CES as an event, as an auto show, and as a consumer electronics show. Conclusions

Listen to Mamatha Chamarthi, Chief Digital Officer of ZF Group, a $40 billion revenue German Tier 1 auto supplier, discuss the future of transportation and the influence of autonomy, connectivity, electrification and sharing.

Listen to Swamy Kotagiri, Chief Technology Officer and also the President of the Power & Vision Division of $40 billion Tier 1 auto supplier Magna International, discuss the future of transportation and the influence of autonomy, connectivity,

Electric vehicle adoption will threaten automotive profit distribution sooner than expected and much sooner than unit volumes would imply. Tesla has brought about this and many other large but less-noticed changes & threats.