Grid Connections

• How EVs Are Powering Rural America: Lower Costs, Farm-Ready Utility, and Real Stories from the Road

  Summary On this episode we talk with Steve Gutmann and Robert Wallace about making electric vehicles practical, affordable, and appealing for rural drivers through the new EVMath program. Drawing from their work on agricultural electrification and hands-on experience with EVs like the Tesla Model 3, Rivian, and Ford F-150 Lightning, Steve and Robert share how low rural electricity rates, high gas prices, and at-home charging can make EV ownership cheaper than running a diesel pickup—often with fuel savings exceeding the monthly payment. They discuss the eFarms program’s real-world testing of electric farm equipment, the surprising utility and range of EVs in remote areas, and the potential of vehicle-to-home power for resilience during outages. With EVMath’s online calculator, case studies, and resources, rural residents can see exactly how switching to electric can save money, increase convenience, and keep more energy dollars in their communities.⚡ Tune in now and don’t forget to Subscribe to our new newsletter!Plus check out our new consultancy site: Grid Connections ConsultingTakeaways1. Rural EV Ownership Can Slash Driving Costs by 80% or More Robert Wallace’s switch from a diesel pickup to a used Tesla Model 3 dropped his fuel cost from over 20¢ per mile to just 2–3¢ per mile—proving EVs can dramatically reduce transportation expenses in rural communities.2. EVs Offer Surprising Utility for Country Living From hauling livestock feed and farm tools to loading up 50-pound bags of dog food, EVs like the Tesla Model 3 have unexpected cargo space and functionality that rival or exceed many gas-powered vehicles.3. Electric Farm Equipment Brings Big Advantages Beyond Zero Emissions Programs like eFarms are putting electric tractors, trucks, and side-by-sides into the hands of farmers—offering quiet operation, instant torque, and even mobile power for running irrigation pumps in remote fields.4. Destination Charging Can Be More Useful Than DC Fast Charging For many rural drivers, Level 2 chargers at hotels, workplaces, or meeting locations are more than enough to recharge during the day—reducing the need for constant DC fast charger access.5. EVs Improve Reliability in Remote Areas In rural Oregon, fuel stations can be 40 miles away and have limited hours. Home charging ensures a “full tank” every morning, eliminating the risk of being stranded or delayed due to fuel access.6. Vehicle-to-Home Power Could Be a Game-Changer for Rural Resilience Pickup EVs with large battery packs can power essential farm equipment, well pumps, and refrigeration during outages—an especially valuable feature during wildfire season or severe weather events.7. Used EVs and Federal Tax Credits Make Electrification Affordable Robert purchased his 2018 Tesla Model 3 for just $21,000 after applying the federal used EV tax credit—showing that the used EV market is opening doors for budget-conscious rural drivers.Support or Connect with Grid ConnectionsLooking to either buy a Tesla or even test drive one, use our referral code.Travel for work and looking for a card that rewards your travel needs? Earn 60,000 bonus points with either Chase Sapphire card. Looking to go off grid or just need a better internet setup? Try Starlink FREE for a month.Want to be a guest on Grid Connections?Website   |   YouTube   |   Twitter   |   Instagram   |   FacebookNEVI, EV charging, infrastructure, federal policy, rural charging, electric vehicles, multifamily, charging deserts, state responses, industry trends, DCFC, DC Fast Charging

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• EV Charging Is Booming—Why the Narrative Is Wrong and What’s Next

  SummaryIndustry experts Matt Teske (Chargeway), Loren McDonald (Paren), and John McElroy (Autoline Network) join host Chase to tackle the most pressing myths and realities in EV charging. They break down the surprising growth in U.S. charging infrastructure, challenge the mainstream narrative that EV adoption is stalling, and highlight why better communication—not just better technology—is critical for the next wave of EV buyers. From fast-charging expansion and policy headwinds to automaker struggles and the impact of leasing and used EVs, this episode is packed with insight for anyone navigating the future of clean transportation.⚡ Tune in now and don’t forget to Subscribe to our new newsletter!Plus check out our new consultancy site: Grid Connections ConsultingLinks from this EpisodeParen's US EV Fast Charging — Q2 2025 ReportTakeawaysFast Charging Is Scaling—But With Growing Pains While fast-charging installations are breaking records, some regions are facing underutilization due to overbuilt infrastructure or slow EV adoption, revealing the importance of aligning deployment with real-world demand.Charging Station Visibility Is a Major Barrier The lack of consistent signage and recognizable branding for EV chargers is creating consumer confusion. The panel argues that marketing electricity as a fuel—complete with price signage—can dramatically shift public perception.The Real EV Education Problem: Zero Public Messaging Despite billions in public investment, there’s virtually no nationwide campaign explaining how EV charging actually works. The absence of clear messaging continues to slow adoption among mainstream drivers.EV Sales Are Fragmenting Across More Models, Not Growing Per Model With over 80 BEV models on the market and many more on the way, the data shows EV sales are plateauing per vehicle. Most sales gains come from newly introduced models, not sustained growth across existing ones.Used EVs Are Creating Wildly Competitive Price Points Consumers can now find luxury EVs like the Mercedes EQS for under $35K, putting pressure on automakers to justify new model pricing—even for upcoming sub-$30K EVs.Automakers Are Losing Money—And Options Are Limited As leasing incentives phase out and tariffs ramp up, legacy automakers face difficult decisions: cut margins further, eat the costs, or risk sales decline. Profitability is increasingly tied to platform efficiency and software.Bidirectional Charging May Be the Game-Changer No One's Talking About As grid reliability declines, EVs with power backup capabilities—like the Cybertruck—offer new value propositions for homeowners. Yet, the industry has barely scratched the surface in promoting this benefit to consumers.Support or Connect with Grid ConnectionsLooking to either buy a Tesla or even test drive one, use our referral code.Travel for work and looking for a card that rewards your travel needs? Earn 60,000 bonus points with either Chase Sapphire card. Looking to go off grid or just need a better internet setup? Try Starlink FREE for a month.Want to be a guest on Grid Connections?Website   |   YouTube   |   Twitter   |   Instagram   |   FacebookNEVI, EV charging, infrastructure, federal policy, rural charging, electric vehicles, multifamily, charging deserts, state responses, industry trends, DCFC, DC Fast Charging

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• How PSE&G Is Powering New Jersey’s EV Future with Scalable, Equitable Infrastructure with Dawn Neville

  SummaryDawn Neville, PSE&G's Manager of Electric Transportation, shares how New Jersey’s largest utility is scaling EV infrastructure through innovative programs, strategic grid investments, and a focus on equity. From supporting multi-unit dwelling charging to enabling fleet electrification, Dawn breaks down how PSE&G is preparing the grid for mass EV adoption while ensuring access for all communities. Whether you're in policy, utilities, or EV deployment, this episode delivers actionable insights into the future of clean transportation.⚡ Tune in now and don’t forget to Subscribe to our new newsletter!Plus check out our new consultancy site: Grid Connections ConsultingTakeawaysCustomer education is key — PSE&G is investing in outreach and education to help customers understand the benefits and logistics of EV charging, especially for first-time EV buyers.Utility incentives aren’t just for residential drivers — PSE&G offers tailored programs for commercial fleets and workplace charging to accelerate large-scale electrification.Partnerships with local governments are accelerating deployment — Collaboration with municipalities is helping streamline permitting and siting for public charging infrastructure.Data-driven planning is shaping the grid of the future — PSE&G is using EV adoption forecasts and geospatial mapping to proactively plan grid upgrades before bottlenecks emerge.Interoperability matters — Dawn emphasized the importance of building charging networks that work across different hardware and software platforms to ensure a seamless user experience.Equity is embedded from the start — Rather than retrofitting equity considerations, PSE&G bakes them into program design, with targeted incentives and outreach to underserved communities.Support or Connect with Grid ConnectionsLooking to either buy a Tesla or even test drive one, use our referral code.Travel for work and looking for a card that rewards your travel needs? Earn 60,000 bonus points with either Chase Sapphire card. Looking to go off grid or just need a better internet setup? Try Starlink FREE for a month.Want to be a guest on Grid Connections?Website   |   YouTube   |   Twitter   |   Instagram   |   FacebookNEVI, EV charging, infrastructure, federal policy, rural charging, electric vehicles, multifamily, charging deserts, state responses, industry trends, DCFC, DC Fast Charging

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• Revolutionizing Maritime: David Tyler Shares How Artemis Technologies Builds Fast, Electric, Hydrofoil Vessels

  SummaryWe sit down with David Tyler, Co-Founder and Managing Director of North America at Artemis Technologies, to explore how electric hydrofoil vessels are revolutionizing maritime transit. Spun out of the America’s Cup, Artemis is applying cutting-edge racing tech to build fast, zero-emission ferries that drastically cut energy use, eliminate diesel fumes, and make commuting by water quieter, smoother, and more efficient. We dive into vessel design, charging infrastructure, and the role of ferries in sustainable urban mobility, with real-world examples from San Francisco, New York, and beyond.⚡ Tune in now and don’t forget to Subscribe to our new newsletter!Plus check out our new consultancy site: Grid Connections ConsultingTakeawaysHydrofoils drastically reduce drag, enabling electric vessels to travel farther and faster on the same battery capacity — making high-speed electrification viable in maritime transit.Traditional ferries lose efficiency exponentially at higher speeds, while Artemis’ foiling boats maintain a flat energy curve, unlocking faster, more frequent service with lower operating costs.The maritime industry has been slow to adopt new tech, but Artemis is seeing a major shift as operators experience their vessels firsthand during North American demos.Electrification in maritime brings additional benefits beyond emissions, including reduced noise, smoother rides, less wake, and the ability to operate in more locations at more times of day.Artemis vessels use CCS2 and MCS fast charging standards, borrowing proven tech from the EV industry to support scalable charging for commercial boat fleets.Cities like San Francisco are turning to water transit to ease road congestion, and Artemis’ technology could unlock entirely new ferry routes and help reshape urban commuting.Support or Connect with Grid ConnectionsLooking to either buy a Tesla or even test drive one, use our referral code.Travel for work and looking for a card that rewards your travel needs? Earn 60,000 bonus points with either Chase Sapphire card. Looking to go off grid or just need a better internet setup? Try Starlink FREE for a month.Want to be a guest on Grid Connections?Website   |   YouTube   |   Twitter   |   Instagram   |   FacebookNEVI, EV charging, infrastructure, federal policy, rural charging, electric vehicles, multifamily, charging deserts, state responses, industry trends, DCFC, DC Fast Charging

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• Fixing EV Charging with Better Data: Gabe Klein & Paren’s Push for Standardization

  SummaryWe sit down with Gabe Klein, Chair of the Advisory Board at Paren and former Executive Director of the U.S. Joint Office of Energy & Transportation, alongside Paren CEO Florent Breton and Chief Analyst Loren McDonald. The conversation explores how Paren is bringing much-needed transparency, standardization, and real-time data to the EV charging ecosystem—tracking over 140 million charging events this year alone. The team breaks down the shift from fragmented infrastructure to a scalable, user-centered network, shares insights from automakers and charge point operators, and outlines how better data can drive better business decisions, improve reliability, and help EV adoption reach critical mass.⚡ Tune in now and don’t forget to Subscribe to our new newsletter!Plus check out our new consultancy site: Grid Connections ConsultingTakeawaysParen’s data is now trusted across the industry, with some of the largest charging networks preferring their insights in conversations with government and enterprise stakeholders.New charging players like convenience stores and automakers have different motivations—focused on customer experience and retail engagement, not just selling electricity.Paren’s platform enriches basic CPO data by adding third-party insights like Google ratings, hours of operation, amenities, and even safety factors to improve routing and driver confidence.Time-of-use pricing is not yet influencing behavior as intended, showing the need for stronger price signals and better visibility for drivers in real time.Paren is operating in listening mode, co-developing solutions with stakeholders based on actual pain points, rather than trying to force-fit generic data tools.EV charging station size is increasing, with a national average moving toward five ports per location—signaling industry recognition of utilization spikes and congestion challenges.Gabe Klein sees Paren as picking up where the federal government left off, enabling collaboration across siloed private players with accurate, actionable, and standardized insights.Support or Connect with Grid ConnectionsLooking to either buy a Tesla or even test drive one, use our referral code.Travel for work and looking for a card that rewards your travel needs? Earn 60,000 bonus points with either Chase Sapphire card. Looking to go off grid or just need a better internet setup? Try Starlink FREE for a month.Want to be a guest on Grid Connections?Website   |   YouTube   |   Twitter   |   Instagram   |   FacebookNEVI, EV charging, infrastructure, federal policy, rural charging, electric vehicles, multifamily, charging deserts, state responses, industry trends, DCFC, DC Fast Charging

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