Shift: A podcast about mobility

Kristy Fleischmann Groncki and Stephanie Leach, both of the clean energy solutions team at Baltimore Gas and Electric, detail first-of-their-kind initiatives which allow EV owners and utilities to explore time-of-use charging cooperation and vehicle-to-home power used in parallel with the grid.

False starts and missteps define the auto industry’s initial attempts to build software-defined vehicles. In this panel discussion from Automotive News Congress, experts detailed the right way to prioritize software and unlock its transformative potential.The panel includes Bosch’s Stefan Buerkle, Intel Automotive’s Rebeca Delgado, Gentex CEO Steve Downing, General Motors’ Achim Pantfoerder and Ford Motor Co.’s Alex Purdy.

Shift brings two timely conversations this week. First, Austin Russell explores what it takes to industrialize lidar at a time of turbulence in the industry. Then, Jeff Allen, previews the Forth electric transportation conference as it moves to Detroit.

The director of the University of Michigan’s Law and Mobility Program argues against removing humans from self-driving vehicles and suggests the autonomous-vehicle industry can learn a lot from aviation on building trust.

The chair of the automated and connected vehicle practice at law firm Venable breaks down California’s new draft regulations regarding autonomous trucks. Further, he details the state of AV laws and regulations –- or absence thereof -- across the country.

The CEO of ChargerHelp weighs in on the industry’s inaccurate uptime calculation and what issues actually underlie charger unreliability.

The Guidehouse Insights principal analyst examines forces driving Ford Motor Co. to scale back its electric-vehicle plans, steady sales growth in the overall EV market, and why it’s hard for legacy automakers to get software right.

Shailen Bhatt, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, shares insights on a new U.S. DOT plan aimed at enhancing road safety through V2X technology. He emphasizes the urgent need for collaboration to implement these innovations. The discussion covers the potential of artificial intelligence in transforming traffic management and the vital focus on infrastructure for autonomous vehicles. Bhatt's personal stories further underline the critical importance of improving road safety to prevent tragic accidents, driving home the life-saving capabilities of these advancements.

BJ Birtwell, founder and CEO of a multi-city EV festival, dives into the future of electric vehicles. He discusses the shift from early adopters to mass-market consumers and how practical benefits are driving interest. Birtwell highlights the reliability issues with EV charging stations and contrasts the adoption spearheaded by the US and China. He emphasizes consumer education at expos and the engaging new approaches to auto shows that focus on direct experiences with EV technology, ensuring attendees leave informed and excited about electrification.

The managing partner at FM Capital examines barriers to electric-vehicle proliferation. Further, he discusses investing in transportation-tech startups and the economic conditions ending the “order taking” era in the auto industry.