Ep. 110: Mike Rowand – Energy and Electric Transportation Consultant

Kim Ehrenhaft, NACFE’s design director and trucking industry marketing consultant, talks about her career in the trucking industry, the work she does for NACFE, the role of graphics and infographics and makes an infographic successful. She also talks about the value Run on Less brings to the trucking industry and peels back the curtain about what happens at visits to the participating fleets.

Deborah Lockridge, editor and associate publisher of Heavy Duty Trucking, why she loves the trucking industry, what makes Heavy Duty Trucking unique and its role in the trucking industry of providing perspective and insights. She also shares her opinion on whether trucking is more challenging now than it was in the past and about how we are doing attracting women to the industry. And she gives tips on what makes a good story.

Giorgio Rizzoni, professor at The Ohio State University and director of the Center For Automotive Research, talks about how he came to Ohio State and explains the role of a research center in educating the next generation of engineers. He also talks about his role in developing engine controls and emissions controls. He also talks about his work at the DOE hybrid-electric refuse trucks, what he is excited about in trucking and the importance of writing.

Mike Rowand, energy and electric transportation consultant, talks about his career with Duke Energy, his work with EPRI and his role as an interface between the utility and the trucking industries. He also talks what utilities need to know about trucking and about grid readiness. He explains the role of communication and collaboration and how fleets can help utilities do a better job of serving them.

Ken North, NACFE’s emerging technologies consultant, talks with Mike about the curve ball from his youth that changed his career plans and led him back to trucking, the value of relationships in the trucking industry, and why he joined NACFE. He also comments on what’s special about the trucking industry, the role of efficiency in logistics and transportation for economic survival and what technologies intrigue him. And he talks about his connection to the pioneers.

Andrew Halonen, president of Mayflower Consulting, talks about his passion for lightweighting, and why he sees himself as a technology matchmaker. He also talks about a new technology for trailers called origami, the importance of keeping an open mind when it comes to new materials, sustainability and lightweighting and the role of AI in helping to find cost savings and sustainable solutions.

Elaine Jones, chief financial officer at Stillwater Hospice and NACFE’s accountant, talks about the importance of target costing in product design and why everyone needs to understand what something costs to build and why. She also shares her thoughts about NACFE, the contractor business model and she gives advice on getting through these times of uncertainty and even gives Mike some advice for the future.

Emilia Sibley, general manager of Terawatt, talks about how EV infrastructure seems like a solvable problem, what’s she’s learned about the trucking industry and the importance of listening to fleets. She also comments  on how we are in a once in a century transition and the need to lean in to the transition.

Ryan Bankerd, global director of automotive sustainability at UPS and NACFE board member, talks about his status as a NACFE fanboy, decarbonizing the world’s largest private delivery fleet and why he thinks it’s time to change the messy middle to the middle. He also talks about UPS’ rolling laboratory, the technologies UPS is scaling and he offers advice on how fleets should approach the next few years when looking at technology solutions.

Dean Bushey, NACFE’s director of programs, talks about his career in the military and how it led to his involvement with autonomous vehicles. He also commented on the current and future state of AVs, and his work on the Electric Vehicle Working Group. He shared his thoughts on making it through the messy middle and gave advice on preparing for autonomous trucks.