Ep. 126: Zhe Wang – RMI

Zhe Wang, principal of RMI’s China program, talks about China’s focus on decarbonizing trucking, the fast growth of what he calls new energy trucks, and what is driving this growth. He also talks about the recent Rush to Zero program, which was modeled on NACFE’s Run on Less, and the program’s role in increasing the confidence in the viability of new energy trucks in the Chinese market.

Adam Klauber, chief sustainability officer at World Energy, talks about the rebirth of World Energy, the importance of education about fuel types and the need for voluntary choice when it comes to fuel solutions. He also talks about the benefits of drop-in fuel solutions, why renewable diesel is a good solution for trucking and about why a diverse approach to decarbonization makes sense.

Matt Schrap, chief commercial officer of Forum Mobility, talks about his career and his special area of expertise in regulatory policy He also talks about why trucking means so much to him, shares his thoughts on the drayage portion of trucking going electric and explains the goal of Forum Mobility. He also talks about HVIP vouchers in California, Tesla and how BEV technology will continue to evolve.

Don Baldwin, retired from Michelin, talks about the origins of NACFE, why he put his personal stamp on starting NACFE and the fuel agnostic Challenge Bibendum. He also talks about the importance of passion in your work, the value of bringing unbiased information to decision makers and the need to establish some guiding principles for your life. He comments on his role as a recruiter/interviewer for the Naval Academy and where he thinks the trucking industry is today.

Graham Richard, advisor to CEOs and founders leading innovation clean economy companies, talks about his affinity for the clean economy, his time in the Indiana State Senate, and his time as mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He also talks about work he has done on energy and its impact on the environment and about implementing an idle reduction solution for his city’s fleet of trucks. And finally, he shares the theme of his life and talks about one of the proudest moments of his life.

Mike McHorse, NACFE’s director of industry engagement, explains why he has diesel in his blood and his family’s long history in trucking. He also talks about his involvement with the launch of the Freightliner Cascadia, Team Run Smart and some of the initial work with autonomous technology. He explains what makes a good value story, what brought him to NACFE, and his love for emerging technologies.

Dan Gage, president of The Transport Project, talks about the process of rebranding an organization, explains what a sustainability solutionist is, and why he thinks now is the perfect opportunity for natural gas. He also explains the different types of feedstocks for RNG, the economics of the fuel and clears up some of the misconceptions.

Rachael Nealer, energy and transportation leader, former executive director of the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, talks about why it is important to break down silos, new models for momentum, and the importance of making research actionable. She also talks about what she thinks can be applied from passenger cars to trucks, and why money is not the only thing needed to transition to a new technology. She also shares what she sees as some of the less common benefits and challenges of EVs and gives some advice on approaching the future.

Dan Priestley, Director, Semi at Tesla, talks about the early days of the Tesla Semi, why they are focusing on the on-highway segment of the market, the truck’s development and what were some of the lessons they learned in the early days. He also provides an update on where Tesla is today, why he loves working with fleets, why sometimes it can be challenging for fleets to make a big commitment on a new technology and why he thinks in the future fleets will appreciate the longevity and potential of EVs.

John Walters, vice president and general manager, heavy-duty, Americas for Valvoline, talks about his love for technology, how fate brought him to trucking, and why we all have a stake in making the trucking industry more efficient. He also talks about the work Valvoline is doing to prove to the heavy-duty market that it belongs. And he shares his thoughts on the Messy Middle, why he welcomes it and wants to be a part of it and explains how the trucking industry is like an elephant.