Shift: A podcast about mobility
Episodes
Gartner’s Mike Ramsey ponders Tesla’s strategy shift
05 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The vice president of automotive, transportation and cross-manufacturing at research and advisory firm Gartner Inc. breaks down the disbanding of Tesl...
Amazon’s Wendy Bauer accelerates the auto industry’s AI push
28 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The vice president of automotive and manufacturing at Amazon Web Services (AWS) talks about the proliferation of generative AI advances across differe...
Megan Kimble probes the high price of America’s highways
21 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The author of “City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality and The Future of America’s Highways” examines the financial, environmental and human cos...
Greg McGuire explores Mcity’s next chapter
14 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The managing director of the connected-and-autonomous vehicle test track details the facility’s evolution into a makerspace for mobility innovation ...
Shay Natarajan on confident mobility investing through uncertain times
07 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The partner at investment firm Mobility Impact Partners explains how she looks beyond transportation-tech hype when investing and details a viable pat...
Jay Joseph sketches out Honda’s hydrogen strategy
31 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The vice president of sustainability and business development at American Honda Motor Inc. details the automaker’s new CR-V fuel-cell variant, an H2...
Justine Johnson touts Michigan as a hub for mobility
24 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Michigan’s chief mobility officer shares the state's efforts to ensure that transportation is equitable, clean and innovative across land, air ...
Energy Department’s Chelsea Sexton finances transportation’s future
17 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The program officer in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office explains how EV and energy policy gets implemented through billions in f...
Impact of the DARPA Grand Challenge reverberates 20 years later
10 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
March 13 marks the 20-year anniversary of the inaugural DARPA Grand Challenge race which catalyzed interest in self-driving technology. DARPA director...
BCG’s Augustin Wegscheider explores the nuances in AV, EV forecasts
03 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The co-leader of Boston Consulting Group’s Center for Mobility Innovation discusses complications in deploying automated-driving technology and poin...
Larry Burns identifies the biggest threat to the automotive future
25 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The retired General Motors vice president of R&D and adviser to Google and Waymo believes the way digital technology is reshaping our lives will i...
Union of Concerned Scientists’ David Reichmuth unpacks the plug-in hybrid revival
18 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Reichmuth, a senior engineer in the organization’s Clean Transportation Program, examines if plug-in hybrids will lead to reduced emissions amid ren...
Morningstar and Pitchbook experts on what VC investment says about the mobility sector
11 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sanjay Arya, the head of innovation for index product at Morningstar, and Jonathan Geurkink, a senior research analyst for mobility and supply chain t...
Panasonic’s Andrew Poliak on automotive’s seismic software push
04 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The chief technology officer at Panasonic Automotive details advances on software-defined vehicles and what they mean for consumers.
McKinsey’s Russell Hensley confronts the ‘permacrisis’ roiling the auto industry
28 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The partner and co-leader of the consulting firm’s Center for Future Mobility advises automakers on navigating software, autonomy and electrificatio...
Anthony Levandowski marks 2024 as the ‘year of the robot’
21 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Pronto CEO and co-founder details the merits of pursuing off-road autonomy, provides a status report on self-driving technology and explains why h...
Software-defined vehicle tech takes driver’s seat at CES
14 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
“Software-defined vehicle” was much more than a buzzwordy catchphrase at CES. From Las Vegas, Elektrobit CEO Maria Anhalt and Qualcomm VP and head...
Michael Dunne charts China’s automotive ascendance
07 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The expert on Asia’s automakers and CEO of Dunne Insights warns that traditional automakers not named Tesla should be “terrified” of BYD across ...
Clarios CEO Mark Wallace on the enduring role of low-voltage batteries in an EV era
31 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Clarios CEO examines the growing importance of low-voltage batteries in fully electric vehicles, how recycling may ease geopolitical tensions the ...
Matt Markel wrings new innovation from an old technology
24 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Spartan Radar CEO details how his company’s software serves as “eyeglasses” for conventional radar, vastly improving performance in the real...
Gabe Klein explains the government's role as an EV charging catalyst
17 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, argues that there is no electric vehicle sales slowdown. The segment ...
Katelyn Foley rethinks the way transportation startups come to life
10 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The UP.Labs president details the thinking behind a “venture lab,” which custom-develops startups for companies like Porsche and Alaska Airlines. ...
Phil Koopman outlines next steps for Cruise and the self-driving industry
03 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Carnegie Mellon University professor and embedded systems expert makes recommendations on how GM subsidiary Cruise can improve its transparency an...
Mobileye’s Amnon Shashua eyes profits on road to full autonomy
26 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The CEO of the Israeli auto-tech company explains how driver-assist technology provides a financial bridge toward a self-driving future. He further de...
Daimler Truck North America’s Rakesh Aneja
19 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The head of eMobility at Daimler discussed why the company is developing battery electric and hydrogen solutions at the same time, and how hydrogen co...
Plus CEO David Liu on the long haul toward fully automated trucks
12 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The CEO and founder of Plus describes his company’s evolutionary approach toward developing automated-driving technology. Further, he provides updat...
SAFE’s Allanté Whitmore: electric AVs can take a big bite out of pollution
05 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The director of the Autonomous Vehicles Initiative at thinktank Securing America’s Future Energy outlines findings of a new case study that shows ho...
Bryant Walker Smith on Cruise’s suspension and what it means for the self-driving industry
29 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
University of South Carolina law professor Bryant Walker Smith, an expert on legalities of automated driving, dissects the California DMV’s suspensi...
EV slowdown fears mount, Hydrogen Hubs winners revealed and Cruise sets sights on Tokyo
22 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Automotive News reporters Pete Bigelow and Hannah Lutz dissect a busy week of news on the electrification and autonomous-vehicle frontiers. Plus, they...
Greg Winfree explains how Texas became a transportation technology hotbed
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute director details autonomous-vehicle deployments in the Lone Star State, examines how new technology can rea...
Nth Cycle’s Megan O’Connor uses new tech to boost EV metals supply
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The co-founder and CEO of the refining technology startup details the supply squeeze for nickel and cobalt. She describes how her company can pioneer ...
Tony Posawatz plugs EVs into grid resilience blueprints
01 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Fermata Energy CEO explains how car owners can reap financial rewards from vehicle-to-grid technology while bolstering the electric grid. Further,...
David Zipper on the problems with 'vehicular obesity'
24 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The writer and visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School details the financial, safety and climate-related costs associated with pickup...
Legal landscape around automated driving remains murky
17 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Automakers are introducing more sophisticated driving systems that complicate determining who or what may be held liable in the event of incidents. ZF...
Margo Oge underscores the urgency behind reducing emissions
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The chair of the International Council on Clean Transportation discusses her role in spurring change at Volkswagen following the company’s emissions...
BlueSpace.ai’s Christine Moon forges a fresh approach to autonomy
03 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The president and co-founder of BlueSpace.ai offers an alternate path to developing self-driving software, shares lessons learned from her first start...
How technology could change the makeup of the auto industry
27 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Thilo Koslowski, board member for Arbe and a longtime industry advisor, says traditional automakers must change their cultures and attitudes now to ke...
Reporter roundtable: San Francisco braces for robotaxi rollout and EV charging disappoints drivers
20 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Automotive News reporters Hannah Lutz, Molly Boigon, and Pete Bigelow discuss the latest stories in the mobility realm, including Waymo and Cruise inc...
SBD Automotive’s Robert Fisher on why EV range anxiety might be overstated
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
SBD Automotive’s domain principal for EV discusses to what extent vehicle owners view their brands as leaders in sustainability, why software is a s...
Jeff Farrah on the “immense challenge” facing the self-driving industry
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The executive director of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association discusses the anti-AV sentiment brewing in California, efforts to revive federal...
General Motors’ Charlie Freese on the potential for hydrogen fuel cells
30 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The executive director of GM’s hydrogen fuel cell business highlights the automaker’s decades-long history with fuel cell technology, explains whe...
Motional’s Balajee Kannan on what it takes to run a robotaxi business
23 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The vice president of autonomy at Motional, a joint venture between Hyundai and Aptiv, breaks down the company’s “measured” approach to using se...
Qmerit’s Tracy Price says EV charger electrician shortage could complicate rollout
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The convergence of “megawatts and megabytes” requires a new skillset for electricians who will install and maintain the nation’s emerging networ...
Reporter roundtable: Vigilantes thwart San Francisco AVs, Lordstown's beef with Foxconn
09 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Automotive News reporters Pete Bigelow and Molly Boigon discuss robotaxi problems in San Francisco, Volkswagen’s return to Austin, Texas, Lordstown’...
Navier’s Sampriti Bhattacharyya says waterways are the new highways
02 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The CEO and co-founder of the electric, hydrofoiling boat startup Navier explores the quiet potential of e-boats in marine transportation and how bett...
Dawn Project’s Dan O’Dowd takes on Tesla
25 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Green Hills Software CEO and The Dawn Project founder catalogs his concerns about the safety of Tesla’s Autopilot and “Full Self Driving” dr...
TeraWatt’s Neha Palmer plans to charge EV fleets across America
18 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The CEO and co-founder of TeraWatt infrastructure discusses the upcoming launch of a fleet-focused charging network, working with utility companies to...
Department of Energy’s Michael Berube on the push toward decarbonizing transportation
11 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The deputy assistant secretary provides a status report on the DOE’s Hydrogen Hub initiative, the role of the national laboratories in researching n...
Joby Aviation’s Eric Allison foresees air mobility taking off in 2025
04 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The head of product at the eVTOL startup breaks down the FAA certification process, discusses the company’s partnerships with Delta Air Lines and Ub...
Zoox’s Amanda Prescott on the regulatory road ahead for robotaxis
28 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The vice president of homologation, vehicle safety and feature integration at Zoox describes the process the company used for self-certifying that its...
Beth Osborne explains how U.S. roads became 'Dangerous By Design'
21 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The vice president of transportation at Smart Growth America explores the role car-centric infrastructure plays in a growing traffic-fatality crisis, ...
Blink Charging’s Brendan Jones on building a reliable charger network
14 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The president and CEO of Blink Charging discusses his company’s new contract with the U.S. Postal Service, his time spent launching the Nissan Leaf ...
Daimler’s John O’Leary and Nikola CEO Michael Lohscheller at ACT Expo
07 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
John O’Leary, Daimler Truck North America’s CEO, and Michael Lohscheller, Nikola’s CEO, both spoke to Automotive News at the Advanced Clean Tran...
Mike Ramsey on the emerging business model reshaping the auto industry
30 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The VP for automotive and smart mobility at research firm Gartner discusses how new functions-as-a-service business models and a Right To Repair Law a...
Joseph Vellone on how EV drivers and utilities can make the most of the electrical grid
23 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Joseph Vellone, the head of North America at ev.energy, explains how smart charging can help reduce strain on the electrical grid. He says different r...
Jodi Searl on what EV customers are missing at the dealership
16 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jodi Searl, the vice president of industry solutions and client value for automotive at Medallia offers her advice for meeting the needs of customers ...
Shira Sarid-Hausirer on surprising security vulnerabilities for electric vehicles
09 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Upstream Security’s Vice President of Marketing evaluates automakers’ commitment to fighting cybersecurity threats and the double-edged sword of c...
Center for Sustainable Energy's John Gartner on lessons for EV charger installation at scale
02 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Center for Sustainable Energy's John Gartner on lessons for EV charger installation at scale by Automotive News
Dr. Yan Li on the tension between convenience and safety for e-bikes and e-scooters
26 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The CEO of NIU Technologies discusses the growth of the micro-mobility market and the public’s changing perceptions of solutions like bikes and scoo...
Alan Amici on why advanced tech lacks widespread adoption
19 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The president and CEO of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), talks about a recent report on the state of advanced driver-assistance systems, aut...
Nvidia gets into in-vehicle gaming, factory 'digital twins'
12 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Danny Shapiro, vice president of automotive at Nvidia, explains how Nvidia uses digital tools to help design, build and drive cars. He also shares how...
Sila’s Gene Berdichevsky pioneers next-generation battery materials
05 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The CEO and co-founder of battery technology company Sila Nanotechnologies describes his company’s materials breakthrough, ongoing work with Mercede...
Researcher Ashley Nunes finds blind spots in EV transition efforts
26 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The researcher fellow at the Harvard Law School and Breakthrough Institute director examines the effectiveness of the Inflation Reduction Act, urges m...
Tenet’s Alex Liegl on solving the EV affordability problem
19 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The CEO and founder of the financing and loan startup discusses the attributes of EVs not often considered by traditional lenders and how recent Tesla...
Bryan Reimer examines the balance between safety and convenience in driver-assistance technology
12 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The MIT research scientist discusses his work with the Advanced Vehicle Technology Consortium probing how new driver-assistance tech influences human ...
Celina Mikolajczak explores the battery challenges ahead in the EV transition
05 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lyten’s chief battery technology officer discusses the limits of conventional lithium ion technology, the arduous process of manufacturing battery c...
Don Burnette navigates the road toward self-driving truck deployments
29 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Kodiak Robotics CEO and co-founder discusses economic headwinds facing the autonomous-driving industry, how his company is positioned to avoid the...
Siyu Huang previews what solid-state battery breakthroughs bring to the EV transition
22 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The CEO and co-founder of Factorial Energy details the increased energy density and safety offered by solid-state batteries, her company’s work with...
Shawn McLaughlin on the big benefits unlocked by bidirectional charging
15 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Emporia Energy CEO details how cars can pull double duty as energy storage devices in an EV era, the challenges ahead for the electric grid and ho...
EVs reach an inflection point at CES
08 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
CES placed a spotlight on the momentum electric vehicles are gaining across transportation. Shift host Pete Bigelow discussed the trends and challenge...
Virginia’s Madhur Behl pushes the envelope in robot race cars
01 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The University of Virginia professor previews the upcoming Indy Autonomous Challenge at CES, discusses his work with the Cavalier Autonomous Racing te...
Aurora’s Kendra Phillips writes the playbook for self-driving truck service
11 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The vice president of service delivery for self-driving tech company Aurora Innovation explains how autonomy can help double the utilization rates in ...
Praveen Penmetsa drives EV and autonomous innovations into farming
04 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The CEO and co-founder of Monarch Tractor explores the use of connected, autonomous and electric-vehicle technology in agriculture, details how a V2G-...
JB Straubel on recycling’s role in fortifying the EV future
27 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Redwood Materials founder and CEO details a breakthrough battery-materials deal with Panasonic, explains how recycling bolsters a domestic electri...
Jan Becker accelerates the arrival of software-defined vehicles
20 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The president, CEO and co-founder of startup Apex.Ai advises automakers in adapting to a software-dominated world, discusses his work helping to autho...
From sea to space, GM stretches itself beyond cars
13 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
General Motors vice president Travis Hester details the plans behind GM Energy, a new business unit focused on energy storage and distribution. Then G...
Keith Phillips lays groundwork of America’s domestic EV supply chain
06 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Piedmont Lithium CEO discusses how a $141.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy helps accelerate a lithium project already underway, ...
Ellen Carey shines a spotlight on EV supply chain accountability
30 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The vice president for global policy and public affairs at Circulor explains how new technology can precisely track emissions, prevent exploitative mi...
Sara Baldwin provides a primer on the Inflation Reduction Act’s EV impact
23 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The electrification director at nonprofit thinktank Energy Innovation charts the path forward for understanding how the far-reaching IRA affects elect...
Alex Mueller of IIHS explains how drivers use – and sometimes misuse – partially automated systems
16 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The research scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety delves into her new report on motorists’ habits involving three leading driver-...
Zipcar co-founder Robin Chase envisions a future beyond car dependency
09 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The serial transportation entrepreneur discusses the promise of electric micromobility, finding joy in transportation and why “infrastructure is des...
Assembly Ventures’ Chris Thomas on Detroit’s role in the new mobility world
02 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The co-founder and partner of the transportation-focused venture capital firm discusses investing amid uncertainty, how the Motor City will evolve in ...
Starting from scratch, Harbinger CEO John Harris seeks EV middle ground
25 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The co-founder of the new electric vehicle startup details his focus on the medium-duty commercial market, a fast track toward production and the impo...
Sarah Nielsen on readying the grid for EV charging demand
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The executive director of electric vehicle programs at Consumers Energy discusses the role utility companies play in meeting consumer expectations for...
Laura Chace touts technology’s role in thwarting traffic deaths
11 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The president and CEO of ITS America details the life-saving potential of V2X technology, explains why it’s taking so long to bring connected-car te...
Author Patrick McGinty keeps self-driving cars alive in science fiction
04 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
McGinty, an English professor at Slippery Rock University, recently wrote his debut novel, “Test Drive,” about an autonomous-vehicle safety driver...
Selika Josiah Talbott on building a reliable, equitable transportation system
28 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The consultant and transportation strategist argues in favor of creating a “czar” who oversees AV and EV policy efforts across the federal governm...
Rewiring America's Ari Matusiak on Inflation Reduction Act and future of electrification
21 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The former Obama White House official says his company's goal to "electrify everything" isn't just optimistic, it's also a pr...
Upstream Security CEO Yoav Levy on automotive cyber threats
14 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Levy says the threat of cyber attacks on vehicles, technology and infrastructure is getting worse, not better. He talks about what the nature of those...
Levi Tillemann on America’s bold step into its next EV chapter
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The inventor, author, and vice president of policy and international outreach at Ample dissects the proposed Inflation Reduction Act and explains what...
Sara Martin says EV charging equipment doesn’t have to be boring
31 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The design center director for Atom Power and principal at Open Door Architecture discusses the effect of electric vehicles on commercial architecture...
Sam Abuelsamid examines whether AVs, EVs are ready for prime time
24 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The principal research analyst at Guidehouse Insights discusses the state of the robotaxi industry, his annual autonomous-vehicle leaderboard rankings...
Kyle Wiens fights for the right to repair cars
17 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The co-founder and CEO of online repair community iFixit describes the auto industry’s attempts to use copyright law to restrict who can repair cars...
Kelly Funkhouser clears confusion around driver-assist systems
10 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The manager of vehicle technology at Consumer Reports sheds light on federal reports related to crashes involving driver-assist systems and clarifies ...
Author Jessie Singer rebuffs our notion of ‘accidents’
03 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The journalist and author delves into the details of her new book, “There Are No Accidents,” and explains how the word protects the status quo and...
Inrix’s Avery Ash on data’s role in combatting traffic deaths
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The head of global public policy at traffic analytics company Inrix details a new partnership with General Motors which combines data from cars on the...
BrightDrop’s Rachad Youssef on the electric delivery vehicle market
19 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
General Motors is trying to capture a sizable slice of the delivery market with BrightDrop electric vans. BrightDrop Chief Product Officer Rachad Yous...
WiTricity’s Alex Gruzen on the ease of wireless EV charging
12 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The CEO of the wireless charging company unveils a $25 million strategic investment from Siemens, infrastructure needed to support electric vehicles, ...
David Woessner on mobility’s new reality
05 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The investor and advisor at FutureOf details the financial straits facing many electric-vehicle companies, explains why autonomous vehicles remain a l...
Kristin Dziczek on the three variables shaping EV adoption
29 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The automotive policy advisor with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago discusses the ways in which electric vehicles must reach parity with their conv...