With Voltpost, an electric vehicle (EV) driver can park in front of a utility pole or lamppost and, using a phone app, lower a charger from it.

The company says the Voltpost system can cut charging infrastructure costs for communities by up to 70% because it requires no construction or trenching.

Voltpost won the 2026 Electric Innovation and Discovery Award from the Electric Innovation Initiative.

About the guest:

Jeff Prosserman is CEO and co-founder at Voltpost, which aims to democratize charging access, decarbonize mobility and lower the footprint of charging infrastructure.

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Visit host Lisa Cohn at CleanEnergyWriters.com

A report from the research and consultancy group Wood Mackenzie found that, as the Middle East conflict creates volatility in global oil markets, three factors could drive EV sales higher.

In fact, total EV ownership costs could reach parity with total gasoline vehicle ownership costs by 2031, the report said.

But the U.S. is falling behind in EV deployment, the report said. What bold steps are needed to ensure the U.S. improves its position in the global EV market?

My guest is David Brown, director, Energy Transition Practice at Wood Mackenzie.

Background information:

Michigan's managed charging program

Trump administration rolls back fuel economy standards

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Visit host Lisa Cohn at CleanEnergyWriters.com

Utilities are struggling to provide enough capacity to meet the needs of data centers and other large loads. To address this challenge, GridCARE performs an "MRI" of the grid and finds unused capacity in utility systems, cutting utility costs and helping avoid building fossil-fired plants. For example, for Portland General Electric, GridCARE identified 400 MW of existing infrastructure to meet the needs of five data centers, and the data centers signed flexible interconnection agreements with the utility. GridCARE is also working with National Grid.

Data centers, large loads and developers pay GridCARE, which partners with utilities and doesn't charge them.

About the guest:

Cariana Morales is chief of staff at GridCARE.

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Send podcast episode ideas to Lisa@CleanEnergyWriters.com

Visit host Lisa Cohn at CleanEnergyWriters.com