Leaders of EVs: Austin Energy - Essayons (Let’s try)
Released December 2022
Utilities are increasingly being seen as the backbone of the EV market, and for good reason. They're the ones who make the market by building the necessary infrastructure, incentivizing consumers, and regulating the market.
They have quite the rapport with their customers, as well, which is a major factor in driving any new technology. Utilities have a built-in customer base to tap into for EV adoption.
Utilities arguably have the most important role to play when it comes to charging infrastructure. Without access to charging stations, EV adoption is impossible.
Utilities can also play a role in incentivizing customers to switch to EVs. Many utilities are beginning to offer discounted rates or even bill credits to customers who make the switch, helping to make EVs more cost-effective and attractive.
It’s easy to see the critical piece of the puzzle that utilities are, and for this episode, we are bringing on one of the model utilities in the EV space, Austin Energy. AE has been winning awards, now regularly, for their rich and extensive EV programs.
We are joined by Karl Popham.
Karl leads the Electric Vehicles & Emerging Technologies Team at Austin Energy since its founding in 2011 whose program is recognized as “Drive Electric Utility of the Year” by Plugin America and “EVisionary City of North America” by the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA).
Karl has been a Principal Investigator on over ten innovation grants and leads the utility’s “5 EV Pillar Strategy” advancing transportation electrification through infrastructure, fleets, grid integration, outreach, and equity. Karl serves on several boards to include The Energy Thought Summit, Austin Forum on Technology & Society, CS Week EVCx Forum, and co-chair of the Austin Climate Equity Plan workgroup.
An active speaker and research contributor, Karl is co-author of "Smart Cities; Applications & Standards” an industry/college textbook published by Springer. Previous roles include the utility’s interim Chief Information Officer, a Managing Director at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, and a Captain in the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Interested in the show notes and article?