Drive Electric Alabama launches educational podcasts
The advent of electric vehicles is changing Alabama's economy and the way Alabamians travel. Learn more in a new series of podcasts. (Drive Electric Alabama)
A new podcast about electric vehicles (EVs), featuring experts from Alabama, released its first episode today, with more slated to hit streaming platforms in the coming weeks.
The Drive Electric Alabama Podcast features discussions about the EV transition; EV infrastructure, funding and automobile manufacturing; as well as EV ties to economic development, training and workforce development in Alabama. Other topics include EV auto sales, EV battery research and EV commercial vehicles.
The podcasts are hosted by Cedric Daniels, recently retired EV marketing manager for Alabama Power, and Michael Staley, president of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition. The nine-episode series explores the wide-ranging impact of EVs in Alabama.
“The Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition has a goal to promote clean, renewable, domestic energy sources that help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, improve local air quality and increase economic development investments in our local communities,” Staley said. “The Drive Electric Alabama Podcast provides a new platform for us to educate listeners about everything going on and the benefits of EVs in the state.”
The podcast episodes include discussions with more than a dozen Alabama leaders who are involved in automobile manufacturing and sales, economic development and government. New episodes will be available each Wednesday through June 12. Listeners can find the podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. The episodes also will post on a special page on the Drive Electric Alabama website.
Among the guests participating in the podcasts are:
- Kenneth Boswell, director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).
- Houston Smith, Alabama Power vice president of Governmental Affairs.
- Blake Hardwich, Energy Institute of Alabama executive director.
- Justin Harrison, Distribution Grid Transformation & Planning Manager, Alabama Power.
- Drew Frye, Tennessee Valley Authority electric vehicle manager.
- Robert Burns, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama vice president and chief administrative officer.
- Tom McNeal, Craft Labor & Workforce Development program manager, Alabama Power.
- Jim Fugate, Energy Infrastructure Training & Technical Training manager, Alabama Power.
- Mitchell Watts, vice president and co-owner of Town & Country Ford.
- Ron Davis, Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association president and CEO.
- Mike Oatridge, Alabama Mobility and Power Center executive director.
- Ellen McNair, Alabama Department of Commerce.
- Greg Canfield, retired secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
- Blair King, Business Development director, Alabama Power.
- Dion van Leeve, AutoCar Trucks vice president of Engineering Commercial Vehicles.
- David Nethercut, Transportation South electric vehicle program manager.
“The Drive Electric Alabama initiative is designed to educate Alabamians about EVs, and the information provided in the podcast will help fulfill that mission,” Boswell said. “This is a great way to further that effort in a format that is appealing to many people.”
Alabama Power is among the companies now using plug-in electric vehicles as part of their commercial fleets. (Drive Electric Alabama)
“We are proud to support the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition and Drive Electric Alabama,” said Hasin Gandhakwala, manager of Electric Transportation at Alabama Power. The podcast is sponsored by Alabama Power’s You’re in Charge EV incentive program.
Gandhakwala said the podcasts provide “a great platform to educate the people of Alabama about the EV activity and growth taking place, as well as the benefits of driving an electric vehicle, including the incentive programs being offered by Alabama Power and other utilities.”
The podcasts were created under a partnership among Alabama Power, the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition and Drive Electric Alabama, a statewide initiative coordinated by ADECA and dedicated to improving the state through the adoption of EVs. The podcasts were produced with technical support by Ingredient Creative.
To learn more about Alabama Power’s longtime involvement in electric transportation, and the company’s EV incentives for customers, click here.
