SAE Tomorrow Today

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260. Reshaping Air Freight with Blended Wing Body Design Jan 02, 2025

Show notes

For more than 60 years, the air freight industry has adapted passenger aircraft for cargo fleets resulting in limited capacity and diminished fuel efficiency. However, a long-overdue shift toward a volume-optimized blended wing body (BWB) design is enabling freight aircrafts to carry 40-50% more in cargo capacity per trip while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Leading the way is Natilus, a company that develops hyper-efficient cargo and passenger BWB aircraft that dramatically improve aerodynamic efficiency and provide a powerful increase in internal volume. The result? Less fuel burn, lower emissions, higher payloads, and lower operating costs.

To learn more, we sat down with Aleksey Matyushev, CEO and Co-Founder, to discuss how Natilus’ next-generation BWB aircraft design can improve economic efficiency and sustainability, as well as the company’s foray into the passenger aircraft space.

We’d love to hear from you. Share your comments, questions and ideas for future topics and guests to podcast@sae.org. Don’t forget to take a moment to follow SAE Tomorrow Today—a podcast where we discuss emerging technology and trends in mobility with the leaders, innovators and strategists making it all happen—and give us a reviewon your preferred podcasting platform.

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259. BRIEFS: How to Scale EV Charging at Gas Stations Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

As EV charging infrastructure grows and evolves, so too does the role of gas stations, convenience stores, and auto repair shops — all of which are key players in a thriving mobility ecosystem.

Enter Vontier, a global industrial technology company transforming fueling and charging infrastructure, convenience store technology and fleet management. By helping service station owners become “charge point operators,” Vontier is a enabling a shift to better support consumers’ needs and increase profitability in an evolving market.

To learn more, Roberto Baldwin, Sustainability Editor, SAE Sustainable Mobility Solutions, sat down with Mark Morelli, CEO, Vontier, to discuss how his company is harnessing its market-leading expertise in mobility technologies to usher in a new era of convenience.

For more information on the evolution of sustainability, head on over to sustainablecareers.sae.org. There, you can learn about the latest EV announcements from the LA Auto Show including the Hyundai Ioniq 9.

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258. Scaling Connected Vehicles with Over-The-Air Updates Dec 12, 2024

Show notes

As the automotive world shifts toward fully software-defined vehicles (SDVs), many OEMs are hesitant to embrace a consumer-driven model for over-the-air (OTA) updates. Enter Sibros, a company offering holistic OTA software that enables automakers to achieve scalable, software-defined mobility.

By providing AI-powered insights that deliver continuous product and service enhancements, OEMs can harness Sibros’ single no-code platform to monitor, control and optimize SDVs, thus accelerating time-to-market, reducing code defects and enabling hundreds of connected vehicle use cases at global scale. This presents unique value for consumers, OEMs, commercial fleet operators, and even off-road sectors like agriculture and mining.

To learn more, we sat down with Hemant Sikaria, CEO & Co-Founder, Sibros, to discuss the impact of his company’s groundbreaking technology, how insurance and regulation come into play, and the importance of robust security measures to ensure the responsible growth of SDVs.

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257. The Future of Hydrogen Fuel: A Distribution Revolution Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

Jules Verne was ahead of his time—and so is a company inspired by his name that recognizes hydrogen's immense potential as a clean energy solution.

Verne develops and commercializes a novel technology to store and distribute hydrogen in its densest form, cryo-compressed. This approach maximizes hydrogen density, addressing the limitations of compressed gas and reducing the cost of dense storage — which is a game-changer for boosting hydrogen adoption.

To learn more, we sat down with Ted McKlveen, Co-founder & CEO, Verne, to discuss the company’s breakthrough solution to addressing hydrogen storage and transportation and how it can unlock the widespread adoption of hydrogen energy, particularly in sectors like Class 8 trucking.

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256. UNPLUGGED: Entering The Golden Age of Autonomy Nov 27, 2024

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Could the next 18 months mark the beginning of a golden age in autonomy?

In this Unplugged episode of SAE Tomorrow Today, host Grayson Brulte discusses the incoming presidential administration’s plans to establish a national framework that could enable autonomy to scale across all 50 states.

Key topics include the future of autonomous trucking, the possibility of households combining personally owned AVs with subscription-based robo-taxis, and the liability and regulatory environment surrounding autonomy.

Have your own thoughts on this topic? We’d love to hear from you! Share your comments, questions or ideas for future topics with Grayson on Twitter or send them to podcast@sae.org.

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255. BRIEFS: The Future of Solid-State Batteries Nov 21, 2024

Show notes

Most EV batteries are heavy and provide limited range. But Factorial Energy is developing breakthrough solid-state solutions that offer longer range per charge and increased safety.

With higher energy density—390 watt-hours per kilogram to be exact—Factorial’s solid-state batteries allow for less weight and extended EV range. And the company’s partnerships with major automakers like Stellantis and Mercedes are key in validating their proprietary technology and bringing it to market.

To learn more, Roberto Baldwin, Sustainability Editor, SAE Sustainable Mobility Solutions, sat down with Dr. Raimund Koerver, Senior Director and Head of Commercial at Factorial, to discuss the EV battery landscape and the company’s advancements in solid-state battery technology.

For more information on the evolution of sustainability, head on over to sustainablecareers.sae.org. There, you can check out our video interview with Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson as we chat about EV efficiency.

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254. Assessing the Global Automotive Landscape Nov 14, 2024

Show notes

When it comes to the expansion of AVs and EVs, the global automotive landscape is awash in shifting trends, strategic partnerships, and geopolitical implications.

For some perspective, we sat down with Michael Wayland, Detroit-based auto reporter for CNBC, for a wide-ranging conversation on the latest happenings affecting the global automotive industry. From the growing trend of robotaxis to ever-changing partnerships, listen in for a unique perspective on geopolitical challenges, strategic shifts, and the future of autonomy and electrification.

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253. Building a Better EV Battery Supply Chain Nov 07, 2024

Show notes

The global manufacturing landscape for EV battery technology is complex, to say the least. But one company is using its decades-long experience to simplify the battery supply chain for cell manufacturers and their OEM and Tier 1 customers.

YUNEV helps companies navigate battery manufacturing and e-mobility challenges with strategic advisory services and a proprietary battery cell database. In fact, YUNEV is working with SAE International to make its battery cell database available to a wider audience. This work will help users identify alternative battery suppliers, keep pace with market shifts, and better utilize dual sourcing to minimize risks in the supply chain.

To learn more, we sat down with Kevin Beaty, President & Principal Consultant, YUNEV LLC, to discuss the global state of EV battery technology, current challenges and opportunities, and the importance of a building a resilient supply chain.

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252. BRIEFS: Powering EVs Outside of the Grid Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

What if you could power your EV using a streetlight? Or access off-the-grid power units for emergency situations? Beam Global is accomplishing this and much more by building resilience into sustainable energy infrastructure.

With innovative products that operate independently of the electrical grid, Beam delivers rapid, infrastructure-free, renewable EV solutions for both urban and emergency applications. To learn more, Roberto Baldwin, Sustainability Editor, SAE Sustainable Mobility Solutions, sat down with Desmond Wheatley, CEO, Beam Global, to discuss the company’s latest product expansions, including a portable desalination unit that converts saltwater into drinking water for disaster relief and conflict zones.

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251. UNPLUGGED: Tesla's Cybercab: The Future of Personal Autonomy? Oct 31, 2024

Show notes

In 2011, famed venture capitalist Marc Andreessen wrote his magnus opus, “Why software is eating the world.” Now it’s reshaping the future of AVs.

In this Unplugged episode of SAE Tomorrow Today, host Grayson Brulte discusses how software has fundamentally transformed various industries with a focus on Tesla’s recently unveiled Cybercab, and how the strategy for this two-passenger AV could signal a shift away from shared robotaxis toward personal AV ownership.

Key topics include the role of software updates in advancing autonomy, shifting the cost burden of operating a robotaxi fleet, and the future of self-driving technology using camera-only systems.

Have your own thoughts on this topic? We’d love to hear from you! Share your comments, questions or ideas for future topics with Grayson on Twitter or send them to podcast@sae.org.

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Follow host Grayson Brulte on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

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