SAE Tomorrow Today

Latest Episodes:

312. UNPLUGGED: I Don't Want to Drive Anymore ... Here's Why Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

What happens when driving becomes a burden?

In this Unplugged episode of SAE Tomorrow Today, join host Grayson Brulte for a candid conversation sparked by his own realization: he simply doesn’t want to drive anymore. Listen in to discover why more people are finding comfort, calm, and even joy in autonomous driving systems like Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) — and why traditional driving suddenly feels antiquated.

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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311. Powering the Next Wave of EV Adoption Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

There’s no doubt that convenience is the new currency for EV owners. But given the tug-of-war between utilities, data centers, and EV charging infrastructure providers, what does it all mean for consumers and commercial fleets?

Listen in as we sit down with Jason Greenblatt, Senior Practice Consultant at Energetics, to explore the latest data, trends, and opportunities driving EV adoption. Discover how home and workplace charging options can transform consumer habits, what’s really behind public charging prices, and how smart software and load management can revolutionize EV fleet charging while saving money and stabilizing the power grid.

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.

Follow SAE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

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

310. Electrifying Europe’s Heavy-Duty Trucks Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

When it comes to battery electric trucks, is real-world data beating consumer expectations?

According to findings from The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), the real-world driving range of heavy duty electric trucks is 10 to 20% better than what is communicated by truck manufacturers. It’s an exciting finding — and one that could propel the decarbonization of freight forward.

To learn more, we sat down with Hussein Basma, Senior Researcher at the ICCT, for an eye-opening look at the electrification of Europe’s heavy-duty trucking sector. From ambitious regulations to rapid advances in battery technology and charging infrastructure, you’ll discover how the EU is driving toward decarbonizing freight — and what that means for the rest of the world.

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 review on your preferred podcasting platform.

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308. Conquering the Australian Outback with Solar Power Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

What does it take to race 3,000 kilometers across the unforgiving Australian Outback powered only by the sun?

Listen in as we sit down with Martijn Boonen, Electrical Engineer & Driver, Brunel Solar Team, and Tony Mathew, Global Market Manager, Teijin Aramid, to reveal the secrets behind their record-breaking solar car victory at the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.

Discover how cutting-edge engineering, relentless teamwork, and innovative sustainable materials came together to conquer extreme heat, torrential rain, and fierce competition. Hear firsthand how the Brunel Solar Team’s winning mentality led to their eighth global win, and how circular fiber tire technology proved that sustainability and high performance can go hand-in-hand.

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 review on your preferred podcasting platform.

307. AI and Digital Engineering for Safer Defense Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

Will the future of combat look like your smartphone? As the nature of warfare changes, new technology is driving smarter, faster decisions on the battlefield.

BAE Systems is accelerating next-gen combat capability through Digital Engineering (DE), a data-driven approach that connects decades of real-world experience with advanced modeling, simulation, and virtual testing environments to design, build, and sustain defense platforms that stay ahead of evolving threats across land, sea, cyber and space.

To learn more, we sat down with Dr. Adarsh Ayyar, Director of Technology, Combat Mission Systems, to explore how BAE Systems is harnessing AI and autonomous technologies to transform combat and keep soldiers out of harm’s way.

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 review on your preferred podcasting platform.

306. Your Order Has Landed: The Power of Drone Delivery Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

From crispy French fries to critical medical supplies, one company is transforming how goods move around the world with autonomous drone delivery technology.

In 2016, Zipline began with life-saving deliveries of blood and medical products in Rwanda and has since evolved into a global network expanding access to healthcare, consumer goods, and food. Operating across four continents and completing a delivery every 60 seconds, Zipline now serves more than 5,000 hospitals, retailers, and restaurants.

Listen in as we sit down with Keenan Wyrobek, Co-Founder and CTO, to explore how Zipline’s pioneering approach to drone logistics is saving lives, reducing emissions, and opening new doors for economic opportunity — one autonomous flight at a time.

305. Fast-Tracking Hydrogen’s Role in Aviation Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

If you still think hydrogen was the cause of the Hindenburg disaster, allow Danielle McLean, Founder and Executive Director of HYSKY Society, to debunk that myth for you.

What first began as a hydrogen-powered eVTOL startup quickly revealed a bigger challenge for the aerospace engineer: the need for scalable, affordable clean hydrogen. In response, Danielle united engineers, entrepreneurs, and energy experts to form HYSKY Society — a global nonprofit advancing hydrogen aviation through collaboration, education, and advocacy.

Listen in as Danielle busts myths about the Hindenburg disaster, explains why regional airports could be the launchpad for hydrogen-powered planes, and details what it will take for hydrogen to go mainstream by 2045. You’ll also get a sneak peek at FLYING HY, the world’s largest hydrogen aviation event, and learn why “I want my hydrogen” just might be the future slogan of the aviation.

304. Driving Sustainability Through Smarter Life Cycle Assessments Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

From pinpointing greenhouse gas (GHG) hot spots to modeling decarbonization scenarios, life cycle assessments (LCAs) can be a powerful tool for sustainability. However, a lack of standardized methodologies across the automotive industry makes progress difficult.

That’s where the SAE J3341 Task Force comes in. It’s a cross-industry initiative uniting automakers, government, and academia to establish a more flexible yet transparent framework on carbon footprint reporting methodologies for passenger vehicles through smarter LCAs.

To learn more, we sat down with Laurel Nelson, Chair of the SAE J3341 Task Force and Staff Engineer of Sustainability Science at Rivian Automotive. She discusses how the task force is implementing a “disclosure addendum” approach that encourages OEMs to clearly communicate their assumptions and data for more accurate and meaningful carbon reporting.

If you are interested in taking part in the SAE J3341 Task Force, please reach out to Laurel directly at laurelnelson@rivian.com or Dante Rahdar at dante.rahdar@sae.org.

303. Solving the EV Charging Gap for City Drivers Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

The future of urban mobility depends on one thing: accessible EV charging infrastructure. For the 40 million U.S. drivers who park on city streets, the lack of home charging options makes transitioning to an EV nearly impossible. And that’s where it’s electric comes in.

Unlike traditional public EV chargers, it’s electric connects directly to nearby buildings and “juicy corners”, offering a cost-effective, scalable solution that doesn’t rely on expensive utility upgrades. Property owners benefit too — earning passive income while enabling their communities to embrace clean, sustainable transportation.

Listen in as we sit down with Nathan King, Co-Founder & CEO, and Tiya Gordon, Co-Founder & COO, discuss how it’s electric is solving one of the biggest barriers to urban EV adoption by redefining how cities deploy curbside EV charging.

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LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/graysonbrulte⁠

X: ⁠https://x.com/gbrulte⁠

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302. Introducing “TeleHealth” Video Chats for Car Repair Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

Have you every wished you could call up an experienced auto tech to diagnose your car trouble? One company is doing just that by transforming the DIY auto repair experience.

With nearly 1 million app downloads, Tinker DIY is the only platform that offers live video support with ASE-certified mechanics for auto repairs, rideshare inspections, and used car evaluations. Akin to “telehealth for your car,” Tinker eliminates the need for YouTube guesswork or costly auto shop visits by guiding users through step-by-step auto repairs in real-time.

Listen in as we sit down with Megan Han, Head of Operations, to discuss how Tinker helps connects userswith expert guidance to help them diagnose and repair their vehicles on their own.

Follow SAE International:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAEInternational/

X: https://x.com/SAEIntl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sae-international/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/saeintl/

Follow host Grayson Brulte:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graysonbrulte

X: https://x.com/gbrulte

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gbrulte/