SAE Tomorrow Today

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270. Electrified Trailers for the Heavy-Duty Truck Market Feb 27, 2025

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Can the commercial transportation industry move beyond diesel? Yes, and it starts with practical decarbonization that makes trailers smarter, safer, and more efficient.

Range Energy is accelerating the electrification of commercial transportation via powered trailers for the heavy-duty truck market. With a solution that can easily hook up to any tow vehicle, Range’s powered trailers offer offroad mobile power with an electric propulsion system that slashes fuel consumption and is compatible with dry van and refrigerated trailers.

To learn more, we sat down with Ali Javidan, CEO and Founder of Range Energy, to discuss the future of the electrified trailer market, the journey from prototype to scalable commercial success, and the impact of Formula SAE on his personal growth.

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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269. BRIEFS: How Are Automakers Reacting to Tariffs? Feb 20, 2025

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There is no doubt that businesses, especially automakers, do not like uncertainty. So how are they reacting to potential tariffs and the impact on cross-border manufacturing?

Roberto Baldwin, Sustainability Editor, SAE Sustainable Mobility Solutions, recently sat down with Transportation and Business Journalist, Abigail Bassett, to the discuss the Trump administration’s flurry of executive orders and how automakers are reacting.

For more information on the evolution of sustainability, head on over to sustainablecareers.sae.org. There, you can the latest video of the Honda 0 Series.

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268. A Breakthrough in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Feb 13, 2025

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We often hear about sustainable fuel options when it comes to vehicles, but what about aerospace? With aviation fuel demand expected to rise to 160 billion gallons per year by 2050, new and innovative Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) pathways are certainly needed.

In response, CleanJoule has developed a proprietary manufacturing process that produces SAF with 10% higher energy density than average Jet A fuel. This process utilizes abundant biomass residue to create a cost-effective, drop-in replacement for conventional jet fuel.

To learn more, we sat down with Mukund Karanjikar, CEO, to discuss CleanJoule’s mission is to create accessible, affordable and abundant SAF and reduce the aerospace industry's reliance on fossil fuels.

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267. Optimizing Energy Data for the Cold Supply Chain Feb 06, 2025

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The growing complexity of fleet electrification has highlighted the importance of understanding how energy is used and where you can reduce waste. To optimize energy intensity at industrial facilities, one company is leveraging integrated data and AI-powered intelligence to reduce both cost and fleet-related emissions, particularly when it comes to cold storage supply chains.

Ndustrial helps companies lower energy intensity, decrease costs, and increase sustainable industrial operations with solutions like the Nsight™ Energy Intensity Platform, a data analytics and monitoring solution central to the management of electric transport refrigeration unit (eTRU) power systems.

To learn more, we sat down with Manuel Aguirre, VP of Supply Chain Electrification, to discuss Ndustrial’s energy optimization solutions and the importance of efficient refrigeration management throughout the cold storage supply chain.

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266. Are Internal Combustion Engines Making a Comeback? Jan 30, 2025

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As a new presidential administration takes shape, the automotive world is preparing for a possible resurgence in Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) development, alongside a continued push for both hybrids and EVs.

To break down the shifting regulatory landscape, we sat down with Adam Gryglak and Gary Newton at AVL Mobility Technologies, a thought-leading company that leverages simulation, research, and global expertise to help its clients stay ahead of industry trends.

Listen in for their take on increasing the efficiency of ICEs, the economic impact of transitioning to new energy solutions, and the growing role of hybrid technology as a bridge to full electrification.

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265. BRIEFS: Power Grid Solutions for EV Charging Jan 28, 2025

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How do we balance the demands of EV charging with the capabilities of the power grid? The answer lies in coordination between automakers, consumers and utilities.

Enter ChargeScape, a software platform that harnesses data analytics and managed EV charging to reward drivers for their flexibility and reduce the total cost of EV ownership. The goal is sustainable, affordable energy from a reliable power grid.

To learn more, Roberto Baldwin, Sustainability Editor, SAE Sustainable Mobility Solutions, sat down with Joseph Vellone, CEO of ChargeScape, to discuss the complexities of the power grid and how flexible EV charging can reward consumers and boost EV ownership.

For more information on the evolution of sustainability, head on over to sustainablecareers.sae.org. There, you can check out the latest news from CES 2025 including the Honda 0 Series, Toyota's Woven City, and Sony's Afeela 1.

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264. Launching Human Space Travel with a Luxury Balloon Jan 23, 2025

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Imagine a six-hour journey to outer space that includes a world-class meal, cocktail service, Wi-Fi, and unprecedented views of Earth. This experience could soon become reality.

Space Perspective, the world's first carbon-neutral spaceflight experience company, is commercializing space travel with Spaceship Neptune, a pressurized capsule propelled by a giant SpaceBalloon™. The experience is designed to be gentle and accessible with no rockets, weightlessness, heavy g-forces, or training required. Alongside world-class meal and cocktail service, space travelers will also enjoy views through the largest windows ever flown to space, Wi-Fi, and a proper restroom.

To learn more, we sat down with Taber MacCallum, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Space Perspective, to discuss the technical development of the SpaceBalloon™ and how the company is unlocking the market for space travel in a new and innovative way.

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263. Matching Buyers & Sellers to Advance SDV Development Jan 16, 2025

Show notes

From evolving consumer expectations to changing business models to updates to the car itself, there is no doubt that software is radically transforming the automotive industry—and companies must adapt now or risk being left behind.

The rise of smartphones has permanently altered consumer expectations, and software-defined vehicles (SDVs) are expected to provide experiences akin to those found on mobile devices. Preferences for infotainment and safety features through advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are also increasingly central to purchase decisions.

In an effort to meet these demands and accelerate the development of SDVs, SDVerse was developed as a B2B sales marketplace for buyers and sellers of automotive software. The matchmaking platform is available to all OEMs, suppliers, and other companies with relevant software offerings and tools.

To learn more, we sat down with Prashant Gulati, Chief Executive Officer, to discuss the role of SDVerse in the automotive industry’s shift from hardware-centric to software-first and why differentiating through software will become essential as OEMs seek to remain competitive in an evolving industry.

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262. BRIEFS: Top EV Trends to Watch in 2025 Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

2024 saw several advancements in EV technology and charging capabilities including the rollout of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and the growing adoption of the J3400 charging standard.

Looking ahead to 2025, new EV models and more affordable options are poised to make an impact, capturing public interest and continuing to drive adoption, even amidst current EV infrastructure challenges and the potential rollback of EV tax credits.

To break down the key EV headlines of 2024 and what to expect in the year ahead, Roberto Baldwin, Sustainability Editor, SAE Sustainable Mobility Solutions, sat down with Patrick George, Editor-in-Chief of InsideEVs, the go-to online publications for all things electrification.

For more information on the evolution of sustainability, head on over to sustainablecareers.sae.org. There, you can learn about the announcement of the universal plug and charge platform.

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261. How AI Alignment Makes AVs Safer Jan 09, 2025

Show notes

In order for AVs to perform safely and reliably, we need to teach them the language of human preference and expectations—and accelerating AI alignment can do just that.

Enter Kognic, the industry-leading annotation platform for sensor-fusion datasets (e.g., camera, radar, and LIDAR data). By helping companies gather, organize, and refine massive datasets used for training AI models, Kognic is helping to ensure that AD/ADAS perform reliably and meet safety standards—all while minimizing costs and optimizing teams.

To learn more, we sat down with Daniel Langkilde, Co-Founder and CEO, to discuss why the future of autonomous driving depends on effectively managing AI-driven datasets and how Kognic is leading dataset management for safety-critical AI.

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