CleanTech Talk — EVs, Solar, Batteries, AI, Tesla

The Executive Director of new energy coalition Common Charge, Mary Rafferty, talks with CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan about what the organization is doing and how we can continuing advancing distributed energy in the United States in 2026.

Deforestation is accelerating, biodiversity loss is at record levels, and conservation funding still falls short by more than $700 billion a year. On this episode, Dr. Drea Burbank of Savimbo and Doug Heske of Newday Financial Technologies join CleanTech Talk to discuss how a new generation of “bio-credits” could transform how the world funds nature. From the Colombian Amazon to global investors, they explore how verified biodiversity credits and transparent funding platforms are reshaping conservation — and what it will take to scale a market that finally values ecosystems for what they’re worth.

In this episode, Taiga Motors CEO and Co-Founder Sam Bruneau shares the story behind building the world’s first electric powersports company and why electrification on water and off-road matters now more than ever. From the launch of the new Orca WX3 — a versatile crossover watercraft designed for watersports and adventure — to innovations like bi-directional charging, geofencing, and speed limiting, Sam explains how electric vehicles unlock capabilities combustion could never match. He also dives into the technical challenges his team has overcome, scaling advanced battery manufacturing, and what it takes to lead the transition to clean, high-performance fun in some of the toughest environments.

Gagan Dhillon, CEO of Synop, and Zach Shahan, CEO of CleanTechnica, discuss why electric school buses are the perfect starter V2G fleet, real-world results from electric school bus V2G programs, making electric school bus (and other EV) fleets pencil out after the federal tax-credit cliff, EV fleet energy management, and more!

Exhale Fans has developed an extremely efficient (arguably the most efficient) HVAC delivery system, created with the world’s only bladeless ceiling fan. It is designed to support the energy efficiency needs of offices, hotels, airports, data centers, restaurants, schools, homes, and indoor spaces. In this fascinating interview, CleanTechnica talks with Richard Halsall, CEO and Founder of Exhale Fans.

In this episode of CleanTech Talk, CleanTechnica sits down with Founder and CEO of UbiQD, an advanced materials company powering product innovation in bifacial solar PV and controlled-environment agriculture. UbiQD has partnered with solar leader First Solar to advance solar PV technology using quantum dot technology. Additionally, the company's first product, UbiGro, is a layer of light that uses fluorescence to help plants get more from the sun in a greenhouse. Ultimately, the value proposition is about boosting crop yields and quality without the cost or energy impact of lighting. Learn much more in the full interview.

Join Dr. Denis Phares, CEO of Dragonfly Energy, and Zach Shahan, CEO of CleanTechnica, for a fascinating conversation around dry electrode battery manufacturing, Tesla's dry electrode battery manufacturing vs. Dragonfly Energy's, dye-sensitized solar cells, nanotechnology, solid-state batteries, and more.

Allonnia CEO Nicole Richards speaks with CleanTechnica COO Scott Cooney about leveraging the power of biotechnology to help clean up mining, get PFAS "forever chemicals" out of our environment, and move us toward a waste-free world.

This episode introduces listeners to the transformative potential of geothermal energy. Former NHL Ranger and current Brightcore Energy President Mike Richter explains what geothermal is, how it works, and why it’s now among the most cost-effective and scalable solutions for heating and cooling large buildings. Mike explores the innovations making geothermal more accessible than ever, takes a look at some recent projects, and discusses what’s next for Brightcore and the industry as demand for deep building decarbonization continues to grow.

Today we talked with Quentin Scott, Federal Policy Director at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund, about the organization's 7th annual EV raffle, the tremendous work CCAN Action Fund is doing at the federal and state level to try to advance climate action, clean technologies, and sensible policies. Listen in for plenty of insight and fun, and go here to buy an EV raffle ticket or three: https://ccanactionfund.org/ev-raffle/

Aquaria is a company reimagining water access through distributed atmospheric water generation systems. In this episode, CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney talks with founder Brian Sheng about the company's technology and Brian's history. To date, Aquaria has raised over $112 million from leading investors including Soma Capital, Bow Capital, SoftBank, and former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt. For its impact and innovation, Aquaria was named one of Fast Company’s World Changing Companies of 2023 and selected among TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024.

It’s one of the coolest raffles on the internet: Win the Tesla or EV of your choice or $50K cash, all while supporting people in need. Learn how ChesedChicago made it happen — and how you can get your chance to win before they run out of tickets. Here's the link to join the raffle, and be sure to use coupon code CLEAN for $25 off 2 tickets or $500 off 15 tickets: https://ccraffle.com/?utm_source=cleantechnica&utm_medium=sponsoredpodcast&utm_campaign=07.30.25 Joining CleanTechnica's Zach Shahan today is Moshe Isenberg. Mo has spent over 20 years in the nonprofit and business worlds, with a focus on fundraising, community engagement, and leadership development. He serves on the board of ChesedChicago and is active in several national and local causes all in hopes of making the world a better place.

In this episode of CleanTech Talk, Nick Chaset, CEO of Octopus Energy US, dives into the future of clean energy and how AI technology is reshaping the industry. With operations in 18 countries and nearly 10 million customers, Octopus Energy is leading the charge in making renewable energy more accessible, affordable, and smarter. Chaset shares how Kraken, the world’s only proven end-to-end platform for utilities, is disrupting the space to help to scale up clean energy adoption and improving grid efficiency. Want to know how Octopus Energy is driving the energy transition? Tune in to hear about the next frontier in energy innovation and how Octopus Energy is harnessing the power of technology to create a cleaner, greener, and more affordable future for all.

I recently sat down with Kris Ohleth, Director of the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind, to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and progress in the US offshore wind market. It was a great and fascinating discussion of the US offshore wind industry, what it's been going through in the paste decade or more, where it stands now, and what needs to be done to progress it in coming years. The podcast discussion complements our previous one with Susan Muller, a Senior Energy Analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), regarding the US offshore wind market and the benefits of offshore wind power.

Offshore wind power has been slower to mature than solar power or onshore wind power, but it offers some big benefits. Its upfront costs may be higher, but the value it offers is immense, and there's also much potential for bringing down utility electricity costs. Zach Shahan, CEO of CleanTechnica, and Susan Muller, a Senior Energy Analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists, talk much further about some of these benefits. Enjoy!

CleanTechnica's Jose Pontes and Zachary Shahan talk EV sales trends in Europe, the US, China, and the world as a whole. In particular, they spend a lot of time talking about BYD's growing leadership, Volkswagen Group's fresh rise in the EV market, and Tesla's sales trend, business approach, and potential crises around the world.

GM Energy’s Chief Revenue Officer, Aseem Kapur, and Director of Clean Energy Transportation at PG&E Lydia Krefta join CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan to discuss a new Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) pilot program eligible to GM EV owners in Northern California. GM EV owners in the region can now enroll and get up to $4,500 in incentives to unlock the power of bidirectional charging. That means their GM electric vehicle can supply energy back to their home, or eventually even to the grid.

Brian Nelson, ABB’s Renewables Segment Leader in the United States, sits down with CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney to discuss the ins and outs of innovation accelerating the solar economy, the timeline for the next leap forward, and what it means for end-users, utilities, developers, and EPCs.

Mark Z. Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University and author of seven books, including “No Miracles Needed,” talks with CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan about renewable energy development over the last 25 years as well as how and why carbon capture & storage is a scam. Read more here: https://cleantechnica.com/2025/02/19/we-need-to-keep-our-eye-on-the-ball-to-save-the-planet/

In this episode, the co-founder and CEO of Climatize, Will Wiseman discusses how Climatize is helping everyday Americans fund solar, energy efficiency, and EV projects via their platform while allowing investors to earn up to 10% annually. Will also discusses what a Trump 2025 presidency means for the United States in terms of renewable energy investments and infrastructure. Founded in 2023, Climatize is an SEC-registered impact investing platform that allows investors to fund renewable energy projects while earning up to 10% annually. Climatize has helped to fund millions of dollars worth of solar projects across the United States. Climatize works with dozens of renewable energy developers across the United States to source projects for its platform. Climatize’s investing platform allows any investor in the United States over the age of 18 to invest in renewable energy projects. Climatize was a finalist in Fast Company's 2024 World Changing Ideas list for both the Company of the Year and Impact Investing categories. Climatize is also a 2024 Keeling Curve Prize winner. For more information about Climatize please visit https://www.climatize.earth/. During the course of his 10+ years in the industry, Will has had a hand in every function of the solar energy business including, but not limited to finance, project management & construction where he built 15 solar arrays. He holds two MSc in Renewable Energy Engineering from KTH, the Royal Institute of Technology. Will Wiseman and his co-founder, Alba Forns, are 2023 Forbes 30 under 30 recipients.