# Introducing: With Great Power, a show about the people building the future grid

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2023-01-18
- Length: 21m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-18-introducing-with-great-power-a-show-about-the-people-building-the-future-grid

## Summary

Brad Langley hosts Karl Popham, Manager of Electric Vehicles and Emerging Technologies at Austin Energy, to discuss how utilities can drive EV adoption through a dealership-centric approach. Popham explains that Austin Energy created an EV Buyers Guide to mimic the Tesla shopping experience and engaged local dealerships by focusing on salesperson profitability rather than just utility goals. He outlines a five-pillar strategy covering infrastructure, outreach, grid integration, equity, and fleets, arguing that EVs offer utilities a profitable revenue stream by utilizing off-peak capacity and providing reliable demand response.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-18-introducing-with-great-power-a-show-about-the-people-building-the-future-grid#t=0) Introduction: With Great Power and Karl Popham
- [1:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-18-introducing-with-great-power-a-show-about-the-people-building-the-future-grid#t=106) The Dealership Problem and Austin Energy's Response
- [6:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-18-introducing-with-great-power-a-show-about-the-people-building-the-future-grid#t=371) Karl Popham's Career Path from Semiconductors to EVs
- [12:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-18-introducing-with-great-power-a-show-about-the-people-building-the-future-grid#t=732) Building an EV Team and Strategy within a Utility
- [14:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-18-introducing-with-great-power-a-show-about-the-people-building-the-future-grid#t=888) The Five Pillars of Austin Energy's EV Strategy
- [16:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-18-introducing-with-great-power-a-show-about-the-people-building-the-future-grid#t=1019) Revenue Opportunities and Grid Integration Benefits
- [19:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-18-introducing-with-great-power-a-show-about-the-people-building-the-future-grid#t=1179) Scalability and Simplicity in Program Design

## Topics

- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Austin Energy (company)
- Gridex (company)
- With Great Power (product)
- Catalyst (product)
- Tesla (product)
- EV Buyers Guide (product)
- Postscript Media (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Solving a Renewables Problem with Electric Vehicles](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-05-28-solving-a-renewables-problem-with-electric-vehicles) (EE Times Current)
- [Managing Energy At The Edge: Navigating The Modern Grid With Itron](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-09-05-managing-energy-at-the-edge-navigating-the-modern-grid-with-itron) (Over the Air)
- [Preparing the Energy Grid for EVs with IoT | Itron's Nick Tumilowicz | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2023-08-29-preparing-the-energy-grid-for-evs-with-iot-itrons-nick-tumilowicz-internet-of-th) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Renewable Energy Policy with Ari Gerstman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-05-02-renewable-energy-policy-with-ari-gerstman) (The Amp Hour)
- [197. This Smart Charger = More EVs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-10-22-197-this-smart-charger-more-evs) (The Next Byte Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-18-introducing-with-great-power-a-show-about-the-people-building-the-future-grid. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.