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Compass IOT

Conversations with innovators and business leaders in transport and smart cities.

  1. eRUC: The Next Era of New Zealand Roads | Interview with Nick Leggett

    08/21/2025

    eRUC: The Next Era of New Zealand Roads | Interview with Nick Leggett

    Nick Leggett commenced in the role of Chief Executive of Infrastructure New Zealand in April 2023. Previously Chief Executive of the road transport industry peak body, Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand, Nick’s professional career has always centred around the need for quality and sustainable infrastructure. What you’ll learn: Why eRUC matters now: How fuel efficiency, EV adoption, and declining petrol tax revenues have made the old system unsustainable. How eRUC works: The shift from fuel excise to distance-based charging, and the role of GPS/odometer technology. Lessons from heavy vehicles: What New Zealand has already learned from decades of applying road user charges to trucks. The bigger picture: Why this reform isn’t just about roads, but about New Timestamps: 01:05 – The Biggest Change in 50 YearsMinister Bishop’s announcement: moving away from fuel excise (petrol tax) to electronic road user charges (eRUC). Why this is a generational shift. 02:25 – Why the Current Model is Breaking DownHow fuel efficiency, EVs, and hybrids are eroding petrol tax revenues while still using road assets, and how eRUC aligns with a 30-year infrastructure vision and why bipartisan support is critical for stability. 06:12 – What is eRUC and How Does it Differ from Petrol Tax?Explaining distance-based charging, fairness, and the role of GPS/odometer technology. 08:20 – Why Now?Trends driving the shift: electrification, efficiency gains, equity issues, and declining revenue. 10:06 – Lessons from Heavy VehiclesWhat New Zealand has learned from applying road user charges to trucks and how that informs rollout to light vehicles. 12:19 – Building Fairness into the SystemHow eRUC addresses regressiveness in petrol tax, with options for rebates, concessions, and dynamic pricing. 14:19 – Defining SuccessWhat success looks like and how eRUC can build confidence that New Zealand can modernise and deliver infrastructure for the next generation.

    16 min
  2. The Complex Psychology Behind Travel Behaviour Analysis | Interview with Chandra Bhat

    06/10/2025

    The Complex Psychology Behind Travel Behaviour Analysis | Interview with Chandra Bhat

    Dr. Chandra R. Bhat is the Joe J. King Endowed Chair Professor in Engineering at The University of Texas (UT) at Austin, where he teaches courses in transportation systems analysis and transportation planning. He is currently serving as the Director of the US Department of Transportation’s National University Transportation Center on Travel Behavior and Demand. Dr. Bhat is recognized nationally and internationally as a leading expert in the areas of travel behavior analysis and travel demand modeling. What you’ll learn: Is Public Interest Secondary in Transport Innovation? There is a growing concern that corporate interests from technology vendors are overtaking public interest in transportation planning. The Complex Interplay of Psychology and Transportation: Transportation isn’t just about infrastructure – it’s about understanding human behavior and travel choices, which can be incredibly complex Transportation as a Lifeline: Access to transportation directly impacts social inclusion and quality of life, making it a fundamental societal need. Equity and Road Pricing: While pricing mechanisms can help manage travel demand, they must be implemented with careful consideration of equity Behavioral Data and Bias in AI: AI systems trained on human driving behavior may adopt our biases, highlighting the need for human oversight, lest we exaggerate patterns and reinforce them through our own models. This episode was produced in partnership with the ITLS Board of Advice

    28 min
  3. Building the Future of Transport and Market Advantage with ESG | Interview with Andrew Petersen

    05/27/2025

    Building the Future of Transport and Market Advantage with ESG | Interview with Andrew Petersen

    This episode is produced in partnership with the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (ITLS)Andrew Petersen is the Chief Executive Officer of Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia (BCSDA). He has an enviable reputation as legal advisor on matters relating to environmental risk, law and policy, including climate change, and as a thought leader and advisor on the business of sustainability. Andrew is a qualified solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW, solicitor of the High Court of Australia, Affiliated Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and former Director/Company Secretary of Environment Business Australia. What you’ll learn: What’s the difference between ESG and sustainable development? One is about investor metrics and compliance; the other is about shaping society at large. How did sustainability go from a side project to a business imperative?Sustainability is now a marker of market leadership—embedded in strategy, boardrooms, and capital markets. What role will data play in shaping our transport future? From people movement to freight logistics, data will guide decisions on infrastructure, emissions, and economic resilience. Is 2035 the real turning point for sustainable business?With climate targets converging and the SDGs set to wrap, the next decade will be defined by building on momentum—not starting from scratch. With electric vehicles and battery tech on the rise, circular design and recycling are no longer optional.

    31 min

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Conversations with innovators and business leaders in transport and smart cities.