Field Frequency

Jason Cortes
  • 4.5 (2)
  • BUSINESS

Field Frequency sits at the intersection of energy and technology, where innovation powers possibility. Each episode brings you a steady stream of insights, real-world stories, and timely updates straight from the field. From breakthrough advancements and evolving infrastructure to expert perspectives on emerging tech, we uncover the tools, trends, and talent shaping the future of EV, fueling, and the technology that surrounds both industries. Whether you’re deep in the industry or simply curious about where energy meets innovation, Field Frequency keeps you connected, informed, and inspired — fueling the future, one conversation at a time.

  1. 5D AGO

    Chargeway: Translating Electricity Into Fuel

    In this episode of Field Frequency, Jason Cortes sits down with Matt Teske, Founder and CEO of Chargeway, to talk about one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption: confusion. From his roots in automotive culture to building a platform designed to simplify EV charging, Matt shares why the industry’s challenge is not just technology, but communication. Together, they explore consumer friction, charging anxiety, infrastructure visibility, OEM strategy, and what it may take to build greater confidence in electrification. In this conversation, Jason and Matt unpack the gap between EV innovation and EV understanding. Matt shares how a real-world charging mishap helped spark the idea for Chargeway and explains why he believes EV adoption is being slowed less by range and more by friction, messaging, and fuel confidence. The episode explores how Chargeway helps simplify the charging experience by translating complex charging data into a more intuitive, driver-friendly format. Jason and Matt also discuss how automakers, charging networks, dealers, and utilities each play a role in shaping the EV customer experience. In this episode, they discuss: Matt Teske’s automotive background and the origin story behind ChargewayWhy EV charging is still too complicated for the average driverHow Chargeway simplifies charging with color-coded plugs and power levelsThe difference between range anxiety and fuel confidenceWhy consumer education may be one of the biggest missing pieces in EV adoptionThe role of OEMs, dealers, charging networks, and utilities in the EV ecosystemHow inconsistent messaging may be creating more friction in the marketWhy Tesla’s charging network changed the conversation for legacy automakersThe opportunity for the EV industry to improve clarity, consistency, and trustAbout Matt Teske Matt Teske is a storyteller and brand builder whose work has focused primarily on the automotive and energy industries. He believes that for any product or service to succeed, it needs a compelling story that connects with its audience. Those stories are rarely accidental. They are built through thoughtful planning, creative collaboration, and innovative execution. Throughout his career, Matt has led projects for some of the world’s most recognizable brands. Through his own business and as a consultant, he has served in roles including Chief Strategy Officer, creative director, brand strategist, producer, and PR manager. His work has spanned brand development for startups, concept car design, action sports apparel launches, NCAA football helmet design, international editorial writing, and even stand-up comedy. Today, Matt is focused on the growth of Chargeway, a software platform designed to simplify the electric fueling experience for EV drivers and the broader electric vehicle industry. When time allows, he also provides branding and strategy consulting across a range of industries, with a particular focus on transportation and clean energy.

    41 min

  2. MAR 3

    How Petroleum Retailers Evolve: Global Partner's Take on the Next Fueling Era

    In this episode of Field Frequency, we sit down with James Cater, Senior Director of Sustainability at Global Partners, to explore what happens when petroleum retail meets electrification. James shares his “molecules to electrons” origin story, from launching one of the largest EV make-ready programs in the country at Eversource Energy to helping Global thoughtfully integrate EV charging into its retail footprint. This conversation dives into the operational, financial, and cultural realities of bringing EV charging to traditional fueling locations. From dwell time economics to demand charges, from brand control to customer loyalty, James explains why EV infrastructure is not a threat to fuel retail, but an evolution of it. The takeaway? The future forecourt is not about choosing gasoline or electrons. It is about designing an experience that makes customers want to stay. Show Notes Guest OverviewConversation with James Cater, Senior Director of Sustainability at Global PartnersFocus on petroleum retail and EV charging convergenceFrom Utility to RetailBackground at Eversource launching major EV make-ready programsTransition to building EV charging strategy within fuel retailWho Global Partners IsIntegrated midstream/downstream fuel companyRetail brands include Alltown Fresh and Honey FarmsEVs as Evolution, Not CompetitionCharging positioned as another fuel typeSelective, strategic deployment rather than “chargers everywhere”Customer Experience & Dwell TimeEV drivers stay longer, increasing in-store conversionPremium retail offerings align with EV demographicsSafety, lighting, and amenities are criticalOwnership vs. Hosting ChargersLeasing to CPOs as an entry strategyShift toward owning chargers to control brand and operationEconomics & IncentivesUtilization drives long-term value NEVI, state, and utility incentives help de-risk projectsDemand charges are a major profitability factorScaling & Site StrategyLarger port counts and faster charging becoming standardNew-to-industry builds offer cost and infrastructure advantagesIndustry SentimentMany retailers remain cautiousInnovation depends on leadership willing to look ahead

    40 min

  3. FEB 17

    Curo’s Utilization Fix: Turning Chargers into Investable Assets

    In this episode of Field Frequency, Jason sits down with Kieran White, founder of Curo, to unpack one of the EV industry’s most overlooked levers: making charging infrastructure truly investable. From a rebellious start that led him from Tesla’s Model 3 launch logistics to founding Curo, Kieran shares how firsthand fleet charging pain points sparked the concept of the “Virtual Depot.” Together, they explore how contracted fleet demand can transform EV chargers from speculative infrastructure into revenue-backed assets. The conversation dives into monetizing underutilized parking, aligning fleets with real estate owners, navigating market headwinds, and why the future of EV charging depends on coordination between fleets, developers, and investors. If you care about uptime, utilization, and sustainable business models in EV charging, this episode connects the dots. Show Notes: Kieran White’s journey from Tesla logistics to founding CuroThe charging bottleneck problem that inspired the Virtual Depot modelWhat it means to treat EV chargers as investable assetsContracted fleet offtake and why revenue certainty mattersMonetizing underutilized parking infrastructureLevel 2 vs. DC fast charging in fleet environmentsSite host strategy: niche properties vs. large portfolio REITsFleet electrification headwinds and shifting regulatory dynamicsHow Curo coordinates fleets, real estate owners, and investorsThe future vision for scalable, demand-driven charging deploymentA thoughtful conversation on where EV infrastructure is headed and how smarter deployment models can move the industry from momentum to maturity.

    39 min

  4. FEB 3

    Paren: What 100 Million Daily Data Points Reveal About EV Charging

    Episode 14 of Field Frequency explores how data quality, not just hardware deployment, will determine the success of EV charging at scale. Florent Breton explains how Paren addresses a fundamental industry flaw: drivers often receive misleading signals about charger availability and reliability. By aggregating live data from nearly all U.S. fast-charging ports, standardizing inconsistent protocols, and moving beyond anecdotal reviews, Paren provides a statistically grounded view of real-world charging performance. The conversation connects software intelligence with field realities, highlighting how actionable data helps charge point operators detect failing stalls, improve utilization, guide maintenance, and make smarter expansion decisions. With EV charging demand and infrastructure growing in parallel, Florent makes the case that reliability, transparency, and standardization are the next phase of industry evolution. The episode concludes with insights from Paren’s latest State of the Industry Report, confirming that EV charging in the U.S. is accelerating, improving, and approaching equilibrium, even as regional disparities remain. Jason sits down with Florent Breton, Co-Founder and CEO of Paren, to unpack one of the most critical challenges in EV charging today: reliable, standardized data. Florent shares his journey from Paris to San Francisco, his time leading energy operations at Tesla, and the firsthand charging frustrations that inspired him to co-found Paren. What started as a driver pain point evolved into a powerful data platform serving charge point operators, automakers, fleets, and ride-share companies. Inside the Episode: Florent’s transition from Tesla Energy to entrepreneurship in EV infrastructureWhy “uptime” does not equal “working” in EV chargingThe danger of anecdotal and crowdsourced charging dataHow Paren aggregates, standardizes, and enriches EV charging dataThe role of data in improving driver experience, utilization, and ROIActionable insights for CPOs, beyond dashboardsField realities of charger maintenance and wear pointsHow software intelligence and field service work togetherHighlights from Paren’s newly released State of the Industry Report Data Highlights from the Episode 70,000 public DC fast-charging ports tracked in the U.S.100 million data events processed daily by Paren18,041 new DC fast-charging ports deployed in 2025 (+30% YoY)141 million successful DC fast-charging sessions in 2025Monthly sessions grew from 9M (early 2025) to over 13M (December) Notable Insights Reliability is multi-dimensional: power delivery, first-attempt success, session duration, and consistency all matterEV charging growth is strong but uneven across regionsUrban areas face saturation while other regions lag in adoptionBetter data enables smarter deployment, maintenance prioritization, and strategic expansionThe EV charging industry is maturing, not contracting How to Learn More Visit paren.app to explore Paren’s platformDownload the free State of the Industry ReportExplore open roles on Paren’s Careers pageFollow Paren on LinkedIn for ongoing insights

    39 min

  5. JAN 20

    Building Where Power Already Exists: The XCharge Approach to Smart Deployment

    Guest: Atish Patel, CEO (X-Charge Group) and Head of North America, X-Charge Host: Jason Cortes Primary Topics: X-Charge origin story, infrastructure-first DC fast charging, ROI and uptime, maintainability, long-term viability, market outlook Jason sits down with Atish Patel to unpack how X-Charge entered North America with a different philosophy: build charging hardware around the realities of existing electrical infrastructure. Atish shares how he started as a customer, struggled with ROI due to installation complexity and power constraints (especially 208V vs. 480V), then partnered with X-Charge to co-develop a North America-ready solution. The conversation covers product differentiation, operator ROI, serviceability, reliability, and how X-Charge addresses industry concerns around OEM stability. Key Takeaways Infrastructure-first design is X-Charge’s core differentiator, especially compatibility with common U.S. site power (e.g., 208V three-phase).Reducing installation friction (simpler terminations, integrated systems) helps lower deployment cost and accelerate time-to-revenue.ROI is treated as a design principle, not just a financial metric. Uptime, maintainability, and speed-to-repair are part of the ROI story.Maintainability by design: key service items (like cables and boards) are engineered for accessibility, reducing technician time on-site.Viability strategy: transparency, standardized components, documentation/training, and partner ecosystems to avoid single-point dependency.Market outlook: optimistic growth with watchpoints on subsidies, broader economic conditions, and a shift toward “utility-first” EVs.

    39 min

  6. JAN 6

    Blink Forward: Mike Battaglia on Building a Profitable Fast-Charging Future

    In Episode 12 of Field Frequency, Jason sits down with Mike Battaglia, CEO of Blink Charging, to unpack what it takes to build a profitable, reliable charging network in a market that has moved from hype to hard truths. Mike shares his journey from the automotive world and JD Power into EV infrastructure, why Blink is doubling down on owning the software and operating profitable assets, and how driver experience, uptime, and disciplined growth are shaping Blink’s “next chapter” across Level 2 and DC fast charging. Inside the Episode Mike’s path to EV chargingThe Blink leadership climbBlink’s core DNA: owner-operator firstVertical integration, refinedDriver experience: the simplest standard winsListening loops: CSAT + NPS + diagnosticsFleets and OEMs: different needs, different playbooksReliability at scale: why partnerships matterBlink by the numbersProfitability: the industry’s overdue requirementDC fast charging strategyPolicy friction and the permitting problemCapital markets reality checkVision: what Blink success looks like in 3 years

    32 min

  7. 12/18/2025

    Sites, Service, Scale: Universal EV’s Formula for Profitable Charging

    In this episode of Field Frequency, Jason is joined by Brian Bradford, Commercial Lead at Universal EV Chargers, a Texas-based charge point operator with a rapidly expanding national footprint. Brian shares his journey from traditional energy and infrastructure, including early career experience during the Enron era, into the evolving EV charging landscape. The conversation explores Universal EV’s evolution from Level 2 deployments to a focused DC fast charging strategy, emphasizing utilization, capital efficiency, and reliability as the core drivers of sustainable growth. Brian outlines Universal’s disciplined CPO-only model, its approach to hardware and software flexibility, the role of public funding such as NEVI, and how customer experience, uptime, and regionalized operations shape long-term success. The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion on policy headwinds, market maturation, and what “winning” looks like for Universal EV by 2030. Show Notes Guest: Brian Bradford, CCO of Universal EV Chargers Topics Covered: Brian’s career path from traditional energy and infrastructure into EV chargingThe origin of Universal EV and its roots in Universal Solar and Universal Green GroupTransition from Level 2 charging to a DC fast charging–first strategyCurrent portfolio overview, including L2 and L3 port counts and multi-state expansionUniversal EV’s CPO-only business model and focus on operations, maintenance, and serviceBalancing utilization and capital cost as the foundation of site profitabilitySite acquisition strategy, regionalized construction, and maintenance optimizationHardware and software selection in a fragmented, commoditized marketUniversal’s approach to uptime, reliability, and owning the customer experienceLeveraging proprietary software, 24/7 service teams, and OEM partnershipsPublic funding strategy, including NEVI and state-level grant programsLessons learned from early funding challenges and industry maturationEnhancing driver experience through loyalty programs, pricing models, and AI-driven toolsPolicy volatility, market headwinds, and long-term demand for EV infrastructureUniversal EV’s five-year vision for growth, consolidation, and customer loyaltyThe future of EV charging stations as grid-edge energy assets

    29 min

  8. 12/09/2025

    EV Narratives Done Right: Steve Birkett on Facts, Friction & the Future

    Host Jason Cortes sits down with Steve Burkett of Plug & Play EV and the Coast to Coast EVs livestream to explore how a passion YouTube channel grew into a trusted voice connecting EV drivers, fleets, and infrastructure players. They dig into why storytelling beats slogans for mainstream EV adoption, where charging reliability and destination charging still fall short, how to cut through hype and vaporware in EV news, and what fleets, retailers, and policymakers need to get right over the next 3–5 years. Show Notes Guest Steve Burkett – Founder of Plug & Play EV, host of Coast to Coast EVs livestream/podcast, long-time EV driver and B2B marketer focused on EV consumer education and infrastructure. In This Episode Meet Steve & Plug & Play EVSitting Between Drivers and the EVSE IndustryReliability: Are We Finally Turning the Corner?Destination Charging & Real-World Hotel PainStorytelling vs. Slogans (and Why “Save the Planet” Isn’t Enough)Signal vs. Noise in EV News & Tech HypeCoast to Coast EVs: What Drivers Really Talk AboutRetailers, Buc-ee’s vs. Kwik Trip & the New Fueling Mix Plug & Charge, Credit Cards & the Real Driver ExperienceFleet Electrification & Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)Lessons from CNG / LNG Fleets for EV TCOGlobal Lessons: Europe, China & StandardizationLooking 3–5 Years Ahead: Affordability & Education Resources Mentioned Plug & Play EV weekly newsletter – EV driver stories, infrastructure analysis, regional station highlights.Coast to Coast EVs livestream & podcast – Deep dives on regional charging build-outs and real-world ownership.

    46 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Field Frequency sits at the intersection of energy and technology, where innovation powers possibility. Each episode brings you a steady stream of insights, real-world stories, and timely updates straight from the field. From breakthrough advancements and evolving infrastructure to expert perspectives on emerging tech, we uncover the tools, trends, and talent shaping the future of EV, fueling, and the technology that surrounds both industries. Whether you’re deep in the industry or simply curious about where energy meets innovation, Field Frequency keeps you connected, informed, and inspired — fueling the future, one conversation at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Jason Cortes
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Field Frequency
  • Show Website
    Field Frequency

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