Field Frequency

Jason Cortes
  • 5.0 (1)
  • 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. 3D AGO

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 11/25/2025

    Brick by Brick: Building Reliable Charging with Relion

    In this episode of Field Frequency, host Jason Cortes sits down with Benoit Lacroix, CEO of Relion, to talk about what it really takes to keep EV chargers up and running at scale. Benoit shares how his early work electrifying heavy-duty trucks led him to build Relion as an “operating layer” behind the scenes of EV charging—connecting data, people, and process from fault to fix. The conversation explores interoperability challenges, the limitations of traditional CSMS tools, why reliability is really about orchestration, and how operators, fleets, and service providers can work together to turn complexity into flow. Show Notes: The future of EV charging isn’t just about hardware, it’s about orchestrating the people, data, and processes that keep chargers working. In this episode, Jason and Benoit explore the operational realities behind charger uptime and how Relion is building the layer that turns faults into fixes. Inside the Episode: Benoit’s journey from electrifying heavy-duty trucks to founding RelionHow early lessons in remote diagnostics and telematics shaped Relion’s approachWhy EV charging reliability is a systems problem, not a hardware problemThe limits of standards like OCPP and what it takes to stay hardware-agnosticFilling the gap between CSMS tools and real-world operations workflowsHow Relion unifies operators, manufacturers, and service providers around issue resolutionImproving first-time fix rates through better triage, SOPs, and work order automationWhere Relion drives the most impact: public charging, curbside L2, fleets, and managed servicesWhy visibility, control, and faster time-to-resolution matter more than uptime promisesThe role of automation and AI in diagnostics—focused on quality over noiseRelion’s growth trajectory across Canada and the U.S.

    38 min

  7. 11/12/2025

    More Outlets, Less Overhead: Hotel EV Charging with Evolve Energy

    In this episode, host Jason Cortes sits down with Raul Dominguez, founder of Evolve Energy, to explore the rapidly changing world of EV charging within the hospitality industry. Raul shares his journey from a civil engineering background to impactful roles at Rivian and Tesla, experiences that inspired him to launch Evolve Energy. Together, they discuss how EV charging has evolved from a luxury amenity to a guest expectation—a key factor in hotel selection, loyalty, and overall competitiveness. Raul also breaks down how Evolve Energy’s smart, cost-efficient charging solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly into hotel operations, delivering convenience for guests and long-term value for property owners. Show Notes In this episode, Jason sits down with Raul Dominguez, founder of Evolve Energy, to discuss how his company is transforming the EV charging experience in the hospitality industry. From his early career in civil engineering to leadership roles at Rivian and Tesla, Raul’s journey reflects a deep commitment to innovation, user experience, and infrastructure scalability. They explore how Evolve Energy’s smart outlet platform is reshaping the conversation around EV charging—from being an optional amenity to an essential part of the modern guest experience. Key Topics From Civil Engineering to EV Innovation  Raul shares his path from transportation consulting to Rivian’s Adventure Network, Tesla’s Supercharger team, and ultimately founding Evolve Energy.Solving the “Hotel Charging Problem”  A firsthand account of the challenges EV drivers face when traveling—limited access, inconsistent infrastructure, and unreliable listings.Evolve Energy’s Mission  How Evolve is building smarter, lower-cost charging solutions through smart outlets and software-driven integrations—bringing scalability to hospitality parking lots nationwide.Hospitality Meets Technology  Insights on how EV charging influences guest loyalty and conversion rates. With Hilton naming EV charging as its #1 global booking filter, Raul explains why charging is now as essential as Wi-Fi.ROI and Accessibility  The business case for hotels: EV charging as a revenue-generating investment, not a cost. How Evolve’s platform reduces capital expenditure while expanding access.Frictionless Guest Experience  Integration with hotel management systems for seamless billing and user access—no cables, screens, or payment terminals required.Future-Proofing for the EV Era  Raul discusses the company’s focus on edge computing, machine learning, and hardware designed for autonomous vehicles and mass adoption.

    36 min

  8. 10/28/2025

    ChargeMate’s AI Advantage: Designing for Service, Delivering for Drivers

    In this episode, host Jason Cortes sits down with Brad Crist, CEO and co-founder of ChargeMate, to explore how AI is transforming EV charging reliability. From real-world road trip frustrations to building an AI-driven support system that bridges the gap between drivers, operators, and field technicians, Brad shares how ChargeMate is redefining service intelligence in the EV space. Show Notes: The transition to electric vehicles depends on more than just chargers—it depends on reliable charging experiences. In this conversation, Jason and Brad unpack the challenges behind EV service workflows and the role AI plays in keeping chargers online and drivers confident. Inside the Episode: Brad’s journey from environmental science to leading ChargeMateThe catalyst moment that sparked ChargeMate’s foundingIdentifying the “service gap” between drivers and charge point operatorsHow AI bridges driver-reported issues with actionable insights for service teamsSmarter dispatching and avoiding unnecessary truck rollsMaking raw charger data meaningful through context and automationBuilding serviceability by design: what CPOs and OEMs should ask about hardwareWhy “buy vs. build” matters when it comes to AI in charging operationsThe future of EV service intelligence and collaboration across the industryListen to learn:  How ChargeMate is transforming EV charging from a reactive model to a proactive, intelligent, and human-centered experience—and what that means for CPOs, service providers, and drivers alike.

    33 min
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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
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Field Frequency
  • Show Website
    Field Frequency