#72. Reforming Transportation Through Electrification, Ride Sharing and Automation, Part 2

#72. Reforming Transportation Through Electrification, Ride Sharing and Automation, Part 2

In the second part of this mini-series examining Dr. Daniel Sperling’s book, The Three Revolutions, we continue our insightful discussion on his views of the future of transportation. On this episode, we’ll talk about future fuels, charging and the entire industry and why he sees now as the ultimate time for change.

Be sure to listen to the first episode in this mini-series, #71. Reforming Transportation Through Electrification, Ride Sharing and Automation, Part 1.

With Special Guest:

Dan Sperling, Founding Director, Institute of Transportation Studies

“You know, I’ve been doing this for 40 years and this is the most exciting time in that whole period. I tell my grad students they’re so fortunate that they’re coming into it just at the right time, because there’s a recognition that change is needed in the car-centric model that we’ve developed. I talk about the marginalization of people, environmental justice, social justice, people starting to appreciate how important that is to deal with it. And then there’s the big kahuna of climate and then you have on top of that, all of this innovation and new technology coming along… that’s The Three Revolutions. That’s what motivated me to write that book. And so this is the time. This is it. And now for me personally, I’m having more impact than I ever did…”

Daniel Sperling is Distinguished Blue Planet Prize Professor of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science and Policy, founding Director of the Institute of Transportation Studies, and founding chair of the Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and Economy at the University of California, Davis. The Institute is staffed by over 150 faculty, staff, and student researchers. Dr. Sperling is recognized as a leading international expert on transportation technology assessment, energy and environmental aspects of transportation, and transportation policy. He was co-director of the 2007 study that designed California’s landmark low carbon fuel standard and co-director of a follow-up 2010 national study. He has testified 7 times to the US Congress and in 2008 was appointed the first chair of the “Future of Transportation” Council of the Davos World Economic Forum. Prior to obtaining his Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley (with minors in Economics and Energy & Resources), Professor Sperling worked two years as an environmental planner for the US Environmental Protection Agency and two years as an urban planner in the Peace Corps in Honduras.  He has an undergraduate degree in engineering and urban planning from Cornell University.

Episode Transcript

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