RM 173: Reliability as a Service: How ChargerHelp! Keeps EV Charging Running

As the electric vehicle market accelerates, the reliability of the charging infrastructure becomes increasingly vital. Chargers that are down or malfunctioning can hinder adoption and erode consumer confidence. But who ensures these chargers stay up and running? This episode of Reliability Matters dives into that very topic with a trailblazer in the EV service space. Our guest is Kameale Terry, cofounder and CEO of ChargerHelp!, a company revolutionizing how we think about EV charger maintenance and reliability.  Under her leadership, ChargerHelp! has pioneered Reliability as a Service, developed a highly trained and diverse technician workforce, and shaped industry policies aimed at improving charger uptime.

Terry's journey is as inspiring as it is innovative, leading a national movement for a more reliable and equitable EV charging network. With backgrounds in workforce development, clean tech, and digital operations, she’s uniquely positioned to tackle the challenges facing this growing industry. In this episode, we’ll explore the common causes of EV charger failures, the role data plays in predictive maintenance, the impact of new regulations like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) standards, and how ChargerHelp! is creating pathways into the clean energy economy for workers from all walks of life. If you've ever wondered how reliability translates to the EV world, or how technology and workforce innovation go hand in hand, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Revolutionizing EV Charger Reliability with Charger Help

00:02:14 Meet Camille Terry, Entrepreneur and Innovator

00:04:15 Starting ChargerHelp: A Journey from EV Connect to Entrepreneurship

00:06:16 The Impact of Pollution on EV Adoption

00:08:37 Understanding Reliability as a Service Model

00:10:35 Benefits of Reliability as a Service Model

00:12:40 Optimizing Asset Performance with Data Insights

00:14:56 Common Causes of EV Charger Failures

00:16:50 Reducing Mean Time to Repair in Software

00:18:47 Evolution of Memory Cost and Data Collection

00:21:06 Challenges in EV Charger Reliability and Failures

00:23:28 Emerging Leaders in European EV Infrastructure

00:25:37 Workforce Development in EV Infrastructure

00:27:42 Impact of California's EV Charging Reliability Act

00:29:20 Tesla Charging Stations: Leading Reliability Standards

00:31:42 Automotive Firmware Failures: Responsibility and Transparency

00:34:32 Planning for Robust System Configurations

00:36:33 Future Trends in the EV Charging Industry

00:37:36 The Rise of Charger and Smart Engineering

00:39:26 The Rise of Slate EV and Building Great Electric Vehicles

00:41:25 Human Connection in Technology

00:43:24 Importance of Profitability in Business Strategy

00:45:20 The Role of Cash in Business Operations

00:47:26 Conclusion and Podcast Schedule