Field Frequency

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.

Field Frequency is a business podcast hosted by Jason Cortes, with 37 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Jason Cortes hosts Field Frequency, a business show with 37 episodes published.

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  Field Frequency

  From Hardware to Charging Success: Mike DiNucci on the Next Era of EV Infrastructure

  Aug 19, 202656 min

  Send us Fan Mail What does it take to build an industry before the market fully understands the need? In this episode of Field Frequency, host Jason Cortes sits down with Mike DiNucci, Chief Revenue Officer at AmpUp and one of the earliest commercial leaders in EV charging. Mike shares the unconventional path that took him from owning a neighborhood coffee and ice cream shop to becoming the first nontechnical employee at Coulomb Technologies, later known as ChargePoint. Drawing on nearly two decades in the industry, Mike explores how EV charging has evolved through three distinct eras: hardware differentiation, software capabilities, and the growing demand for serviceability and charging success. He and Jason discuss why a charger showing “online” does not necessarily mean a driver can complete a session—and why post-installation support may determine which companies lead the next decade of EV infrastructure. The conversation also covers the shift from a “pump” mindset to a “park” model, the importance of simplifying complex charging operations, the value of hardware and software flexibility, and the consolidation Mike expects to see across the market. Along the way, Mike explains why he remains confident in the future of electric transportation despite industry headwinds. • Mike’s unconventional path from small-business owner to EV charging pioneer • What it was like selling charging infrastructure before mass-market EVs existed • Why workplace charging helped establish the early market • The three eras of EV charging: hardware, software, and service • The difference between platform uptime and charging-session success • Why site hosts need simplicity without sacrificing capability • How the “pump-to-park” shift changes the way drivers think about charging • Why post-installation service could shape the next decade of EV infrastructure • What market consolidation may mean for charging networks, hardware providers, and site hosts • Mike’s outlook for EV adoption and the future of the industry About Mike Mike DiNucci is the Chief Revenue Officer at AmpUp. An early leader in EV charging, he joined Coulomb Technologies—later ChargePoint—as its first nontechnical employee and went on to spend nearly 12 years helping grow the company’s global sales organization. Today, he brings nearly two decades of industry experience to AmpUp, where he helps advance flexible EV charging management solutions designed to work across a wide range of hardware. Connect with Mike and AmpUp Connect with Mike DiNucci on LinkedIn Email: mike@ampup.io Visit: https://ampup.io CHAPTERS 00:00 — "What does EV stand for?" 00:52 — Meet Mike DiNucci, CRO of AmpUp 01:15 — The mentor Mike never knew he had 03:06 — From selling gelato in Saratoga to selling $80K workstations 06:04 — Laid off in 2008: the lunch that changed everything 08:50 — Employee #1 who wasn't an engineer at ChargePoint 09:15 — "Shouting into a hurricane": selling EV charging in 2009 10:07 — Whose problem is charging infrastructure, anyway? 11:15 — The four places people park, and why dwell time changes everything 14:20 — The one vertical that didn't care about ROI 16:37 — The three eras: hardware, software, and service 19:04 — "Who's going to roll the truck when I need help?" 20:25 — Why the industry still can't operationalize charging 21:55 — Uptime vs. charging success rate: the metric that matters 23:51 — Charging-as-a-service and the chasm we're in 26:27 — Hiding complexity: the single pane of glass 31:31 — Better Place, battery swapping, and $1B in failed bets 34:19 — Pump model vs. park model: "It takes 15 seconds to charge" 35:26 — Your mom's 100-foot phone cord and every paradigm shift ever 37:07 — Texas grew 15x in EVs. The chargers didn't follow. 39:48 — Why car companies don't actually want to sell you an EV 41:51 — The cellular network analogy: how many CMS platforms survive? 44:01 — Rivian, vertical integration, and knowing your lane 46:22 — AmpUp's original idea: "Airbnb for EV charging" 48:10 — Five-year prediction: attrition, consolidation, and the three pillars 50:36 — $7.49 gas and the case against EV pessimism 54:48 — What actually differentiates a CMS platform in 2026 54:55 — How to reach Mike

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  Field Frequency

  Charging 3.0: Beyond the EV Charger Ribbon Cutting

  Aug 11, 20261h 2m

  Send us Fan Mail A charger can be online, well-located, and still fail commercially. Uptime tells you the hardware works. Utilization tells you the business works — and right now, too many stations are stuck at 1–4%. In this episode, Jason Cortes is joined by Loren McDonald, founder of Chargeonomics, to unpack what actually pulls an EV driver to a charger: pricing, retail partnerships, customer experience, amenities, and — increasingly — showing up in the car's navigation screen. Recorded the same morning the news broke, they dig into EVgo partnering with Tesla — a move Loren calls an "earthquake" — and why the real battleground has shifted from who deploys the most hardware to who wins the driver. Along the way: Why Walmart, Costco, and the new convenience stores are rewriting the playbook through "habit stacking" The Francis Energy site that jumped 5x in utilization overnight — with no change to location or amenities NACS vs. CCS, and the flawed assumption that adding a plug brings the Tesla drivers Why rideshare and fleet drivers are the "business travelers" of charging What "Charging 3.0" looks like — loyalty, retail data, and real differentiation How ChargeMate's AI support is solving the "hidden failures" that never show up in the data If you build, operate, or invest in EV charging, this one reframes where the next phase of the industry is actually won. Field Frequency is brought to you by Field Advantage, a national field services organization supporting EV charging infrastructure across the United States. Guest: Loren McDonald, Founder, Chargeonomics Host: Jason Cortes Enjoying the show? Follow Field Frequency on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube, and leave a rating to help more people in the industry find it.

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  Field Frequency

  Percepta — How Customer Experience Will Become Mobility Infrastructure

  Aug 4, 202657 min

  Send us Fan Mail Omar Riahi, Global EV Enablement and Sales Development at Percepta, joins Field Frequency to discuss why customer experience is becoming essential mobility infrastructure. From EV onboarding and charging reliability to connected vehicles, fleet electrification and autonomous transportation, Omar explores how reducing friction could accelerate EV adoption and strengthen customer loyalty. The future of mobility depends on more than innovative vehicles and charging technology—it also requires an ownership experience customers can understand and trust. In Episode 36 of Field Frequency, host Jason Cortes speaks with Omar Riahi, Global EV Enablement and Sales Development at Percepta. Omar explains how Percepta supports the automotive customer lifecycle, from presale and onboarding through charging assistance, connected services, dealership support and resale. Drawing on his experience working directly with EV owners, dealerships, charge point operators and engineering teams, Omar identifies fragmentation as one of the industry’s most significant challenges. Charging procedures, payment systems, adapters and digital platforms can vary widely, creating unnecessary friction for drivers. Jason and Omar also explore how software-defined vehicles are reshaping transportation. Over-the-air updates, connected services, telematics and bidirectional charging could turn vehicles into increasingly integrated parts of our homes, businesses and energy systems. The conversation covers: Why customer trust and effective support are critical to EV adoption How proactive onboarding can improve the ownership experience The need for simple, consistent and reliable charging Why charging availability may be the key to making charging feel invisible How customer experience can support loyalty, revenue and ROI The growing role of software-defined and connected vehicles Differences between retail and fleet electrification Home-charging reimbursement options for fleet vehicles Vehicle-to-home, vehicle-to-building and vehicle-to-grid applications A future shaped by autonomous mobility and wireless roadway charging Connect with Omar on LinkedIn and learn more about Percepta at percepta.com . Omar Riahi is the Global EV Enablement & Sales Development Manager at Percepta , specializing in innovative customer support strategies for the EV industry. With over 15 years of expertise in customer service operations, process optimization, and EV support technologies, Omar has driven initiatives that enhance satisfaction, streamline workflows, and reduce costs. A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, he is known for implementing data-driven solutions that elevate EV customer experiences while creating new value for automotive clients.

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  Field Frequency

  Process then Scale: Maricela McKenzie on Operational Clarity Over Growth Hype

  Jul 28, 202646 min

  Send us Fan Mail Most companies think they have a growth problem. This week's guest says they actually have an operational clarity problem. Host Jason talks with Maricela "Marcy" McKenzie, CEO and founder of Clarida Strategies, about how clean-tech and EV startups move from founder-led momentum to repeatable, scalable execution. With a career spanning oil & gas, SolarCity/Tesla, EVBox, Rivian's Waypoints team, and ChargerHelp, Marcy has seen exactly where growth breaks down — and it's rarely a lack of good ideas. In this conversation: Why "the founder cannot continue to be the operating system of the company" The difference between a real pipeline and the illusion of one The hidden costs of scaling without systems — and how you burn capital quietly Using your CRM as a system of truth, not a filing cabinet How buyers actually buy vs. how you wish they would Where AI genuinely helps go-to-market — and where it's just noise A look inside Marcy's SCALE framework: Survey, Clarify, Architect, Launch, Enhance Whether you're a founder, sales leader, or operator, you'll walk away with a sharper sense of how to build capability instead of chaos. Field Frequency is powered by FieldAdvantage, specialists in the maintenance and operation of critical infrastructure, including EV charging networks.

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  Field Frequency

  The Hidden Cost of EV Deployment Delays with Trevor Palmer

  Jul 21, 202627 min

  Send us Fan Mail Trevor Palmer, founder of EVBlocks, joins Field Frequency to discuss how smarter foundation design is helping accelerate EV charger deployments, simplify future upgrades, and improve long-term infrastructure planning. From lessons learned in the UK to scaling across the U.S., Trevor shares practical insights on building charging networks that are faster to deploy and built for what's next. Show Notes: Trevor Palmer's journey from electrician to founder of EVBlocks How EVBlocks was created to eliminate deployment delays Saving up to a week on charger installations Why foundations should be designed for future charger upgrades Lessons from EV deployment across the UK and Europe Scaling EV infrastructure in the U.S. Grid capacity challenges and planning for expansion The hidden costs of poor construction practices Building charging sites for long-term flexibility Creating a seamless charging experience for EV drivers Trevor Palmer Bio Trevor Palmer is the founder and CEO of EV Blocks, a company transforming EV charger installations with modular, precast concrete foundations designed to simplify deployment and future-proof charging infrastructure. A qualified electrician with more than 20 years of experience in electrical contracting and construction, Palmer developed the EV Blocks system after seeing firsthand how traditional poured concrete foundations delayed projects and complicated future maintenance. His patented foundation system features a universal adapter plate that enables faster installations, easier charger replacements, and up to a 35% reduction in carbon emissions compared to conventional on-site concrete pours. Under his leadership, the Peterborough, UK-based company has expanded into North America, Canada, Australia, France, and Ireland, supported by an international manufacturing and distribution network. Named Global Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 at the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Palmer is a recognized voice in EV infrastructure, advocating for scalable deployment strategies, future-ready site design, and a better charging experience for drivers. On this episode of Field Frequency, he shares lessons from deploying charging infrastructure across Europe and North America, offering practical insights into accelerating installations, overcoming grid constraints, and building EV charging networks designed for long-term success.

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