S2 E10 | Energy Security Plan for the Middle East

Many universities study the topic of the future of energy or the energy transition as a policy issue or from research in environmental science. USC is adding another facet with a look at energy systems from the aspect of business. Dr. Shon Hiatt from the Marshall School of Business at USC is our next guest on the podcast. Dr. Hiatt is the director of the Business of energy transition initiative. His new course looks at traditional business models for fossil fuel-based industries as well as new entrepreneurial models for alternative energy sources. This is a critical background for new graduates thinking about the start up route to join the energy transition. Listen in and see what you can learn from Dr. Hiatt.

We return to the issue of electrification of transportation that we touched on in season one with two distinguished guests, Dr. Genevieve Guiliano from USC and Dr. Beia Spiller from the Resources for the Future. This topic is more than just about how many EVs are sold and how many charging stations are built but about re-imaging mobility and its impact on our lifestyles. Modern cities in the United States were built for cars so we have made room for roads and parking spaces and refueling stations. The famed American lifestyle was developed around car ownership and the freedom of the road. But what might a different future of mobility look like? Listen in while we talk to two researchers that think about those options and implications for a living.Diesel has 35.9 MJ/liter, lithium ion battery has 2.6, so the ratio is 17 times, Data source – Green, 2017

In 2023, 10% of US new car sales were battery electric or plug-in hybrid, and in California the 2024 new car sales share is about 25%. CA provides additional incentives to the federal, suggesting that the public policies have had an effect Sales data sources: https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2024/trends-in-electric-cars; https://calmatters.org/environment/climate-change/2025/02/electric-car-sales-stall-california/