25 - Sustainable and Affordable Mobility for All: An Interview with Chris Borroni-Bird

Summary: 25 – Sustainable and Affordable Mobility and Power for All Host Zach Adams digs into global mobility with Dr. Chris Borroni-Bird, the founder of Afreecar LLC, which aims to provide solar-powered vehicles to African villages. Dr. Borroni-Bird’s particular interest is the fusion of technology and design, producing for example a “skateboard” vehicle. This far-ranging discussion covers the future of mobility. Before founding Afreecar, Dr. Borroni-Bird has worked at Waymo as Chief Engineer, Future Programs, and had a half-time appointment at MIT Media Lab, with a focus on the development and commercialization of a solar-powered mobility hub that could be applied to all communities around the world, ranging from sub-Saharan African villages to affluent megacities. Before that, Dr. Borroni-Bird was Qualcomm's VP of Strategic Development, where he focused on reshaping transportation around the convergence of wireless power and wireless communications. He also served as GM’s Director of Advanced Technology Vehicle Concepts and EN-V Program (Electric Networked-Vehicle, left). He was named one of Automotive News’ Electrifying 100 in 2011. Before the EN-V, he led GM’s Autonomy, Hy-wire and Sequel “skateboard” concepts. Before joining GM, he led Chrysler’s gasoline fuel cell vehicle development and was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame as a Young Leader in 2000. Further Reading https://afreecar.org/about/ http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sae/18AUTP01/index.php#/28 https://www.forbes.com/sites/samabuelsamid/2016/05/23/the-father-of-the-skateboard-chassis-dr-chris-borroni-bird/#2bc6d9c07b30 https://www.drivesweden.net/sites/default/files/content/resource/files/afreecar_-_chris_borroni-bird__0.pdf Show Notes 1:00 - Chris’s unexpected path to Autonomous Vehicles. 3:30 - GM Autonomy, Design in Technology-Fusion, and Chris’s vision for the intersection of technology and design. 6:21 - The potential functional and safety benefits of electric skateboard-type vehicles. 9:15 - Crashworthiness of electric vehicles. 10:47 - Chris’s time at QUALCOMM and the promise of V2X communications. 15:51 - The costs and benefits to manufacturers for deploying and subsidizing V2X technology. 18:21 - Chris’s time at Waymo. 20:01 - The birth of Afreecar. 24:11 - The “solar kit,” its flexibility and its potential applications. 29:31 - Realizing Afreecar’s altruistic mission.