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Why Electrification Needs an Apollo Program: Mats Larsson on Coordinating the Energy Transition
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What if the biggest threat to the clean energy transition isn’t technology, but lack of coordination?
In this powerful episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, host Wes Ashworth sits down with Mats Larsson, founder of the Global Energy Transformation Institute, to explore why electrifying global transportation requires the kind of top-down coordination we saw in the Apollo program, not just market-driven innovation.
For over two decades, Larsson has been warning that electrification cannot succeed if treated as a patchwork. From the surge in power demand to the underestimated logistics of EV charging, he shares insights that reveal just how unprepared we are and what we must do differently.
Key Themes Explored
- Why electricity, not hydrogen or biofuels, is the only scalable transportation fuel
- The staggering scale of grid upgrades and generation needed to electrify all vehicles
- Lessons from the Apollo Program and Marshall Plan for managing national transformation
- The hidden risk of peak demand and underbuilt infrastructure at logistics hubs
- How electric roads and charging while driving could unlock massive efficiencies
- Why current policies fail to account for financial, organizational, and human capital realities
What You’ll Learn
- The overlooked financial and structural challenges in electrification strategy
- The difference between organic market evolution and orchestrated change
- Practical roadmaps for governments, municipalities, and utilities to lead effectively
- The future Mats Larsson hopes to see by 2045 and the legacy he’s building today
This episode is a must-listen for policymakers, utility leaders, EV manufacturers, and anyone serious about energy systems transformation. Mats doesn’t just diagnose the problem, he outlines a blueprint for success.
Links:
Latest Book: How Building the Future Really Works
Wes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/
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