Green Sense Radio

Torqeedo is making boating life on the water clean and quiet. The leader in electric boat drives, Torqeedo offers drives for boats of all sizes from dinghies to 120 ft yachts.

This week we spoke to Torqeedo’s President Steve Trkla to discuss how these emissions-free, quiet, and more efficient drives are making big waves in boating.

This week on Green Sense Radio, host Robert Colangelo test drives two new and very different hybrids with our resident “Guru of Gears” Tom Appel, Publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive. The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has rugged capability coming from its All-Wheel Drive power train, and tech features like expansive digital displays and safety features. 

The new ⁠Jeep Wrangler Hybrid Plug-in has a cult following, learn how this plug-in Hybrid with the addition of an electric power train can be an advantage both on and off-road?

 If you had to pick, which EV do you prefer? The family-friendly SUV or the sporty adventurous Wrangler?

This week we spoke with Sarah Nolet the CEO and Founder of AgThentic, a food and
agriculture strategy firm, as well as the co-founder of Tenacious Ventures, Australia’s first
dedicated agrifood tech VC firm focused on building the early stage agtech ecosystem in
Australia.

We spoke about Nolet’s recent article co-written with Matthew Pryor that puts in perspective
how the Silicon Valley investment model set AgTech back a decade. Nolet gives insight into
how Silicon Valley investors and agriculture startups operate as well as how cultures
clash when these high-tech investors meet Midwestern-based Ag Tech startups.

This week we spoke with, Iain Milnes, President of Power Knot an innovator when it comes to onsite food waste digesters. Power Knot provides environmentally sound products that help reduce costs while reducing the amount of food waste going to landfills. We spoke with Milnes to discuss the company’s innovative food digesters and how they are assisting food processing companies, restaurants, and institutional kitchens to be more sustainable.

We’ve covered electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes - from boats to planes, to cars and
semis. But there’s also a market niche for ‘severe mobility or ‘vocational’ trucks - used for some
of the heaviest of duties in and around roadways. This week we spoke to the Founder and CTO of
Zeus Electric Chassis, Bob Grinstead about the company’s innovative truck that can be designed
to support commercial customer’s changing needs.

Crowley Engineering Services has completed its first-ever design and build of a fully electric tug boat. This high performing, sustainable solution to harbor services will be working in the

Port of San Diego. This week we spoke with Cole Van Gundy, director of commercial operations, with Crowley Engineering Services to discuss this groundbreaking boat, both it’s innovative and customizable features, and even the challenges faced when developing the first electric-powered tug boat.

Gradient is innovating the way we cool down our home using heat pump technology. The San-Francisco-based startup has developed a new take on window AC units. This week we spoke with Gradient’s CEO Vince Romanin to discuss the company’s climate-friendly unit that is quieter and cheaper than traditional AC window units. This innovative AC unit not only keeps your home cool but also is designed for a more appealing and space-saving look.

The EV meets the RV in a modern new camper. This week we spoke with Dean Wiltshire of Colorado Teardrops to discuss their new Camper Trailer designed to be towed by electric vehicles. Dean gives us an in-depth look into the trailer’s features and unique designs that make it stand out against other campers. 

Horticulture, the art of cultivating plants for their numerous uses is a $13 Billion / year industry. It is involved with numerous top issues we hear about every day including climate change, sustainability (energy, water and waste management), labor, and immigration.

This week we spoke with Mary Beth Cowardin, Vice President of Marketing & Member Engagement at AmericanHort to discuss, Cultivate, the premier event for the entire horticulture industry. Cultivate is an annual educational event and trade show hosted by AmericanHort that is one of the largest and longest running shows.  In the past it has attracted 10,000+ industry professionals, 700 exhibitors and attendees from more than 70 countries. Mary Beth discusses why Cultivate continues to be a world class educational event, along with a run-down of this year’s event and the challenges they faced in putting on a show in a COVID environment.

The market for EV’s, hybrids, and other ‘alternative fuel’ vehicles continues to grow offering consumers more model options to choose from. This week we are joined by Consumer Guide Automotive publisher Tom Appel for a recap of the nation’s largest and longest-running - Chicago Auto Show, along with our Green Road Test of the Toyota Highlander Limited –L4 AWD Hybrid and the 2021 Lexus UX 250 Hybrid F Sport.