70% Emissions Cut: How Range Energy's Trailer Tech Accelerates Fleet Electrification

In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett sits down with Jason Chua, Chief Product Officer at Range Energy, about a breakthrough in sustainable trucking. Discover how Range's electrified trailer retrofit cuts emissions by up to 70%, without replacing existing trucks. Jason shares how this smart, cost-effective solution helps fleets reduce fuel costs, extend electric range, and meet climate goals today. Learn why retrofitting trailers may be the fastest path to decarbonizing the trucking industry.

What you will learn:
-How Range's trailer electrification system achieves 70% emissions reduction
-Why retrofitting existing trailers is a faster path to decarbonization
-The technical breakthrough of trailer-based propulsion
-How electrified trailers can extend the range of electric trucks from 70 to 280 miles
-Why the 3-5 year payback period makes the technology commercially viable today
-How Range's partnership approach with industry incumbents accelerates adoption
-The role of smart sensors and controls in making the system "plug and play" for fleets
-Why refrigerated trucking represents a prime early market for trailer electrification
-How Range's solution helps fleets meet both sustainability and operational goals
-The importance of designing climate solutions that work within existing constraints

Jason Chua is the Chief Product Officer at Range Energy, where he leads the development of electrification solutions to decarbonize the trucking industry. A seasoned product and strategy executive, he co-founded Universal Hydrogen and previously led hybrid-electric aircraft initiatives at United Technologies and Airbus. Jason’s work spans startups, Fortune 50s, and academia, with award-winning innovations including Google’s Project Ara. He focuses on human-centered design and brings a practical, cross-disciplinary approach to building sustainable technologies with real-world impact.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro: Electrifying Trucking with Range Energy
02:56 Sustainable Transportation: From Aviation to Ground Transit
06:37 The Challenge of Decarbonizing Trucking
10:55 Inside Range's Innovative Trailer Technology
14:42 Extending Electric Truck Range and Capabilities
17:35 Designing for Real-World Fleet Operations
26:23 The Business Case: Cost Savings and Industry Adoption
34:29 The Future of Trucking and Fleet Electrification
36:08 Key Takeaways: Building Solutions for a Cleaner Transport Future

Episode Resources:
Jason Chua on LinkedIn -   / jasonlchua  
Range Energy Website - https://www.range.energy/
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn -   / dylangarrett  
Synapse Website - https://www.synapse.com/

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