Vic Shao

CONNECTING TO THE ELECTRICAL GRID

MWS: WHAT IS AMPLY POWER AND ITS ELECTRICAL SOLUTION?

SHAO: As with many new technologies, certain aspects don’t “take off” by themselves. End-users aren’t likely to alter their ways of operation until they know the new way is reliable and at a low cost. Think of solar power: an industry that didn’t take off until a developer absorbed all the upfront costs and risks. That’s the idea and technology behind what AMPLY Power is planning to do with the electric fleet industry. AMPLY Power interjects certainty and reliability for electric fleet managers through fixed prices on electric power.

MWS: WHY SHOULD FLEETS USE AMPLY?

SHAO: Customers I’ve talked to have been buying diesel and CNG for decades. They are familiar with those structures: how to budget and forecast pricing. But when it comes to electricity, it’s a whole new ballgame, and fleet operators are really struggling. Unlike diesel, there are 3,300 electricity providers across the country. You could drive five miles down the road, and all the sudden you’re in a different utility company territory. This could mean different tariff pricing with demand charges and time-of-use schedules. When you enter these different territories, your fuel provider is suddenly completely different, sometimes up to a 100 percent price difference.

This makes forecasting and budgeting fuel almost impossible. Fleets that can’t predict fuel pricing can’t comfortably bid projects or establish budgets. AMPLY Power’s services eliminate this problem for fleet owners.

MWS: HOW DOES AMPLY WORK?

SHAO: I spent 10 years in renewable energy: solar, wind projects, and energy storage projects. We didn’t expect our customers to buy solar panels, spec out converters, tracking systems, and other technology know-how and specifications and installation that goes along with it. These are things end-users don’t often care to deal with themselves. As a solar developer…

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