Portable Power and the Future of Grid Flexibility with SparkCharge's CFO David Piperno

In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, Wes Ashworth sits down with David Piperno, CFO of SparkCharge, to explore how portable energy solutions are reshaping EV charging, fleet electrification, and grid stability.

SparkCharge is best known for building the world’s first portable EV charging network, but the conversation goes far beyond charging vehicles. David explains how mobile energy storage, pay-as-you-go models, and rapid deployment are solving some of the biggest bottlenecks in clean energy adoption, from long infrastructure timelines to rising grid constraints.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience across finance, mobility, and energy technology, including leadership roles at Zipcar, Deloitte, and Spartan, David shares how aligning sustainability with strong unit economics is the key to scaling climate solutions.

Key Themes Covered

• Why EV infrastructure keeps falling behind demand
  David breaks down why traditional charging infrastructure is too slow, too expensive, and often underutilized, especially for fleets trying to scale quickly.
• How SparkCharge’s portable, pay-as-you-go model works
  The discussion explains how SparkCharge eliminates upfront capital costs, deploys in days instead of years, and scales energy up or down based on real usage rather than peak assumptions.
• Flexibility as a competitive advantage
  From same-day deployments to serving locations without grid upgrades, SparkCharge’s approach gives fleets operational certainty while reducing financial risk.
• When delivered energy can be cheaper than the grid
  David walks through peak shaving, avoiding demand charges, and absorbing surplus renewable energy, showing how mobile storage can lower energy costs while supporting grid stability.
• Beyond EVs: supporting the grid and other power-constrained industries
  The conversation expands into non-wire alternatives, frequency regulation, data centers, and how mobile energy assets are becoming essential as electricity demand accelerates.
• Why EVs are deflationary and ICE vehicles are not
  David explains total cost of ownership, declining battery prices, lower maintenance, and why EVs continue to improve over time through software updates.
• What the U.S. must do to stay competitive
  The episode explores policy consistency, infrastructure incentives, and why pace matters as global competition in clean energy intensifies.
• The role of AI in accelerating electrification
  David shares how SparkCharge is using AI to reduce fleet analysis timelines from months to minutes, enabling faster and more accurate energy deployments.

Why This Episode Matters

As electrification expands across transportation, data centers, and industry, the grid is under unprecedented pressure. This episode offers a practical look at how mobile energy, storage, and flexible deployment models can close the gap between ambition and execution, without waiting years for infrastructure to catch up.

Whether you’re leading a fleet, building energy infrastructure, or navigating the clean energy transition, this conversation provides real-world insight into what scalable, economically viable solutions look like today.

Links:

David Piperno on LinkedIn

SparkCharge's Website

Wes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/

• Email: wes@leegroupsearch.com
• https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/
• https://leegroupsearch.com/