At Volta Air Technologies, we design and manufacture the world’s first commercial transportation refrigeration and cooling units that run exclusively on electricity, emitting zero emissions. Our cutting-edge units facilitate the transportation of perishable goods throughout North America, providing unparalleled reliability and efficiency. As a company, we are dedicated to promoting the widespread adoption of all-electric refrigeration units equipped with intelligent, real-time monitoring and analytics systems.
Tell us about yourself?
My background is in operations and management consulting with a focus on strategy and operational efficiency. In addition, I am highly interested in manufacturing automation. The transportation industry’s persistent expansion and potential for innovation, particularly in the realms of electrification and autonomous vehicles, make it an exciting time to be part of a company leading the charge and making a significant contribution to a vital aspect of the transportation industry.
If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Avoid being bogged down with the uncontrollable factors in life and business. Remember that everything is temporary. Concentrate on my objectives and remain flexible enough to modify them as needed to continue making progress…life is and will always be uncertain.
What problem does your business solve?
As the world moves away from fossil fuel-driven vehicles, the transportation industry is transitioning towards hybrid, alternative fuel, and all-electric transportation vehicles. This shift necessitates a corresponding adaptation in the technology that supports the transportation of perishable and temperature-controlled goods. Unfortunately, industry leaders have been slow to innovate, and fossil fuel-driven refrigeration units continue to dominate the market. Our industry-leading technologies and innovative solutions play a pivotal role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable transportation practices.
What is the inspiration behind your business?
Our motivation stems from the passion to spearhead the widespread adoption of fully electric, advanced transportation refrigeration units and phase out the use of fossil fuel-driven technologies. We offer the first fully-electric transportation solutions that benefit transportation manufacturing firms and fleet companies seeking greater cost-effectiveness and sustainability by replacing their conventional fuel-driven refrigeration units with all-electric alternatives. Unlike our competitors, who remain fixated on outdated technology, we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering cutting-edge, all-electric units.
What is your magic sauce?
Our range of all-electric, battery-powered refrigeration units is capable of cooling without requiring a connection to the engine. This ground-breaking innovation is a significant advancement in the industry, allowing trucks to maintain the temperature of perishable cargo even when the vehicle is turned off. Current technology requires that a vehicle’s engine must remain operational, or the unit’s internal fossil fuel-driven engine must remain running continuously to power the refrigeration unit.
What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?
Our vision is simple, to be the leading global brand in the realm of all-electric transport refrigeration innovation. Over the next five years, our primary goals are to establish an advanced service distribution network capable of selling, installing, and servicing our units and streamline our manufacturing processes in North America. Continue to innovate our products while exploring new opportunities and expanding into Europe and Central and South America. Additionally, we plan to expand our operations to include overseas freighter and railway shipping systems. Integrating our advanced control and monitoring data into fleet logistics management will also be a significant area of emphasis for us.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
Securing sufficient funding to support our growth objectives has been an ongoing challenge, especially with the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many other companies, our growth opportunities were severely limited, and the manufacturing industries we rely on, as well as those that rely on our products, experienced a significant decline in production. This resulted in considerable delays in our supply chain and shipping times, which affected our ability to establish the necessary partnerships we needed to and sell our units in the market.
How can people get involved?
If you would like to learn more about our company and products, email info@voltaair.com or visit our website, voltaair.com.