City of Seattle, WA
09/30/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/30/2024 12:51
Seattle City (spot)Light: Chris Robertson, Senior Transportation Electrification Projects Coordinator
The Basics
Division: Electrification and Strategic Technology
How long have you been at City Light? I've been with Seattle City Light just over one year and have taken a strong interest in how the utility works! I've been with the City of Seattle for nearly 17 years with positions at Finance & Administrative Services, Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle Department of Transportation. Most of my career has been in the transportation sector and it's wonderful to be able to bring that experience to City Light's Transportation Electrification (TE) program.
Tell us about your role. My primary role is managing infrastructure installation projects, particularly City Light's Public Charging Program's DC fast chargers. However, TE touches areas all over the utility and I've been working on projects that support the transition to electrification, including how the utility plans for our energy future with TE in mind.
What inspired you to pursue a career in transportation electrification, and what continues to inspire you in your role? I'm enthusiastic about sustainability and believe that collaboration is the best way to meet ambitious climate goals. Human activities are causing climate change, especially in transportation, with the negative impacts on our planet expected to increase for future generations. I see City Light as a keystone in building partnerships and taking on innovative projects that further carbon reductions, and I'm bringing my experience to help transition to a more sustainable transportation system.
How do you envision the future of transportation electrification evolving in Seattle over the next five years? I expect to see a significant rise in electric vehicle (EV) ownership among City Light customers, driven by improved technology, lower costs, and supportive policies. It's possible that vehicle adoption rates may outpace access to charging early on, but City Light will likely continue investing in public charging stations and grid investments with a focus on equitable distribution across neighborhoods. EVs already pencil out for many car drivers, and fleets are already seeing the value to their bottom line. The next five years will likely see an increase in electric delivery vans, trucks, and other commercial vehicles as businesses look to reduce their carbon footprint and operating costs. And, of course, King County Metro and other mobility options are already moving to electrification and will no doubt continue to do so.
Background
Hometown: Seattle, Wash.
Alma mater: City University of Seattle
Discipline/Trade of study: Project management/Information technology
Tell us about your family/pets: My lovely wife, Cecile, and I just celebrated our 15th anniversary! We have two littles, Dexter and Lucy, who are awesome people and always super fun to be around. We also have a betta fish, Haku, who is probably 200 years old in betta years.
Just for fun
What's a fun fact about EVs that you love to share with others? In the 1960s and '70s, City Light's Research and Development team created a few prototype electric vehicles. One of them was the "Electruc," an experimental utility truck, and another was a converted AMC Gremlin powered by electricity. In 1976, they developed the RT1, a small car meant for travel in downtown Seattle. The RT1 was designed to go up to 30 miles per hour and travel 75 miles on eight, 6-volt batteries, seating four passengers. It was never put into production though.
If you could invite any celebrity for a ride-along during National Drive Electric Week, who would you choose and why? I'd pick astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson. His passion for scientific literacy and sustainability aligns with the goals of using EVs as a more sustainable transportation option. Plus, he's good at describing complicated things (like astrophysics) in a fun and accessible way. That would be a cool ride-along.
What is the one item you can't live without that needs electricity to operate? I don't know if I could live without a dynamo. It is a bicycle wheel hub that has a built-in generator. As you ride, the spinning wheel powers the generator, which creates electricity. This electricity can then be used to run lights or charge devices, so you don't need batteries. I've grown highly dependent on that thing.
What can you talk about for hours? Robot law. Did you know that Chuck E. Cheese was taken to court because they weren't paying an entertainment tax? They won the case because the animatronic characters didn't have "personhood," essentially. Now we have AI and machine learning to contend with!