Luke Tonachel is a Senior Director, Clean Vehicles and Buildings at The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Since joining NRDC in 2004, Luke Tonachel has focused on reducing the environmental impact of the transportation sector. His work has encouraged governments to adopt policies that advance clean fuels and the development of energy-efficient vehicles. Before working at NRDC, he received hands-on experience with energy systems and propulsion plants while serving as an engineering officer aboard a U.S. Navy cruiser. Tonachel holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Rochester and a master’s in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley. He is based in New York City.

At Einride Mesh, Luke Tonachel will be part of a panel, with Allie Kelly and Niklas Reinedahl, focusing on the role of green policy in accelerating electrification. The panel will discuss how companies and the public sector can work together to surpass challenges to the deployment of electric-powered fleets and ensure the development of infrastructure to support it.

What do you see as one of the most important trends for 2023? 

State and federal policies are being implemented to scale up clean truck production and electric vehicle charging investments are happening at unprecedented levels. 

What does "Make intelligent moves" mean to you? 

Reducing carbon and health-threatening pollution at the pace and scale needed to address climate change and secure the health of communities near ports and freight corridors.

To reduce the environmental impact of the transportation sector in the most efficient and sustainable way, how do battery electric vehicles compare to other alternative fuels? 

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are unique because they are the cleanest vehicles today and will get cleaner as the electric grid is increasingly powered by solar and wind. BEVs also offer large economic savings relative to petroleum fuel use and potentially to other alternative fuels.