Transforming the economics of charging infrastructure through data and AI
Credit: Alpha Grid
Luke Ackerknecht, CEO and Co-founder of Alpha Grid, grew up immersed in nature—and in the IPCC reports. Raised in a small town in upstate New York, he developed an early sense of urgency about climate change, reading climate science as a teenager and dreaming of becoming the head of the EPA. That sense of purpose stayed with him as he explored different ways to make an impact—from policy to finance to invention. “Eventually it dawned on me that the hardest and most valuable thing to do was just invent a better way of doing things,” Luke says.
Today, Luke is using his background in AI and deep tech to tackle a major bottleneck in the energy transition: deploying EV charging infrastructure at scale. We got the opportunity to catch up with him in this episode of the Xooglers in Climate Founder Series.
From big tech to narrow wedge
Luke’s career spans roles at Nest, X (the Moonshot Factory), and Google, where he helped map the power grid and model energy systems. But it was a realization at X that helped spark Alpha Grid: the frontier of decarbonization would happen not only at the level of utility-scale transformation, but also on the edge—where charging stations, buildings, and batteries plug into the grid.
“We realized that chargers are more than a convenience. They’re a Trojan horse for grid transformation.”
Alpha Grid started with a simple but powerful idea: EV chargers need to be profitable if they’re going to scale. The company’s software uses AI to help operators make smarter pricing and design decisions—optimizing revenue while managing grid constraints and load variability. Think of it as autopilot for EV chargers.
Falling in love with the problem
Like many founders, Luke didn’t begin with a perfect pitch or product. He started with a deep interest in distributed energy resources, an early version of Alpha Grid that focused on site planning and financial modeling—and a painful but important lesson in value capture.
“We were generating hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure investment opportunities, but barely capturing any value ourselves.”
That realization led the team to focus on what they could measure, quantify, and monetize: the day-to-day operations of EV charging assets.
Charging 2.0: where AI meets economics
Alpha Grid’s platform now operates like a network brain for charging infrastructure. It can forecast demand, set prices dynamically, and recommend the best ways to integrate batteries or shift loads. With over 10,000 tariffs across utilities and a fragmented landscape of operators, their optimization layer helps cut through the noise.
“Most people are excited about data centers. But charging is on pace to consume half the energy of data centers—and it’s distributed across millions of locations.”
Luke believes this complexity is exactly why AI is necessary—and where climate meets real business needs. Profitability, not subsidies, will drive the next wave of infrastructure.
A go-to-market playbook built on value
Luke runs both product and GTM at Alpha Grid, and his approach is refreshingly simple: prove the value. His sales pitch?
“Do you want 25% more revenue in a few weeks, or not?”
The startup sells through direct outreach to C-level executives and through strategic channel partners—platforms and management systems already serving charging operators. Their model is pay-for-success, aligning incentives and de-risking adoption.
Lessons from the grid edge
For Luke, the EV charging landscape isn’t just about cars or climate. It’s about rethinking how infrastructure works—and who profits from it.
“Charging is one of the few climate sectors where software can directly drive profitability. That unlocks scale. And that’s how you drive impact.”
AI, with its feet on the ground
Luke has a grounded perspective on the role of artificial intelligence in climate. He breaks it down into three useful layers:
Workflow automation – Using agents or large language models (LLMs) to simplify tedious, error-prone work like permitting or legal reviews.
Risk modeling – Leveraging forecasting to support finance and insurance sectors in areas like wildfire prediction or flood risk.
Optimization and orchestration – The category Alpha Grid falls into. This is where software doesn’t just analyze, it acts. From setting prices to shifting load and orchestrating fleets of batteries and chargers, it’s about dynamic control of physical assets in real time.
“Optimization is underrated,” Luke says. “It’s not about hype, it’s about tuning systems to be 10x better. That’s what makes climate infrastructure profitable.”
He’s also quick to point out that trust and stickiness matter more than flashy models. A good climate software business is built on owning customer data and becoming part of the decision loop—no matter which foundation model is powering the backend.
Advice for the climate curious
For those considering a move into climate tech, Luke has both encouragement and a challenge.
“Don’t start by learning to code. Start by falling in love with a problem.”
He emphasizes that climate touches every industry—whether you're into materials, mobility, insurance, or infrastructure, there’s a wedge for you. And the most valuable skill isn’t technical. It’s the ability to build something people actually want, and figure out how to sell it.
“Jobs in climate are shifting up the abstraction ladder. The world needs builders who can prototype fast, tell a clear story, and learn by doing.”
His tip? Use no-code tools. Build a scrappy app. Read thought leadership from VCs to understand where value accrues. And treat AI like a toolbox—not a magic wand.