#90 - Carl-Magnus Norden - Decade Energy - Powering the next generation of trucks

#90 - Carl-Magnus Norden - Decade Energy - Powering the next generation of trucks

Author: Hugo Rauch April 28, 2026 Duration: 53:52

Subscribe to the newsletter:

New Wave | Hugo Rauch | Substack

****

🌊 Charging the Transition

Why electric trucks won’t scale without rethinking energy infrastructure

We’re joined by a Carl-Magnus Norden, a veteran entrepreneur and founder of Decade Energy, previously behind Volta Trucks, one of Europe’s most ambitious electric truck startups.

In this episode, we dive into why electrifying transport isn’t just a vehicle problem, it’s an energy system problem, and unpack what it really takes to build the infrastructure layer before the demand fully arrives.

In our conversation, we covered:

→ Why the “electric vs hydrogen” debate is effectively over for trucks

→ Lessons from building (and losing) Volta Trucks, and why it still mattered

→ Why trucking is a “big boys game” requiring massive upfront capital

→ The real bottleneck: grid access, not vehicle technology

→ Why depots are the key to scaling truck charging

→ Decade’s strategy: secure power before trucks arrive

→ Turning battery storage into revenue via grid services

→ Europe vs China vs Tesla: who wins the electric truck race?

→ Why resilience and energy independence are becoming critical drivers

→ The long-term vision: software orchestrating trucks, batteries, and grids

At the core: the transition won’t fail because of trucks, it will fail because of power.

Let’s go electric!



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

Hugo Rauch hosts New Wave, a podcast that lives at the intersection of business ambition and scientific reality. This isn't about distant predictions or abstract science; it's a grounded exploration of the technologies and companies being built right now to address our environmental future. Each episode focuses on the practical journey, dissecting the models, the breakthroughs, and the hard decisions that define the climate tech landscape. You'll hear from founders, researchers, and investors who are actively shaping this space, getting into the specifics of what works, what doesn't, and why. The conversations move beyond hype to examine the tangible mechanics of creating viable solutions, from energy storage and sustainable materials to carbon removal and regenerative agriculture. It’s for anyone who thinks about the climate challenge not just as a crisis, but as a complex and urgent field of innovation. By tuning into this podcast, you gain a clearer understanding of the economic forces and scientific principles driving the next generation of environmental solutions. New Wave connects the dots between the lab, the boardroom, and the impact we need to see in the world, offering a sober yet optimistic look at where substantive progress is truly being made.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 91

New Wave.
Podcast Episodes
Bridging the funding gap in biotech - Annick Verween (Biotope by VIB) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:33
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.***This week, we’re joined by Annick Verween, Head of Biotope at VIB, where she backs early-stage biotech startups working to improve planetary health. With Biotope recently name…
USA vs Europe: Who Wins In Climate? - Matthew Blain (Voyager Ventures) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:32
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.***Thank you to BioEsol for sponsoring this episode. 💚BioEsol is an AI-powered energy company bringing Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) to industrial and SME clients, enabling energy a…
How to Exit a Deep Tech Startup - Matt Jones (Syensqo) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:10
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.***This week, we’re joined by Matt Jones, Managing Partner at Syensqo, to break down one of the toughest challenges in climate tech: how to exit.With 25 years of experience and a…
Climate Change Is a Social Issue - Alina Klarner (Impact Shakers) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:14
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.***Thank you to BioEsol for sponsoring this episode. 💚BioEsol is an AI-powered energy company bringing Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) to industrial and SME clients, enabling energy a…
No One Pays for Green Anymore - Yair Reem (Extantia) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:45
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.***This week, we’re joined by Yair Reem, Partner at Extantia Capital, to break down why the green premium is dead, and what’s next for climate-tech startups. In this episode, we…