Replacing Speculation With Logic: Real-Time EV Site Modeling with James Tillman

Most EV charging projects don't fail in the field — they fail months earlier, during pre-development, when assumptions stand in for realities. Timelines stretch, capital burns, and 40% of projects get cancelled before a single shovel hits the ground. In this episode of Field Frequency, host Jason sits down with James Tillman, co-founder and CEO of EVLogic, to unpack why pre-development is the real bottleneck in EV infrastructure deployment — and how his team built a platform that lets developers, EPCs, A&E firms, and as-a-service providers design, engineer, and price EV charging sites in real time, with all stakeholders on the same call. James brings a rare full-stack perspective: utility programs (Reliant/NRG), network deployment (EVgo), EPC execution (Brighten Energy), and now founding EVLogic. We get into: • Why the traditional 4–7 month estimate cycle is killing project ROI • The "fail early, fail fast" philosophy and how it protects everyone in the value chain • Who's actually buying EVLogic today — and why A&E firms, electrical contractors, and project finance groups should be paying attention • The truth behind the "$7,200 DC fast charger install" myth • Why DC fast charging installs grew 30% year-over-year — and why that's still only a third of what the market needs • The under-the-radar opportunity in off-lease used EVs and what it means for charging demand • Hotels, multifamily, fleet, and the segments quietly driving deployment in a "down" market • Why an all-of-the-above energy and vehicle strategy beats the purist debates Whether you're a CPO, developer, EPC, A&E firm, fleet operator, or project finance team — this conversation will sharpen how you think about deploying EV charging infrastructure in 2026 and beyond. Field Frequency is powered by Field Advantage, an IT field services company specializing in the deployment, maintenance, and operation of critical infrastructure — including EV charging networks. Learn more at fieldadvantage.com. Subscribe for more conversations with the operators, builders, and strategists shaping the future of EV maintenance, repair, and infrastructure deployment. Chapters 00:00 The real reason EV charging projects fail 01:05 Welcome to Field Frequency 01:48 James Tillman's journey: cars, utilities, EVgo, EPC 04:28 What EVLogic does in the EV value chain 07:57 The "dummy tax" on site walks and the $7,200 myth 10:32 Who's actually using EVLogic today 17:10 NEVI, the 50,000-charger goal, and the gap between headlines and reality 18:48 OEMs, installation manuals, and the engineering rabbit hole 22:33 Why a garage gym build inspired EVLogic 24:39 Founding in a down cycle — what's harder, what's easier 27:41 Off-lease EVs, the secondary market, and the next adoption wave 33:30 Pre-owned Teslas, contrarians, and the all-of-the-above argument 38:27 How to connect with James and EVLogic