Back To News/PR Index | | | eTA builds on TA’s previously announced plans to monetize a broad range of potential offerings in alternative energy, extending TA's commitment to providing the widest range of non-fuel offerings across its c-store, restaurant and truck service ecosystem. With the launch of eTA, TA will be well-positioned to be in the forefront of important trends, including electrification and decarbonization, and take a leading role in the proliferation of alternative energy to drive profitable long-term growth. “As
everyday travelers embrace the benefits of energy alternatives and the
trucking industry continues its transition toward cleaner and more efficient
fuels, TA is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this shift and the significant
opportunities it creates,” said Jon
Pertchik, CEO of TA. “Now is the optimal time to sharpen our focus
on sustainability, particularly in light of the Biden Administration’s
infrastructure plan. TA’s nationwide footprint, range of truck service
options, and breadth of driver amenities are perfectly situated to minimize
consumers’ ‘range anxiety’ concerns and make drivers across the nation
more comfortable purchasing vehicles powered by electricity and other alternative
fuels. This is a pivotal moment in our company’s 50-year history, and we
believe that the actions we are taking today will support the next 50 years
of profitable growth at TA.”
TA also announced that it has appointed alternative energy expert, John D. Thomas, as Senior Vice President, Sustainability & Alternative Energy. In this newly created position, Mr. Thomas will lead the transformative efforts of eTA, leveraging his expertise and industry knowledge to advance the company’s strategy relating to alternative fuel opportunities, and ensure TA’s business is at the forefront of the transition to carbon fuel alternatives. Mr. Thomas commented, “I am excited to join TA at this critical inflection point for the industry. TA’s sites are strategically located where highway travelers are most likely to rest and refuel, and TA has the scale and infrastructure proximity to incorporate lower carbon fuel and alternative energy resources into its broad range of fuel offerings. These assets, combined with the company’s cutting-edge operating platform and digital systems, ideally position TA to capitalize on policy and market trends to offer low-priced, clean transportation energy and serve as the partner of choice for tomorrow’s traveler. Thomas continued, “We are encouraged by the Biden Administration’s demonstrated commitment to investing in infrastructure to create a more sustainable world and support public policy that advances the deployment of sustainable sources of energy. We look forward to evaluating the business case for investing in cleaner transportation fuels and to working with policymakers to ensure well-intentioned ideas are implemented in a manner that can generate the desired results for all stakeholders. TA is embracing changes that will redefine America’s transportation infrastructure.” TA has already established important partnerships and launched significant projects in the alternative energy space, providing a strong foundation for the success of eTA. Recent accomplishments include:
| About John D. Thomas John D. Thomas has over 30 years of experience in product engineering, operations and executive leadership, having most recently served as Vice President, Operations at Toyoda Gosei, a leading global manufacturer of automotive components, safety systems and LEDs. Prior to that, he founded and served as Lead Consultant for the Emerging Technologies Group within ET Consultants focused on global cleantech projects. Mr. Thomas also previously served as CEO of the electric vehicle startup, Helix Motors, Inc., and as a Board Advisor to the Global Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco. In addition, he founded and led ALTe Powertrain Technologies, Inc. as CEO, and served as VP of Operations for Detroit Chassis LLC, a Ford JV. From 2006 to 2009, Mr. Thomas served as Senior Program Director & General Manager at Tesla Motors, most notably leading the team that created and engineered the Tesla Model S automobile and the initial factory to build the vehicle. In 2012, he was included on the esteemed Ernst & Young EV100 list, which comprises individuals who are increasing demand, influencing policy, and driving mass roll-out, thereby helping to make electric vehicles more rapidly affordable for everyone. Mr. Thomas began his career in Detroit, holding roles at Collins & Aikman, GKN Automotive, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors. He earned an MBA from Eastern Michigan University, and two Bachelor’s Degrees from Lawrence Technological University in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration. About
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