114: Kirsty Pendelton: AA and Green Fleet EV Champion
This week we chat with Kirsty Pendleton, Head of B2B Marketing at The AA, celebrating the organisation's 120-year legacy while exploring their evolution toward sustainable transport. Kirsty shares insights on balancing The AA's trusted heritage with innovation, discusses their journey toward electrification, and reveals how they're supporting businesses transitioning to EVs. With 25 years at Th...
49m May 14, 2025
49m
113: Wind To Wheel: John Fairlie on The UK’s Renewable Future
This week we welcome John Fairlie, Managing Director of AW Renewables (part of AW Group), who shares his journey in revolutionising renewable energy. John discusses his pioneering "wind-to-wheel" project at Checkley Wood—the first site directly connecting wind turbines to EV charging stations, offering power at just 39p/kWh! With 20% of the UK's onshore wind development under his belt, John exp...
59m May 07, 2025
59m
112: Electrifying Legacy: Chris Welch on Running a Near-Century Old Organisation
This week Paul and John welcome Chris Welch, Managing Director of Welch Group. As a fourth-generation leader of this 91-year-old family business, Chris shares how his transport company has become a pioneering "lighthouse" in the logistics decarbonisation journey. With refreshing candour, he reveals how their innovative approach to electric vehicles, charging infrastructure sharing, and communit...
57m Apr 30, 2025
57m
111: Fraser Crichton Returns
This week we welcome back Fraser Crichton, Dundee City Council's award-winning Fleet Manager. Fraser discusses the evolution of Dundee's EV infrastructure over the past year, particularly highlighting the challenging transition from public-funded charging systems to public-private partnerships. He shares insights about the 20-year contracts being negotiated to ensure infrastructure sustainabili...
49m Apr 23, 2025
49m
110: Will Reeves: 25 Years of Innovation at The CV Show
Paul and JC sit down with Will Reeves, Commercial Vehicle and Bus, Coach & Minibus Section Manager at SMMT, for an energetic discussion about the upcoming Commercial Vehicle Show 2025. Will shares exciting insights about the show's 25th anniversary celebration, including new vehicle launches, the latest in zero-emission technology, and the event's evolution to meet industry challenges. From the...
39m Apr 16, 2025
39m
109: Ric Boullemier: Sustainable Dad
Paul and John sit down with Ric Boullemier, Director of Generate Media. Ric shares insights into his journey from journalism to founding a creative agency focused on telling compelling stories in the EV space. Ric's innovative approach to video content, his philosophy on finding everyone's "superpower," and his commitment to sustainability as a dad. With plenty of camera gear talk and laughs al...
49m Apr 09, 2025
49m
108: Hauling into the Future: Stephen Hards on the RHA's Mission to Support Road Transport
Hosts Paul and JC welcome Stephen Hards from the Road Haulage Association (RHA). Stephen shares his passion for the transportation industry and his journey from IT support to Head of Operations at the RHA. The conversation explores the organisation's frameworks, values, pillars, and priorities—that guides their support for the road haulage industry. Stephen also discusses the upcoming Commercia...
59m Apr 02, 2025
59m
107: Ian Mills: Engineering Passion and Spirit
John and Paul sit down with Ian Mills, Managing Director at RBW EV Cars. Ian shares his remarkable journey from a Lucas apprentice to motorsport engineering—including developing KERS systems for Formula One and Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes. He discusses how Spirit EV now offers comprehensive electric conversion solutions for classic vehicles, providing the engineering expertise and components need...
1hr Mar 26, 2025
1hr
106: Matt Eisenegger: Connecting Industry Dots at the CV Show
This week Paul and JC welcome Matt Eisenegger, a true commercial vehicle industry veteran and media partner for the CV Show 2025. Matt shares his journey from vehicle technician to publishing magnate, including founding CV Driver and Destination Net Zero magazines. The conversation explores the critical challenges facing the commercial vehicle sector as it transitions to decarbonisation, highli...
51m Mar 19, 2025
51m
105: Jonas Andresen: How Spirii is Revolutionising EV Charging
In this episode Paul and John welcome Jonas Andresen, Senior Key Account Manager at Spirii, to discuss innovative solutions in EV charging infrastructure. Jonas shares insights into Spirii's evolution from a Danish startup to a major player in European EV charging management. The conversation explores how Spirii is revolutionising charge point sharing, particularly for commercial fleets and bus...
45m Mar 12, 2025
45m
104: Decarbonising Heavy Transport with Josh Spencer
Paul and Sara welcome Josh Spencer, EV & Sustainability Manager at Ford and Slater. Josh shares his journey from truck mechanic to EV champion, discussing how the electric HGV market is evolving with costs dropping and capabilities improving. He offers insights into the Zero Emission Haulage and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) project delivering 300+ electric trucks to UK roads this year. ...
49m Mar 05, 2025
49m
103: Mike Costain: Bringing 'Oomph' to the Commercial Vehicle Show
This week we welcome Mike Costain, Director at Nineteen Group, the new event partners bringing fresh energy to the UK's Commercial Vehicle Show. Mike shares his vision for revitalising this prestigious 25-year-old event with more "oomph"—combining serious business with an element of fun. Discover how the show is embracing the electric transition while balancing current market realities. Learn a...
31m Feb 26, 2025
31m
102: Abby Chicken: Hatching a plan for decarbonisation at Openreach
Abby Chicken, Head of Sustainability at Openreach discusses leading one of the UK's largest fleet transitions to electric vehicles. Abby shares insights into Openreach's recent order of 3,500 electric vans and the challenges of implementing EVs across their nationwide engineer fleet. With her unique background in retail, sustainability, and passion for wildlife conservation, Abby brings a fresh...
51m Feb 19, 2025
51m
101: Musing on Gary Comerford
John and Paul sit down with Gary Comerford, host of the EV Musings podcast and part-time actor. Beyond his EV expertise, Gary shares fascinating stories from his acting career, including roles in major productions like War Horse, Rush, and The Crown. The conversation explores Gary's journey from IT consultant to podcast host, his mission to educate people about EVs, and his commitment to tackli...
59m Feb 12, 2025
59m
100: Episode 100! Jonny Berry
In this milestone 100th episode, JC and Paul welcome EV Café founder Johnny Berry—an elusive figure on the podcast! Johnny shares his journey from record-breaking Nissan LEAF salesperson to becoming an influential figure in fleet electrification. He opens up about how personal challenges shaped his leadership style, his commitment to sustainability, and the unexpected mental health benefits tha...
49m Feb 05, 2025
49m
99: Investing in Engineers: Glenn Saint on Arrival's Legacy and the Art of Problem-Solving
This week we sit down with Glenn Saint, a pioneering figure in the UK's electric vehicle industry. As a former Chief at Arrival, Glenn shares candid insights about the company's innovative journey, its eventual challenges, and its lasting impact on the EV landscape. Now at Prospedia Capital, Glenn offers valuable perspectives on the future of sustainable transport, the power of learning from mi...
1hr 12m Jan 29, 2025
1hr 12m
98: Leadership, Vulnerability and Electric Innovation with Carla Detrieux
Volta Trucks' Director of Business Development Carla Detrieux masterfully flips the script on Paul Kirby and John Curtis, transforming a standard interview into a mutual exploration of authenticity and purpose. Known to her family as "Vegeta" for her passionate temperament (after the Dragon Ball Z character), Carla shares her journey from hospitality to EV innovation, including the dramatic mom...
54m Jan 22, 2025
54m
97: Melanie Shufflebotham: Inside Zapmap’s EV Revolution
We sit down with “EV royalty” Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder and COO at Zapmap. Discover how Melanie’s passion for sustainability led her to transform a simple spreadsheet into the UK’s leading EV charging platform, now trusted by thousands of drivers every day. She explains how Zapmap compiles live data from over 70,000 charge points, offering users real-time insights to help them conquer r...
49m Jan 15, 2025
49m
96: Unpacking Climate Change with Professor Richard Allan
Join John Curtis and Paul Kirby as they welcome Professor Richard Allan from the University of Reading—a leading voice in climate science and contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Together, they explore how climate change data translates into tangible impacts on our daily lives and the essential role that decarbonising transport plays in mitigating global heating....
55m Jan 08, 2025
55m
95: New Year Special!
Join the whole EV Café crew as we ring in the New Year with a look forward to 2025!
49m Jan 01, 2025
49m
94: Christmas Special!
Cosy up with the whole team this Christmas Day as we take a look back at the year that was 2024.
50m Dec 25, 2024
50m
93: Phil Clarke - Fuelling Fleets Beyond The Grid
This week on The EV Café Takeaway, hosts Paul Kirby and Sara Sloman sit down with Phil Clarke, Founder and CEO of TUAL, to explore groundbreaking solutions to the challenges of commercial fleet electrification. Phil reveals how TUAL’s power bank-based charging infrastructure provides flexibility where grid capacity is limited, turning even the toughest-to-reach locations into EV-friendly hubs. ...
56m Dec 18, 2024
56m
92: Amy Carter on Electrifying DAF Trucks
Join hosts Sara Sloman and Sam Clarke on this week’s episode of The EV Café Takeaway as they welcome Amy Carter, EV Operations Manager at DAF Trucks. Amy shares her inspiring journey from mechanic to leading EV initiatives, while also opening up about her personal experience with transition and the resilience it required. Dive into discussions on key projects like the Z HIT program, advancement...
45m Dec 11, 2024
45m
91: Powering Up EV Payments: Inside Corpay with Tom Rowlands
In this episode of The EV Café Takeaway, hosts John Curtis and Sara Sloman sit down with Tom Rowlands, Managing Director of Global EV Solutions at Corpay. They explore how Corpay integrates various brands like Allstar, PlugSurfing, TravelCard, and Mina to offer comprehensive payment solutions in the electric vehicle industry. Tom discusses maintaining a startup culture within a global corporati...
47m Dec 04, 2024
47m
90: Startups and Sustainability: Taco Olthoff’s Electric Journey
In this episode of the EV Café Takeaway, hosts John Curtis and Paul Kirby sit down with Taco Olthoff, Director of the Electric Vehicle Unit at Bridgestone Webfleet. From his beginnings as a saxophonist and former bankruptcy lawyer, Taco shares his unique journey into the world of EV fleet management. Discover how his passion for building and creating drives innovation at Webfleet, helping fleet...
47m Nov 27, 2024
47m
89: Matthew Adams: Powering the Future of EV Policy
Join hosts John Curtis and Sara Sloman in this insightful episode as they sit down with Matt Adams, Transport Policy Manager at the Renewable Energy Association (REA). Discover how the REA advocates for over 500 companies in the renewable energy sector and plays a pivotal role in shaping EV policy. Matt shares his journey from studying politics to influencing EV infrastructure and discusses the...
46m Nov 20, 2024
46m
88: Rock, Race, and Recharge: A Conversation with Rick Parfitt Jr
Join John Curtis and Paul Kirby as they sit down with the multifaceted Rick Parfitt Jr—musician, racing champion, and electric vehicle enthusiast. Rick shares his exhilarating journey from the racetrack to the stage, revealing how his passion for cars evolved from classic engines to electric powerhouses like his Porsche Taycan. Dive into Rick’s insights on sustainability, the future of EV techn...
1hr 12m Nov 13, 2024
1hr 12m
87: Naomi Nye: A Journey of Resilience and Innovation in EV
In this episode, Naomi Nye of Drax Energy Solutions shares her transformative journey from finance to a leadership role in EV infrastructure, blending technical expertise with a customer-focused mindset. Naomi reflects on how early personal hardships, like a serious accident at sixteen, taught her resilience and shaped her proactive, collaborative approach. With Drax, Naomi advances renewable, ...
54m Nov 06, 2024
54m
86: Dr Isobel Sheldon OBE: Breaking Ground in Battery Innovation
Dr. Isobel Sheldon OBE, a self-taught pioneer in battery technology, has dedicated her career to advancing sustainable transportation and cleaner air. Driven by childhood asthma and a fascination with electric vehicles, she broke into battery engineering without a traditional Ph.D., instead receiving an honorary doctorate recognising her lifelong contributions. Her journey spans early plug-in h...
50m Oct 30, 2024
50m
85: Jess Shanahan: Championing EV Motorsport
Jess Shanahan takes us through her exciting career spanning motorsport and journalism, up to recently becoming a team principal in the E-Scooter Championship. After a transformative 2,500-mile EV road trip, Jess transitioned into the e-mobility space, focusing on sustainability and combating EV misinformation. Now, as the head of RM Electric, she blends her motorsport experience with her passio...
55m Oct 23, 2024
55m
84: Adam Hall, Drax Electric Vehicles
Join Paul Kirby and John Curtis as they welcome Adam Hall, Director of Energy Services at Drax. They explore how Drax has evolved from traditional coal power generation to pioneering sustainable biomass energy solutions. Adam discusses Drax Electric Vehicles’ comprehensive services, offering businesses a full turnkey solution for fleet electrification—from vehicle suitability assessments to lon...
45m Oct 16, 2024
45m
83: Transport, Energy, and a Peachy Future: Bridging the Gap with Alec Peachey
In this episode of The EV Café Takeaway, hosts Paul and John chat with Alec Peachey, founder of the popular industry news website Transport and Energy and annual event Transport & Energy Forum. Alec shares his journey from local journalism to uniting the transport and energy sectors. After facing redundancy during the pandemic, he turned challenges into opportunities, fostering collaboration in...
49m Oct 09, 2024
49m
82: From Trials to Triumphs: The EV Rally with Colin Boyton
Join hosts Paul Kirby and John Curtis as they sit down with Colin Boyton from GreenFleet, one of the masterminds behind the EV Rally. Colin shares the inspiring story of how he pioneered the EV Rally of Scotland during COP26 and grew it into a major event showcasing electric vehicle capabilities and infrastructure across the UK. Beyond his professional achievements, Colin opens up about his per...
58m Oct 02, 2024
58m
81: Breaking EV Records with Webfleet: 569 Miles on a Single Charge
Join Sara Sloman as she sits down with Guinness World Record holders Sam Clarke, Kevin Booker, and Richard Parker. Discover how Sam and Kevin achieved not one but two EV world records: the longest journey by an electric vehicle on a single charge and the greatest distance traveled by an electric van. Learn about the meticulous planning, efficient driving techniques, and cutting-edge telematics ...
40m Sep 25, 2024
40m
80: August Webinar: Last Mile – Ebikes, Cargo Bikes, and Small EVs
We were lucky enough to be joined by Mike Cutts of Iveco, Stewart Murphy of Royal Mail and Paul McCormack of Decarbon Logistics to discuss the growing area of zero emission deliveries and last mile deliveries in particular. From Postman Pat to the Iveco eDaily, there is something here for everyone! The chat was steered by Jonny Berry ably supported by Paul Kirby, Sam Clarke, and Sara Sloman. ...
57m Sep 18, 2024
57m
79: Adrian Fielden-Gray: Humility and Growth at Be.EV
Adrian Fielden-Gray shares his journey as co-founder of Be.EV, a customer-focused CPO, highlighting the importance of humility in business leadership. Adrian discusses the balance he and his partner, Asif Ghafoor (https://www.evcafe.org/podcast-episodes/asif-ghafoor-the-community-connector) , bring to the table, emphasising their complementary strengths and shared vision. He reflects on how the...
57m Sep 11, 2024
57m
78: Richard Parker & James Dewhurst: Rallying Behind Data
In this special episode, Richard Parker and James Dewhurst from Webfleet join to discuss their data-focused contributions to the GreenFleet EV Rally. Covering 1,500 miles across diverse vehicles, the rally provided key insights into EV performance, particularly in challenging real-world scenarios. The episode looks at the importance of refining EV data for better fleet management, improving dri...
45m Sep 04, 2024
45m
77: Jacqui Barker: Woman Of The Year 2024
Jackie Barker, OEM Strategy Director at Keyloop and 2024 Woman of the Year, joins the discussion. Jackie shares her journey in the automotive industry, emphasising the importance of diversity, inclusivity, and mentorship. She highlights how she has transformed her team to achieve gender balance and advocates for creating opportunities for women in automotive. Jackie also opens up about her pers...
51m Aug 28, 2024
51m
76: (Republish) David Beeney – Helping our hearts and minds from one panic attack to the next!
Not a normal EV Café Takeaway today as we are just lining up the next episode. Today we get to delve into the archives of a brilliant, fun, and moving chat with a guy called David Beeney. You’ll remember that the EV Café absolutely stand on the importance of mental health, with both John Curtis and Paul Kirby being mental health first aiders, and David Beeney brings this subject to life, as he ...
59m Aug 21, 2024
59m
75: Richie Martin: Harnessing Energy, Emotion, and Experience
The EV Café’s own Richie Martin delves into his journey from organising The Installer Show to becoming a driving force in the electrification and sustainability space. He opens up about the personal losses that shaped his resilience, and how early experiences of adversity fueled his passion for connecting with people. Richie shares his love for angling as a surprising outlet for recharging, and...
53m Aug 14, 2024
53m
74: Mark Pierce: Engineering a Sustainable Future
Mark Pierce, Data and AI Engineering Lead at Hydrock (recently acquired Stantec), delves into his work optimising net-zero strategies using AI and big data. He addresses AI fears, emphasising its role in enhancing jobs, not replacing them. Mark shares his career journey from a Tesco employee to an engineer driven by sustainability and influenced by his family’s engineering background. He highli...
54m Aug 07, 2024
54m
73: Kirsty Robinson: Innovating Vehicle Livery with Stewart Signs
Kirsty Robinson from Stewart Signs delves into the company’s innovative approach to sustainable vehicle livery. Stewart Signs, with over 60 years of experience, focuses on environmentally friendly materials and processes, ensuring long-lasting, vibrant graphics for fleets. Kirsty shares insights on the importance of matching the right materials to vehicle usage, the impact of technology like 3D...
43m Jul 31, 2024
43m
72: Tom Middleditch: Europcar’s Drive Toward an Electric Future
In this episode, Tom Middleditch, Head of Electric Mobility at Europcar UK, shares insights on Europcar’s pioneering efforts in the EV rental market. Tom discusses the company’s role in promoting electric vehicles, highlighting Europcar’s commitment to educating customers and providing flexible rental options. He also emphasises the importance of practical experience with EVs to drive adoption ...
53m Jul 24, 2024
53m
71: Abigail Middleton: Sustainable E-Mobility
Abby Middleton from Schneider Electric shares her journey from the cheese industry to e-mobility, highlighting her passion for sustainability and human-centric solutions. Abby talks to JC and Paul about the importance of reliable EV infrastructure, especially for fleets and logistics, aiming for long-term sustainability beyond 2035. She reflects on personal challenges, including battling cancer...
48m Jul 17, 2024
48m
70: Angus Webb: The Path to Efficient Fleet Electrification
JC and Paul chat with Dr. Angus Webb, CEO and founder of Dynamon, who discusses the company’s journey and innovations in EV transition for commercial transport fleets. Dynamon’s advanced software enables precise planning by connecting fleet data to EV data, making the transition efficient and cost-effective. Dr. Webb shares his passion for problem-solving and how his experience working in sport...
48m Jul 10, 2024
48m
69: Ashley Tate: Success with Simplicity
Ashley Tate, MD of Allstar ChargePass, emphasises simplicity, resilience, and constant movement in business. His entrepreneurial journey began at 15 and led to founding a range of successful tech businesses. Ashley’s insights on understanding strengths, maintaining discipline, and continuous adaptation are invaluable. Ashley Tate https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-tate-738b8210/ Allstar https:...
55m Jun 27, 2024
55m
68: Charging & Software
A recording of our June 2024 webinar - Charging & Software!
1hr 2m Jun 24, 2024
1hr 2m
67: Daniel Barnes: Bright.Green Innovation
Daniel Barnes, CCO at Bright.Blue, a division of Bright.Green, discusses the evolution and mission of the company—integrating advanced technology for parking, charging and contactless technology with advertising. With origins in smart vending solutions, the company now offers comprehensive kiosks that streamline EV charging and enhance customer experience through dynamic advertising and unatten...
55m Jun 19, 2024
55m
66: Ben Kilbey: A Bold Transition
In this episode, Paul and Sara sit down with Ben Kilbey, founder of BOLD Voodoo, a communications collaborative focusing on sustainability and clean energy. Ben shares insights from his journey, emphasising the importance of honesty and collaboration in communications. He discusses the challenges faced during his time at Britishvolt and the transition to establishing BOLD Voodoo. Ben also highl...
52m Jun 12, 2024
52m
65: George Newton: Engineering Passion in EVs
In this episode, George Newton from Iveco discusses his journey from growing up in a motor trade family to becoming a key figure at Iveco. He highlights the importance of sustainability, detailing how Iveco integrates battery, gas, and diesel technologies across its product range. He also shares his time in the Royal Navy, where he honed his engineering skills and gained invaluable teamwork exp...
47m Jun 05, 2024
47m