EV Café Takeaway

This week we sit down with Mike Seymour, the driving force behind TrueCharge, part of the TrueForm Group. With 50 years of experience in street furniture—think bus shelters, tram stops, and digital displays—TrueForm is now turning its expertise to the EV world, focusing on the often-overlooked infrastructure that protects and enhances charging sites. Mike dives into: Why many UK charging sites are...

Paul and John sit down with Peter Heath of PLP—the “biggest company you’ve never heard of,” supplying critical infrastructure for energy networks, EV charging, and solar carports. From recycled-plastic EV foundations that remove the need for concrete to helical-screw solar carports that can be installed in a single day, Peter explains how PLP is cutting carbon while enabling the transition to net...

This episode dives into the world of electric adventure travel with Tom Weiser and Kevin Murphy, co-founders of Nerpa Travel. Their company crafts low-impact, high-adventure trips that swap petrol-powered bangers for electric motorbikes and e‑bikes, combining sustainable transport with genuine cultural immersion.   Tom and Kev share:   How COVID and COP26 inspired them to launch Nerpa Travel   The...

Paul Kirby and John Curtis are joined by Mike Costain and Nick Davison from Nineteen Group, the organisers of the Commercial Vehicle Show (CV Show). Recorded in the run-up to the 2026 event (21–23 April at Birmingham NEC), the conversation dives into: The growth of the CV Show, with over 330 exhibitors and a 30–35% increase from last year. The EV Café Village and its 26 exhibitors, highlighting in...

Buying a used electric car or van can feel like a leap of faith—how do you really know if the battery is healthy, how far it will go, or whether it will hold its charge? In this episode, we get to the heart of the current EV landscape with Alex Millinger of AVILOO, who specialise in plug‑and‑play battery diagnostics for EVs and PHEVs. From the surge in UK demand for battery health certificates, to...

This week, we dive into the reality of energy as a strategic asset for businesses making the shift to electric vehicles. JC is joined by Michael Kent, Managing Director of Palmer Energy, a company designing and manufacturing battery energy storage systems in partnership with Oxford spin-out Brill Power. Michael unpacks: How businesses can move from reacting to volatile energy markets to actively m...

Paul and John sit down with Fiona Howarth, founder of Octopus Electric Vehicles and part of the Octopus Energy Group, for a wide-ranging conversation that spans electric mobility, leadership, and the importance of living in the present. Fiona reflects on: - Building and scaling Octopus EV from concept to leasing hundreds of millions of pounds in vehicles. - Taking a transformative sabbatical to re...

This week we dive into the practical world of electric vehicle innovation with Ben Whittaker, Chief Technology Officer at Kerbo Charge. Ben explains how a simple pavement channel could solve one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption—charging for the majority of drivers without off-street parking—and why making technology “boring” is often the ultimate goal. From his early days salvaging component...

In this episode, hosts Paul and John welcome Neil Hughes, Head of Business Development at Utility Line, to explore the complex but critical world of powering the UK’s transition to electric vehicles. Neil shares insights from over 25 years in the electrical industry, including his work behind the scenes on the “grey boxes” and infrastructure that make EV charging possible. He discusses how Utility...

Graeme Cooper returns to The EV Café Takeaway for a conversation that spans life, energy, and the future of zero-emission transport—this time from his new home in snowy Massachusetts. Once the very first guest on the podcast, Graeme reflects on leaving National Grid, navigating a transatlantic relocation, and adapting to the realities of the US energy and EV market. From the rise of “greenhushing”...

This week on The EV Café Takeaway, we welcome Stuart Humphrey – a passionate electric vehicle advocate, wellbeing champion, and winner of the EV Café Christmas Cracker Wellbeing Award.  Stuart shares how a simple financial decision to lease a Nissan Leaf in 2014 sparked 12 years of EV driving and inspired him to become a vocal supporter of accessibility and inclusion in the EV community. In this e...

It’s the award‑winning Ben Travis! A true champion of customer experience and electric vehicle education.  Ben joined the automotive industry in 2019 and became a trusted EV specialist, guiding customers through the transition from internal combustion to electric. During the first lockdown, while many settled into furlough, Ben immersed himself in EV knowledge—devouring YouTube videos, manuals, an...

Anne Snelson (Lead With Sustainability) shares hey journey from government statistician and AA policy researcher to senior marketing roles at Vodafone and RingGo, before finding her purpose in sustainability. She takes us through her work championing emissions-based parking, her role in influencing corporate sustainability at companies like BMW and Nissan, and how her Carbon Literacy Project train...

This week  we have the multi-talented Jess Shanahan! Jess discusses running a Porsche race team and teaching motorsport sponsorship to becoming a key figure in the EV and e-mobility space—creating content, hosting events, and speaking passionately about mental health and neurodiversity.   What’s discussed: Jess’s path through motorsport and e-mobility, and how she built her own thriving businesses...

Richard Guy, Fleet & Plant Director at Amey uncovers how he led one of the UK’s largest strategic government suppliers on a remarkable fleet electrification journey.   Amey operates 4,000 vehicles—cars, vans, and trucks—across highways, rail, facilities management, and consultancy services. Richard shares how his team successfully transitioned from just 5% EV adoption to over 90% in the compan...

Matt Cleevely, the driving force behind Cleevely Motors and Cleevely Electric Vehicles—and an industry personality—joins JC & Paul this week.  Matt shares how a family business founded in 1962 has transformed into a hub for EV repair, sales, and advocacy, all while staying rooted in the values passed down from his grandfather. He talks openly about:   Building a multi-generational, family-led...

Paul and JC sit down with Caroline Watson, Director of Transport at C40 Cities—a global network of mayors leading the charge toward a zero-emission future.   Caroline shares her incredible journey in the world of transport decarbonisation, from her early days at the Energy Saving Trust to spearheading international initiatives that are transforming city mobility. She reveals how C40 supports nearl...

Kicking off 2026, Paul and John are joined by one of the true legends of the UK fleet and rental industry – Tim Bailey. Fresh into retirement after a 37-year career spanning Alamo, National Car & Rental, Europcar, Redde, and Northgate. Tim shares his fascinating journey from petrol pump attendant in Dublin to leading fleets, shaping policy, and guiding the UK’s transition to electric vehicles—...

In this special episode, we take a look back at all the EV Café Takeaway guests of 2025. We hand the wand (or seashell, block of wood, or lightning bolt…) to pioneers, collaborators, and innovators across the electric vehicle and sustainability world, asking them what their one wish would be…

This week Paul and John welcome Lyndsey Hetherington, EV Charging Specialist at Drax Electric Vehicles. Lyndsey shares her unique journey from starting out in van and truck marketing to becoming a key player in helping fleets transition to zero-emission transport. She reflects on her formative years at Elmtronics, the challenges of building trust in a new industry, and how she balances career ambi...

This week, the EV Café team goes live at Fleet Mobility Live with a very special guest: Dale Eynon, former Head of Fleet at the Environment Agency and now a semi-retired consultant, passionate environmentalist, and mentor to the next generation of fleet leaders.   With over 20 years’ experience managing 10,000+ diverse assets—from cars, vans and HGVs to marine vessels and heavy plant—Dale shares h...

This week, Paul and Sara (a.k.a. The Sazmanator) sit down with Rebecca Denyer, co-founder of Sebring Works, the innovative British company hand-building retro-inspired electric sports cars! Rebecca shares the remarkable journey from a classic car enthusiast and accountant to an EV pioneer, creating stunning 1950s and 60s-style electric cars that combine nostalgia, performance, and sustainability....

In another live-recorded episode, Paul and John sit down with Sarah Gray, Head of Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy & Development at Dawsongroup Vans.   We talk about: - Falling into the automotive world and never looking back   - Overcoming redundancy and imposter syndrome with the help of a business coach   - Supporting fleets on their transition to electric vans   - The real challenges of prod...

From lasers bound for Mars to leading the charge in EV infrastructure, Zaptec’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. In this week’s episode, Paul and Sarah sit down with Michael Braybrook to explore how a company that once supported NASA pivoted to become one of the few profitable EV hardware manufacturers in the world.   Michael shares:   The fascinating origin story of Zaptec, from space t...

In this special live-recorded episode of The EV Café Takeaway, we sit down with Nigel Allsop, Fleet Account Director for BT, who manages one of the UK’s largest and most complex fleets—over 36,000 vehicles and 5,000 company cars. Nigel shares the inside story of BT and Openreach’s journey to net zero by 2030, including how they’ve already electrified 5,500 vehicles, predominantly vans, and the str...