EV Café Takeaway

Did you know that 1 in 4 EVs currently bought are for Motability Operations? Neither did Paul Kirby! Join Paul and John (aka W.C.) as they sit down with Lisa Thomas—Chief Marketing Officer at Motability Operations—the organisation behind the life‑changing Motability Scheme.   Lisa shares the incredible story of how Motability Operations supports over 800,000 drivers across the UK, providing afford...

In this special live-recorded episode of The EV Café Takeaway, Paul and John sit down at Fleet & Mobility Live with Stuart Murphy, Head of Fleet Transformation at Royal Mail, to explore how one of the UK’s most iconic organisations is delivering a cleaner, zero-emission future.   Stuart shares his journey from growing up in the Royal Mail family to leading one of the largest electric fleet tra...

Chris Demetriou, (Assistant Director of Corporate Fleet, Transport and Accessible Community Transport at Islington Borough Council) has spent over 24 years in the public sector and now leads one of the UK’s most ambitious local authority fleet decarbonisation programmes.   Chris shares his journey from a two-week temp job to becoming a driving force behind Islington’s transition to electric vehicl...

This week, Phil Morris - Key Account Manager at Iveco on the ever-evolving world of zero and low-emission commercial vehicles.   Phil shares his journey from working in his family’s butcher shop to becoming a passionate advocate for sustainable transport solutions. He takes us behind the scenes of heavy vehicle sales, explaining the jargon of six-by-fours, fifth wheels, and CNG. We dive deep into...

We dive into a conversation with Paul Hollick, Chairman of the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) and CEO of Lightfoot.   Paul shares his journey from a young, unconfident teenager in the New Forest to a dynamic leader driving the UK fleet industry toward a zero-emission future. He opens up about:   Balancing his dual roles at AFP and Lightfoot   His passion for people, collaboration, and do...

In this inspiring episode of The EV Café Takeaway Podcast, we welcome Michelle Breffitt, co-founder of Women Drive Electric, the thriving community dedicated to helping women confidently make the switch to electric vehicles.   Michelle shares her journey from starting in the automotive world as a teenager to becoming a leading advocate for inclusivity, EV adoption, and authentic conversations arou...

Paul and John sit down with the unstoppable Evelyn Tourish, Customer Experience Director at Europcar Mobility Group UK. With 32 years at Europcar, Evelyn shares her journey from rental sales agent to leading the company’s customer experience and spearheading the electrification of their UK network. Her passion for EV adoption, customer care, and building resilient teams shines through as she talks...

Paul and John sit down with Stephen Briers, the highly respected Group Editor for Fleet News, AM, and Rail at Bauer Media. Stephen brings a wealth of insight into journalism, industry objectivity, and the fast-moving world of fleet electrification.   We Explore Stephen’s journey from humble beginnings to leading Bauer’s B2B automotive titles.   The responsibility of journalism in a rapidly changin...

This week JC and Sara (stepping in with her best Paul Kirby impression!) are joined by the brilliant Chris Bunce, Network Sales Manager for Iveco’s Light Business Line in the UK and Ireland.   Chris takes us behind the job title to share a refreshingly open and often hilarious conversation about:   His 30-year journey through the motor trade, from Yellow Pages cold calls to leading network sales a...

This week, Paul and John are joined by Andreas Blin, Director Segments and Partnerships - CPOs, Fuel&Convenience and Solution Partners at ChargePoint, and self-proclaimed enabler of the electric mobility revolution.   Andreas takes us on a journey from his early career in plastics and cheese-making machinery (yes, really!) to becoming a passionate leader in the EV charging industry. He shares...

This week we welcome Tim Morris, the newly appointed Marketing Director for UK & Ireland at Europcar. From swapping petrol-guzzling BMW M5s for sleek electric vehicles to navigating the challenges of parenthood, Tim's journey is as dynamic as the EV revolution itself.   🚙 What’s Inside?   Europcar’s Electric Evolution: Hear how Europcar is leading the charge with an impressive percentage of i...

This week we’re joined by Faizan Ahmed, Decarbonisation Programme Director at First Bus, one of the UK’s largest bus operators. Faizan shares his inspiring journey steering First Bus towards a zero-emission future with bold ambitions, including a fleet of over 1,200 zero-emission buses—on track to hit 1,500 by next year! We dive into: 🌍Decarbonisation ambitions: The roadmap to a zero-emission com...

This week - Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England. Vicky shares her journey from the halls of government, where she played a pivotal role in shaping transport decarbonisation policy, to leading EVA England in amplifying the voice of EV drivers across the UK. 🚗 What’s in this episode? Vicky’s interesting career shift from zoology to EV advocacy  The critical role of EVA England in representing EV driv...

This week we’re joined by the legendary Tim Campbell from Campbell’s Consultancy—a true pioneer in the world of commercial vehicle decarbonisation. Known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of trucks and vans, Tim shares insights from his global journey exploring electrification, including eye-opening experiences from China’s commercial vehicle shows. We dive deep into:  🚚 The evolution of electrific...

In this deeply inspiring episode, Paul and John are joined by Tom Pearson, Commercial Director at CPD Bodies, one of the UK’s leading commercial vehicle converters. Tom shares CPD’s bold journey from a small business to a thriving medium-sized enterprise, fuelled by sustainable practices, innovative systems, and people-driven growth.   🚛 What’s in this episode?   CPD’s sustainability strategy, in...

This week we are joined by the dynamic Jack Cousens, Head of Roads Policy at the AA. Known for his appearances on BBC Travel News and transport reports, Jack shares his journey from local politics to becoming the voice of the motorist at one of Britain's most trusted motoring organisations. What’s Covered?   Behind the Scenes at the AA: Discover the dual role Jack plays – from being the AA’s media...

This week Paul and John are joined by the dynamic Sarah Papamichalis, Head of Product at Milence, a trailblazing company revolutionising EV charging for heavy-duty vehicles across Europe. Sarah dives into: 🚚 Milence's mission to decarbonise road freight by building Europe-wide electric truck charging corridors. 🌍 Her personal sustainability journey—from biking to work for 25 years in Amsterdam t...

This week, Paul and Sarah sit down with Trevor Palmer, the founder and CEO of EV Blocks—the company revolutionising EV charger installations with universal, low-carbon foundations.   Trevor shares his inspiring journey from an apprentice electrician to a global entrepreneur, detailing how his love for Lego, engineering, and a bit of hustle culture laid the foundation (pun intended!) for his innova...

This week we have Brett Howton from IVECO, a passionate expert at the forefront of the electric transition in the heavy vehicle sector.  Brett shares his fascinating journey—from his early days in retail (yes, including tales from Dixons and even being one of the first to get his hands on a PlayStation 2!), to his unique stint as a prison officer, and ultimately, finding his true calling in the wo...

Join us for a conversation with James Rooney, Head of Road Fleet at Network Rail, as he shares the real challenges and triumphs of transitioning Britain's largest rail infrastructure fleet to electric vehicles. With 9,800 vehicles under his management and a government mandate for 100% electric by 2027, James reveals the honest truth about meeting ambitious targets, the technology gaps holding back...

Join us this week on The EV Café Podcast as we sit down with Niall Riddell, CEO and Co-Founder of Paua, to explore the critical role of payment and charging solutions in accelerating business EV adoption. Niall shares insights into how Paua is revolutionising the fleet charging experience, making it seamless for businesses to manage their electric vehicle operations. From simplifying payment proce...

This week we're joined by Rosario Surace, EV Charging Specialist at Drax Group. Rosario shares his expertise on supporting organisations with their transition to electric vehicles, from infrastructure planning to fleet management. We dive into the challenges of commercial vehicle charging, the importance of destination charging, and how Drax is helping businesses navigate the complex world of EV i...

This week we're joined by Ian Plummer, Commercial Director at Auto Trader UK, who shares his extensive automotive industry expertise and vision for an electric future. Ian discusses Auto Trader's pivotal role in the UK's automotive marketplace, offering fascinating insights into EV adoption trends, the impact of Chinese manufacturers, and the evolving consumer behavior in the electric vehicle spac...

This week, JC and Paul chat with Adam Bishop, two-time Britain's Strongest Man winner and IVECO brand ambassador. Adam discusses his journey from rugby player to strongman competitor, his remarkable recovery from an Achilles injury, the occasional novelty of eating "normal human food", and his partnership with IVECO, including setting a world record by pulling over 150 tons with an electric IVECO...

This week JC and Paul are joined by Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, the founder and CEO of Enso Tyres—the world's first premium tyre brand dedicated to electric vehicles. G shares his journey of revolutionising the tyre industry by creating products that not only extend EV range but also significantly reduce tyre pollution. With a staggering 2 billion tires produced annually worldwide, G reveals how Enso's...