EV Café Takeaway

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...

This week JC and Paul are joined by Chris Hazell, Co-founder & CEO of Fellten, a pioneering force in the EV space. Chris takes us behind the scenes of their brand new ChargeQube - a mobile Battery Energy Storage System that could transform how fleets approach EV charging by combining second-life Tesla batteries with intelligent power management to deliver rapid charging capabilities without th...

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 The A...

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 explai...

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 community f...

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 sustainability,...

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 th...

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 along...

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 Commercial V...

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 needed...

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, highlight...

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 op...

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....

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 abou...

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 pe...

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 tackling...

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 that e...