The Urban EV Podcast

The secret to winning in the used EV market? Listening to the market itself. When Jimmy Douglas, founder and CEO of Plug, shares how he went from slow growth to a $100 million business in just three years, one thing stands out: Stop pushing and started listening. It’s a lesson as old as sales itself: don’t get your way into a market. Let the market pull you in. Jimmy’s experience at Tesla taught h...

Most city dwellers pay dearly for a car they rarely use, and still, it's hard to access when it truly matters. Ezra Goldman, the visionary behind Upshift, is changing the game. He reveals how autonomous car subscriptions, featuring remote-controlled fleet vehicles, innovative operational models, and strategic teleoperation, are set to reshape urban mobility. You'll discover why current car-sharing...

EV analyst, Loren McDonald, joins the show to dissect the latest trends, ironically starting with the price of gas. We'll delve into how fluctuating prices are accelerating EV adoption and the critical importance of developing robust home and multifamily charging infrastructures. Loren provides insights into automakers' strategic investments in charging ecosystems and the challenges of public fast...

Over a third of the US population lives in multifamily housing without charging access. That's a massive EV transition hurdle. So what's the solution? Samuel Bordenave, former Chief Commercial Officer at SWTCH, joins The Urban EV Podcast with some answers as we discuss the equity issues surrounding charging access for multifamily housing, the technical hurdles of retrofitting buildings, and the im...

Chris Russo, SmartCharge Clean Energy Program Manager at Con Edison wants to give you money as SmartCharge incentivizes off-peak charging to balance grid demand and make everybody a winner. Chris joins to show to share the marketing secrets he learned at Tesla and how he applies them at Con Edison, as he shares insights on consumer behavior, the importance of data in infrastructure planning, and t...

Guests Bob Granito and Bill Thau from IVP Research Labs join the show to discuss the intersection of autonomous systems and EVs, sharing insights from comprehensive research studies that reveal surprising findings about stress levels when cars drive autonomously compared to manual driving. The conversation highlights the importance of user experience and system intuitiveness in fostering trust and...

Temperamental classic cars aren't exclusively for show. In this episode we explore the fascinating world of electric vehicle conversions with Justin Lunny, Founder & CEO at Everrati. The conversation delves into the mindset of modern car buyers, the procurement strategies for sourcing classic cars, and the intricate process of converting these vehicles into electric models. Justin shares insights...

How do you get food retailers to buy into EV charging? Not by measuring success with electrons sold, but cups of coffee. Seriously. Gideon van Dijk CEO at Chargetrip joins The Urban EV Podcast to share his take on the importance of charging infrastructure, the psychology behind EV adoption, and the innovative solutions ChargeTrip offers to improve the EV driving experience. Gideon also shares insi...

Scaling EV charging infrastructure is no easy task. But Marina Hod, Managing Director Americas at Wevo Energy, appears to be ready for the challenge ahead. In this episode of The Urban EV Podcast, we discuss the role of AI in optimizing energy use, the importance of smart charging systems, and the future of EV charging technology. Marina shares insights on real-world successes, the integration of...

Public EV charger utilization is a broken model and Madhav Ayyagari and David Alspaugh, co-founders of Inductive Robotics, may have figured out a way to fix it through autonomous EV charging. Our conversation explores the founders' journeys, the necessity of their solution in the face of growing EV adoption and inadequate infrastructure, and the technical workings of their robotic charging system....

Kia EV9 owner and returning guest, Todd George joins the show to talk about the transition from the 2024 model with a CCS port to the 2026 model that now comes standard with a NACS port. One of the first challenges he faced was charging at a Tesla Supercharger and reveals why. The conversation also touches on quality control issues, community feedback, and the future of the Kia EV9, including upco...

Electric vehicle expert and sales trainer, Jeremie Bernardin joins The Urban EV Podcast to share his first mover journey into the EV world, the importance of bridging the training gap for dealerships, and the emotional aspects of purchasing electric vehicles. The conversation also covers the challenges faced by dealerships in adapting to the EV market, and the significance of the customer's journe...

The Kia is gone as my new Tesla with Full Self Driving (FSD) tries to conquer the means streets of New York. Mason Leverington, a fellow Tesla owner joins the conversation as we delve into the intricacies of FSD technology, exploring its neural network capabilities, comparisons with other driving assist technologies, and the user experience. The discussion highlights the evolution of FSD, its huma...

Considering a used EV? When battery confidence is on the line, consumers hesitate. And that's why Scott Case launched Recurrent, a company focused on battery health in the new and used EV market. He discusses the challenges of launching a startup during the COVID-19 pandemic, the pivotal role that Recurrent plays, and how providing transparency and confidence can be a pillar for the marketplace. T...

What is your dream car? Austin Healy 3000, Porsche Speedster? What if these cars could be reimagined as a modern EV that can even power your house in-between Sunday drives? That's actually a reality right now as Gary White, CEO and co-founder at Sebring Works can attest. He shares his journey from IT to automotive innovation, discussing the challenges and triumphs of creating a unique electric ska...

In this episode of the Urban EV Podcast, host Rob Hoffman speaks with Dr. Felix Stracke, VP of Engineering New Mobility at Rheinmetall, about the company's innovative curbside EV charger. The conversation covers Rheinmetall, best known as a defense contractor, through its entry into the electric vehicle charging space with its novel curb charger solution. Dr Stracke shares insights from pilot test...

Join co-hosts Rob Hoffman and Scott Murphy along with guest, Josh Goldwitz as they delve into the evolving landscape of electric vehicles, logistics, and sustainability. Josh shares his career path from engineering to consulting that gave him a front row seat to the challenges and opportunities in EV infrastructure and logistics. The role of sustainability in business and the importance of the tri...

When will EV charging hubs start to offer the basic amenities that one comes to expect from a gas station? Sooner than you think. Bill Reid, Chairman and CEO of Rove Charging joins The Urban EV Podcast to reveal the innovative approach Rove is taking towards public EV charging infrastructure. He shares his unique background in energy and finance, the challenges and successes of Rove's business mod...

In this episode of The Urban EV Podcast, host Rob Hoffman sits down with Ben Prochazka, Executive Director of the Electrification Coalition, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of electric mobility. Ben shares what’s really driving the EV transition, from federal policy to local action, and why getting the right funding and incentives in place is so critical. Ben digs into the wins and r...

E-mobility is more than just EVs and marketing it takes more than just plugging into the buzz. In this episode of The Urban EV Podcast, hosts Rob Hoffman and Scott Murphy are joined by Theo Reichgelt, founder of Nexxt Industry, to explore the evolving world of e-mobility and the unique marketing challenges that come with it. They discuss why e-mobility goes beyond just EVs, how companies often mis...

What can the former head of global strategy at Avis Budget Group tell us about EVs and autonomous vehicles? It starts with learning from past mistakes. In this episode of the ⁠The Urban EV Podcast⁠, hosts Rob Hoffman and Scott Murphy welcome ⁠Hari Sripathi⁠, founder of Mad Hatter Consulting to explore the inherent challenges and opportunities within the fleet mobility sector. Hari shares insights...

From Big Tech to the electric vehicle (EV) industry, Anup Parikh, founder of Pangea Charging shares his journey along with the challenges of implementing EV charging in multifamily and commercial real estate, the impact of incentives on EV adoption, and the cultural barriers in red states like Texas. Anup also shares insights from his YouTube series, 'The Fast and the Curious,' where he engages wi...

In this episode of the Urban EV Podcast, we are joined by Chase Drum, EV advocate and founder of The Grid Connections podcast. Chase discusses his journey into electric vehicles, the evolution of EV technology, the current state of the grid and charging infrastructure, and the challenges and potential of vehicle-to-grid technology with Tesla leading the way. The conversation also touches on the fu...

The 2025 New York International Auto Show came and went. And like a tree in falling in the forest, did it really make a sound? Sort of. Even though it's based in America's largest media market, it has steadily lost its position on the world's automotive stage. But its strength may be on the macro level now as their game of show and tell has turned into EV go and sell. Less cars on display means mo...

In this episode of the Urban EV Podcast, hosts Rob Hoffman and Scott Murphy engage in a lively conversation with Nigel Gordon Stewart, the chairman and CEO of Austin Motor Company. They explore Nigel's extensive background in the automotive industry from McLaren to Lamborghini to Lotus and eventually Austin, where he is leading the legendary brand into the electric vehicle era with the Austin Arro...