In this episode, Gary Comerford interviews Sara Ridley, Engineering and Quality Director at Autocraft Solutions, about the remanufacturing and repair of electric vehicle batteries.

They discuss the importance of battery health, common misconceptions about EV batteries, and the challenges faced in the repair ecosystem. Sara emphasizes the need for education and skills development in the EV repair industry, highlighting the environmental benefits of repairing rather than replacing batteries.

The conversation also touches on the future of battery technology and the importance of building a robust repair ecosystem to support the growing EV market.

Guest Details:

Sara Ridley - Dr Sara Ridley is the Engineering & Quality Director of Autocraft Solutions Group. She has worked in remanufacturing for more than 20 years and is passionate about the ecological and economic benefits of remanufacturing. Much of her focus is on improving processes and controls. Sara was awarded an Industrial Fellowship for her doctoral research from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 whilst working for Caterpillar Remanufacturing. Her research has been published in both remanufacturing and production journals, and she has received international awards for her academic papers. She joined Autocraft in 2018 as they recognised the need to expand remanufacturing from internal combustion engines into alternative powertrains, and Sara has been part of the team turning this ambition into reality working within the business to recognise the huge potential: in environmental terms, but also in terms of improving the end user experience.

Sara's Website

Sara on YouTube

This season of the podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the free to download app that helps EV drivers search, plan, and pay for their charging.

Links in the show notes:

• Construction starts on Merredin Battery Energy Storage System | Western Australian Government - Cool Thing

Episode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk

(C) 2019-2025 Gary Comerford

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