China has reportedly moved to ban certain electric / pop-out car door handles — and the move is sending shockwaves through the global automotive industry.

In this episode of CTRL ALT Refuel, we break down:

• Why China is targeting electric door handles

• The safety and reliability concerns behind the decision

• What this means for EV manufacturers worldwide

• How this impacts UK and European car buyers

• And what Toyota’s new CEO could do next with their EV strategy

With electric vehicles evolving rapidly, design choices like flush door handles, software integration, and electronic systems are under more scrutiny than ever. If major markets begin restricting certain features, it could reshape how future EVs are built.

We also discuss:

• EV safety standards

• Government regulation and automotive policy

• Toyota’s leadership change and future electrification plans

• The wider EV vs petrol & diesel debate

If you’re interested in electric cars, hybrid vehicles, automotive news, UK car industry updates, and honest EV discussions — this episode is for you.

👇 Let us know in the comments:

Should electric door handles be banned for safety reasons?

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🎙️ Podcast: CTRL ALT Refuel

📍 Covering electric, hybrid, petrol, diesel & hydrogen vehicles

No expense was spent to secure a chat with James Gee of Be.EV. And what a smashing chap he is.

Be-EV have acquired the UK arm of European charging behemoth Mer. In a stroke, Be-EV have tripled their charging network with a particular focus on the south of England, a region previously not well served by Be-EV.

Paul gets a bit giddy and turns the conversation to CHAdeMO, Chris asks very long questions and Gareth talks about places in Dorset. So, normal service has very much been resumed.

Do not adjust your set.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeEgfPd7qhdCKHAUMX6xYYA5zFcgapw6b

@Tedisiek

@eV_Newt

@PaulNissanEV

@_james_gee_

&

Chris Petchelli

Viewer ‪@REV-EV‬ asks us to talk about very long range EVs. And we do for a while.

Like an ongoing soap opera where everybody misunderstands everyone else to further the weak plot, the Petchellis are keeping their salary sacrifice Genesis GV60 until the summer, when its lease ends. As we find out, not much coherent planning has gone into finding its replacement.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeEgfPd7qhdD9T0eCCcDvItzGuxbdMtaW

https://x.com/ctrlaltrefuel

https://x.com/PaulNissanEV

https://x.com/eV_Newt

https://x.com/graeme_cobb

https://x.com/itskyleconner

Like an unexpected special forces unit taking your palace and stuffing you into a Blackhawk, Episode 13 of Ctrl Alt Refuel lands on the roof of your timeline, shrouded in acrid smoke.

Apparently immune to jet lag, Paul marshals his trusted lieutenants and rewards their loyalty with pictures of a new Honda that looks nice from the side, but mings when seen from the rear.

We discover that while Gareth and Paul were driving in the eighties, Chris was slurping his primary school milk in the playground.

We discuss the terrible Chinese EVs that Canada’s tariff change will allow into the United States’ favourite northern neighbour that isn’t Greenland and then we ponder on Tesla’s changes to the FSD offering.

We examine Octopus’s top 5 lease cars and why Petchelli has left Twitter, formerly known as Twitter.

Episode 12 is a feature-length offering because one of our team members is going away. Yes! Gareth is going as far as the Hampshire border!

We mourn the end of the F-150 Lightning and discuss EV pickups that will survive it: the Silverado and some Rivians. Dodge Ram? We forgot about it!

Waymoo is coming to London, and we hatch a plan to meet up and try them, though Gareth notes their I-PACE cars have only operated in dry places thus far - rainwater being Jaguar's kryptonite. Waymo have yet to return my calls. Perhaps it’s for the best.

Chris tells us some people ask him to stop talking – we suggest it’s Londoners and Scousers, who, Gareth reveals, live mostly in the New Forest now. Calm down!

Mentions:

@Rivian

@Tesla

@swearjar

@Waymo

@forduk

@NIOGlobal

@Hyundai_UK

@chevrolet

@TesCalendar1

and of course………. @NissanUK

Your home is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loan secured on it.

Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.

May contain nuts.

You may experience a malodorous, reddish discharge. Seek medical advice if it persists.

Hannah deputises for Chris, who is unavoidably detained until his long-suffering partner pays the bond.

Gareth, Hannah and Paul press on regardless, discussing solar panels, home batteries and Octopus Energy's EV tariffs.

Chris' children shout poo poo.

Ctrl Alt Refuel Episode 10

Despite planning to ingest, digest and "expel" the week's news, Chris, Gareth and Paul discuss why Chris loves both Nick Clegg and Andy Burnham.

Sadly, we correctly predicted the pay-per-mile EV tax would be implemented in 2028 and we argue about it some more.

In Ford news, Puma EV sells out and Chris says the successor to the Focus should be called the Ford Elbow. We also know the difference between Ford Kuga and Cougar, which annoys Chris even more.

We discuss why Kia beats Ford in the UK and we solve the Gerry McGovern mystery. As usual, it was the caretaker in a mask! If it wasn't for you pesky kids etc etc.

Lastly, we examine the inevitable end of Zipcar and the rise of e-Bikes.

The ultimate old school confectionery, Wagon Wheels make their debut on Ctrl Alt Refuel.

We discuss fuels that might replace diesel with a lean towards heavy vehicles. Gareth’s cat steals the limelight again and we answer, in our own inimitable style, our first viewer question. Mostly.

We get our first viewer complaint from the Channel Islands.

• Episodes (Video versions)

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In Episode 8, the Ctrl Alt Refuel team bring you another slice of carrot cake that nobody asked for. Gareth and Paul flex by drinking beer while Chris is at work - he pretends not to notice. Gareth arrives late, while Chris applauds the US justice system nibbling at Toyota before his attention is drawn to an EV coach. The Ctrl Alt Refuel swear jar gets its first public outing (don't say the T word!) and Paul, dull as ever, wants to talk about cars - small cars.

I know. I KNOW! Caramel or Curly Wurly, right? Confused? You won't be after this episode of @CtrlAltRefuel .

Chris, Gareth and Paul attempt to dissect the rumours of EV-specific road pricing coming out of the UK's crappiest newspaper. They discuss how HM Treasury has arrived at this position and how much worse it's going to get.

Our new sponsor is in full, erm, flow and we play the first and last round of Where's Petchelli, where we pretend to care where Chris is. [Spoiler; Scotland]. In a dark turn, we get a grim insight into Chris’s Uncle Dave’s turbulent marriages.