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.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-s-16b0246b

https://www.fordandslater.co.uk

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 about exciting new features including the EV Café village, decarbonisation theatre, and product launches from major manufacturers. The CV Show runs 29-30 April and the 1st May, promising networking opportunities, educational content, and perhaps even some unexpected Morris dancing!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-costain-794b8412/

https://www.nineteengroup.com

https://www.cvshow.com

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 perspective on how to motivate driver adoption and overcome infrastructure hurdles. Learn how her early experiences, from representing Wales in rowing to championing workplace inclusion, have shaped her approach to driving sustainable change at Openreach.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-chicken-a8464353/

https://www.openreach.com

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/merlin-bird-id-by-cornell-lab/id773457673

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 misinformation in the industry. Gary also offers valuable insights into the complexities of public charging costs and the importance of spreading accurate EV information beyond the industry bubble.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/garycomerford/

https://evmusings.com

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 emerged from creating The EV Café during covid.

Please note that this episode was recorded in early January 2025.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnyberry/

https://www.novunavehiclesolutions.co.uk

This week we sit down with Glenn Saint, a pioneering figure in the UK's electric vehicle industry. As a former Chief at Arrival, Glenn shares candid insights about the company's innovative journey, its eventual challenges, and its lasting impact on the EV landscape. Now at Prospedia Capital, Glenn offers valuable perspectives on the future of sustainable transport, the power of learning from mistakes, and why we should focus on requirements rather than predetermined solutions. His engineering wisdom and practical approach to innovation make this conversation a must-listen!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-saint-88873491/

https://prospediacapital.com

Volta Trucks' Director of Business Development Carla Detrieux masterfully flips the script on Paul Kirby and John Curtis, transforming a standard interview into a mutual exploration of authenticity and purpose. Known to her family as "Vegeta" for her passionate temperament (after the Dragon Ball Z character), Carla shares her journey from hospitality to EV innovation, including the dramatic moment of announcing Volta's previous slip into administration at the UN. The conversation weaves between professional challenges and personal revelations, with all three participants opening up about their struggles, hopes, and what makes a "good person." Through Carla's skilled conversational judo, what begins as an interview evolves into a three-way dialogue about vulnerability, neurodiversity, and driving positive change in both the EV industry and society.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-detrieux-668009138/

https://voltatrucks.com/

We sit down with “EV royalty” Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder and COO at Zapmap. Discover how Melanie’s passion for sustainability led her to transform a simple spreadsheet into the UK’s leading EV charging platform, now trusted by thousands of drivers every day. She explains how Zapmap compiles live data from over 70,000 charge points, offering users real-time insights to help them conquer range anxiety. Melanie also shares her vision for more affordable electric models and seamless charging experiences.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-shufflebotham-07ba501/

https://www.zap-map.com

Join John Curtis and Paul Kirby as they welcome Professor Richard Allan from the University of Reading—a leading voice in climate science and contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Together, they explore how climate change data translates into tangible impacts on our daily lives and the essential role that decarbonising transport plays in mitigating global heating. Professor Allan shares insights from his pioneering research, discusses the importance of effective communication in climate advocacy, and reveals practical steps everyone can take for a healthier planet.

Richard Allan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-allan-51b2a114/

https://bsky.app/profile/rpallanuk.bsky.social

Join the whole EV Café crew as we ring in the New Year with a look forward to 2025!