In-Between Charges

This episode of In Between Charges takes listeners on a unique journey through the streets of Copenhagen, exploring the world of electric vehicle (EV) charging. Hosts Kevin and Mike embark on a lively adventure, testing out various charging stations and discussing the evolving landscape of EV charging infrastructure. They delve into topics like the practicalities and challenges of EV charging in different settings, the integration of renewable energy, and the future of transportation electrification. This episode offers a mix of informative discussions, real-world experiences, and light-hearted banter, providing valuable insights for both EV enthusiasts and the general public curious about the future of sustainable transportation by breaking down some of the most important use cases for EV drivers in this imperfectly perfect city for EV charging. Join the team as they navigate the streets, charging points, and the big question: "Are we there yet?" in the world of EVs.

Gear up for an electrifying journey into the world of Formula E racing with this episode of 'In-Between Charges.' Hosted by Mike Hawkes and Kevin Spangenberg, this episode features an insightful discussion with Chris Dyer and Albert Lau, two of McLaren’s distinguished Formula E engineers. 

Dive deep into the nuances of efficiency in electric racing, as our guests reveal the secrets behind McLaren's success on the track. From the intricacies of battery management to the strategic deployment of resources, Chris and Albert shed light on how McLaren pushes the boundaries of performance and innovation. 

Join our hosts and their esteemed guests for a thrilling exploration of the technological marvels driving the future of Formula E. Whether you're a die-hard racing fan or intrigued by the fusion of engineering and sports, this episode offers a unique glimpse into the high-octane world of electric motorsport. 

Happy charging!

Join hosts Kevin and Mike in our special year-end episode of In Between Charges. Together, we will dive into the electrifying world of climate tech with Mark Tomasovic, principal for Energize Capital. 

In this illuminating conversation, we explore the major climate tech trends of the past year, the evolution of EVs in the US, and a forward-looking discussion on what 2024 holds. Mark shares insights on Energize Capital's investment strategy, focusing on the electrification of everything. We touch on the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act in the US, how it influences the climate tech space, and the synergy between impact and return on investments in climate technology.

Tune in for an insightful blend of personal anecdotes, expert analysis, and predictions for the future of climate technology.

Happy charging and happy holidays!

Listen in on this Autumnal Wednesday as Mike and Kevin meet with Luca Scherrer and Lukas Lutz, co-founders of Sphere Energy, to explore the battery mega trend and its sweeping impact on multiple industries. Together, they unravel the fascinating world of batteries, from production and development acceleration to understanding their significance in the EV industry. 

Luca and Lukas explain how the battery industry has morphed over the past decade,  including power balances, the intricacies of sourcing raw materials and the unique challenges it poses for OEMs. We also touch on the impossible questions of EV’s residual value, the sweet spot between performance and cost of EV batteries, modularity versus integrated manufacturing, and much, much more. 

Stay until the end for the exciting introduction to Batty! Batty is Sphere Energy's AI-powered product that will answer EV drivers’ questions and provide a report on the state of the battery market and news.

Happy charging!

Welcome to season 2 of In Between Charges! We are still the best podcast to listen to while waiting for your EV to charge. For the season premiere, hosts Mike and Kevin raced to get the best guest and make this new season take off like no other! Puns aside, we’re debuting this new season with a star guest: NEOM McLaren’s Formula E and Extreme E racing Managing Director, Ian James. 

Calling in from the UK, Ian runs us through the ins and outs of the first-ever fully electric World Championship that just wrapped up their 9th season. We learned about the peculiarities of racing in city centres with ever-changing tracks, the differences between Formula E and the increasingly popular Formula 1, and how McLaren leverages technology and software to keep growing. 

Sports fans and technical enthusiasts alike will be enjoying this 1st episode of #IBCS2, so join us for this accelerating ride! I mean, exhilarating*.

Happy charging!

On the last episode of season 1, Mike and Kevin uncover a hidden gem from the largest machine that man ever made: grid service schemes. 

You might be asking, what on earth are these schemes? In short, they make the grid more sustainable by providing flexibility in the amount of assets that can help support it, opening up new opportunities for businesses to make a profit. In long, listen to the episode ;)

With the help of Michael Kent from flexibility service provider GridBeyond, we explore a series of new tools that have come up during this stage 2 of the electrification revolution. Michael, as Head of EV solutions, is responsible for the growth strategy and deployment of EV related solutions for grid and flexibility services. From connections to charging, infrastructure, aggregation, and energy market access, the list goes on.

Come with us and learn more about the ABCs of grid services for businesses, go through the different stages of the electrification transition, get an intro to V2G and where that service is going to, a peek into the American grid, and the importance of B2B collaboration in the electrification and EV space.

And stay till the end to learn more about season 2!

This episode has another knowledgeable and influential guest joining the conversation! We sat down with Lucie Mattera. Lucie is the Secretary General of ChargeUp Europe, a trade association that represents the interests of the EV charging industry in front of the European Commission, and is responsible for publishing the yearly State of the Industry report.

Between the State of the Industry report and the long-time coming Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations (AFIR), there’s a lot to unpack when it comes to EV charging regulations in Europe, standards and frameworks that different countries have adopted and lessons learned from these. Lucie runs us through some of the latest highlights from the report (did you know that even if the EU reaches their target goal of EVs on the roads, the total demand on the electricity grid would be only 4%?), how different counties are preparing to face AFIR, and even different pricing strategies and how that affects an open market policy.

Join Mike and Kevin as they sit down with Lucie and listen to them break down the twists and turns of  EV charging in Europe, run us through how EU standards are set and best practices, and discuss whether there should be a right to charge (or is that Kevin’s American spirit coming through?).

There is no special guest on the show this month, but don’t despair! More EV industry info and news are coming your way. Our hosts Mike and Kevin crowdsourced some listener questions and they are here to give you the answers. 

Is range anxiety real? Aren’t EV batteries really resource heavy?? Why is there such a disparity in EV adoption between the U.S. and Europe?!! We’ve got you covered.

Get to know the hosts better and learn about the industry mysteries and misconceptions on the latest episode of In Between Charges. 

And if you think your CPO business name would be even better, let us know! 

If you wish to jump to a specific episode section, here is the breakdown:

0:54 - What are some of the biggest risks to widespread EV adoption?

3:23 - Why is there such a disparity in EV adoption between the USA and Europe?

6:55 - What are some tips to make the switch from ICE cars to EVs?

9:27 - Aren’t EV batteries really resource heavy?

14:22 - What are all these grid connection problems and how do they impact charging infrastructure?

20:28 - What is range anxiety and is it real?

23:41 - What are the main differences between the charging experience today and 5 years from now? 

26:19 - If you could fix one thing from the EV industry by swinging your magic wand, what would it be and why?

27:55 - What is one of the gnarliest CP installs you’ve seen?

30:26 - If you were to start your own CPO business, what would it be called and why?

Denmark, like the rest of Scandinavia, is a nation at the forefront of the transition to electrification and e-mobility in Europe and the world. From public transport fleets to taxation plans for CO2, for years, Denmark has been implementing an extensive list of policies that promote an electric and sustainable lifestyle from the top down. 

Different departments and leaders in Denmark have taken decisions to put the country in the place it is right now. One of these leaders in the race to net zero is our guest of the day - Benny Engelbrecht, Denmark’s former Minister of Transport.

Benny has been in the room, leading and making these decisions. He talks to us about the taxation strategy and structures he put in place to push Danes towards EVs, why Elon Musk is the last person that should complain about government incentives, why Chinese batteries are not actually sustainable and what Europe should do about it. And a whole lot more.