Liz Allan [00:00:01]:
So on my podcast episode today, I have with me, Alec Peachey, who is the owner and editorial of the online publication, transport, and energy. Alec, thank you ever so much for joining me today. It's brilliant and brilliant to see you again.
Alec Peachey [00:00:17]:
Ian, I'll see you again, Lisa. Thanks for having me on.
Liz Allan [00:00:20]:
So we met it's it's a bit of a story, isn't it, this one? So we were both what and EV Cafe webinar, and you were talking about something that really, really kind of rang resonated with me which I want to talk about later and not now, but we but we also met face to face. So we watched Evie Cafe together and we're messaging each other on LinkedIn. and but we also met a fully charged value recently, didn't we?
Alec Peachey [00:00:49]:
That's right. Yeah. Exactly. The first point of contact, I think, was on the chat. And then as you say, we picked it up, through LinkedIn and other forms and then of course, met in person. So, yeah, the the conversations are now continuing. So, yeah, it was good to meet you.
Liz Allan [00:01:02]:
No, it was lovely to meet you as well. And I've even introduced you to my husband, which is, of course, you know, you've got the Allan team behind you now.
Alec Peachey [00:01:11]:
Exactly. Yeah. Nice to meet everyone.
Liz Allan [00:01:14]:
So explain a little bit about your background and how long you've been, a journalist our content editor?
Alec Peachey [00:01:23]:
Yeah. So my background is predominantly in B2B journalism. As you mentioned, I've been a content journalist or editor for well over 15 years now, first started my career, in local newspapers even before that, so I was a news reporter many years ago. Even, I was even a sports journalist at one point.
Liz Allan [00:01:42]:
So -- Where
Alec Peachey [00:01:42]:
are you?
Liz Allan [00:01:42]:
--
Alec Peachey [00:01:43]:
I will say yes. So, then obviously ended up going into B2B journalism and I've edited quite a few different trade magazines in my career and covered all sorts of different industries, including packaging, higher the highway sector health care, more recently energy. and of course, now obviously, I have my own brands, Trans and energy which is designed to try and you know, bring both those sectors together or the different stakeholder groups that are involved in accelerating the transition to next 0 together. So in my background is predominantly in B2B journalism where I've been involved with editing different publications and event and conference production, I suppose, over the years. and as I say now, kind of taking a experience and using all of the best practice if you like that I've gained over the many years to implement that on on transport and energy and and try to make a difference in these sectors that are obviously emerging and having to work more closely together to, accelerate that transition to net
Liz Allan [00:02:44]:
0. So explain a little bit about about the importance of that. What in your what in your mind do you see as the importance of bringing together the transport sector and the energy sector, why why why is it why is it matter?
Alec Peachey [00:03:03]:
Well, it matters because I think historically they've not really had a link, you know, and and now, of course, they have to work together, in order to collaborate Otherwise, I think it's gonna be very difficult to meet a lot of these targets that have been set around net 0 and around the the different climate targets. that those that have been enshrined in law as well by government, you know, it's impossible really. I think to get there unless we see collaboration across these 2 industries. You know, they're both obviously very high emitting industries as well, of course, you know, very car intensive industries. So of course, they need to they need to collaborate and they need to work out the best ways of breaking down many existing silos to, as I say, accelerate this transition. otherwise, it's gonna be very, very difficult to get there.
Liz Allan [00:03:56]:
Yeah. Exactly. So, sorry I was coughing then. I'm gonna have to cough again. Sorry, I've got a bit of a tickle. You can still hear me, can't you? Oh, that's alright. Tom is my producer, and I'm sure he has all sorts of things when we cough in and all sorts of stuff me, so Tom, if you don't mind, you're gonna have to edit that bit out. I I will drink anyway. Hang on a second. I've lost I lost my place then when I was gonna ask you. yeah, I had a question in my head and it's totally gone out of my head now, which is rubbish, isn't it?
Alec Peachey [00:04:35]:
Oh, that's alright. That's alright.
Liz Allan [00:04:37]:
Right. So, okay. So when coming back to what I said right at the beginning about the fact that we were talking on, you know, kind of chatting on the on the, EV Cafe web webinar. What are you so we we talk specifically about silos didn't we? And siloed working conditions. Now I've come across this a lot in the work that that I do, but where do you think the silos are between which is are there silos between just between the two sectors? Is that where you just is that where you see it?
Alec Peachey [00:05:12]:
That's a good question. To be honest, I think, yeah, there's definitely silos that exist between both the industries, but there's also one of the biggest challenges is there's silos that would exist within a silo. So, probably a good example of that is perhaps a local council. you know, where you've got many different departments such as highways, energy, you know, could be planning, could be procurement. Porties is that these different departments may not be speaking to each other, and really they need to be, you know, they need to be doing so on a daily basis because actually the work that they're now having to do to get to net 0, bearing in mind, a lot of local authorities have declared climate emergencies and wants a massive challenge They do very much need to be kind of speaking to each other across departments. as I say on a daily basis, but of course, you know, there'd be other examples other than councils where again, you know, those silos exist within the silo people have to kind of get outside of that mentality of just doing their their day job and really get outside or think outside the box, I guess, to really learn from different industries as much as their own. because they're all gonna be into and it's really that kind of joining of the dots if you like between the different stakeholder groups, as I say, that are involved in bringing both transport and MG together. And it is a big challenge because of course there are so many. but I think that if you kind of have that mindset of you know, being collaborative and being open to new ideas and new products and new innovation, then it is that much easier to get there if everyone's on the same page whereas if you sort of just take the approach of, well, no, we're just gonna keep doing what we've always done. then to call in a phrase, you'll get what you always got.
Liz Allan [00:07:01]:
Absolutely. Nice.
Alec Peachey [00:07:02]:
That is not the way to do things. at the moment, you might view if you want to have a chance as a business and organization, a company, public or private sector, if you wanna get to next 0, you're gonna have to work wherever on
Liz Allan [00:07:16]:
Yeah. And and you are totally singing from the same him sheet as me, honestly, because because actually I've I've found working in in business improvement and continuous improvement that silos just kind of they they breed contempt in some ways as well because people it's it's a lack of understanding between, between, like you said, the the siloed sectors, but also the silo within that company, it can actually, if people don't understand what's going on in other areas, then for a start off, you've got kind of like the the head in the sand situation where where people kind of, they don't actually they they don't want to look anywhere else because they've got enough going on. You know, and I and I know that, especially if we talk about local authorities, there there are, you know, a number of local authorities where they haven't really got enough people to do all the jobs so people are kind of they're probably really overworked. They're really stressed and they haven't got time time to have a look elsewhere to find out what's going on, have they?
Alec Peachey [00:08:29]:
No. So it's a very good point. You know, local councils you know, are under an increasing pressure all the time, you know, their budgets are getting cut. You know, it's very, very difficult for them to be able to do this because you know, those an example of those types of services they provide, you know, would be obviously adult children services, you know, whether it's refuse collection, where it's it's fixing the roads, you know, there's there's a myriad of different challenges that they have to meet and and against increasing, you know, budget cuts as well. So, you know, it is it is difficult, but I suppose that makes the importance of perhaps sharing from neighboring authorities or, you know, learning from best practice, all the more important. And again, to sort of go back to that kind of collaboration, you know, where, you know, there there has to be kind of you have to sort of drive that mentality, I think, into your organization because If you don't have the resource or the money, then you have to find other ways of trying to get there. and of course, with the whole net 0 agenda, a lot of it will be driven now by local residents as well. So residents are demanding that, you know, they want more enemy charging points, for example, or you know, they want to see more active travel as another example implemented into an area, then if they call for that, then a council generally has to listen and particularly if it gets political buying, from saying MP, then of course, the the council often comes under the the pressure. So if they've already taken the actions to try and kind of, you know, already mobilizing those situations, then they're already one step ahead. But, of course, you know, I acknowledge and I'm sure others would acknowledge that it isn't it is difficult for them. You know, it is difficult for them. you know, it nothing's ever easy and unfortunately, you know, they they they have to just work together and there's some really great people, you know, in a lot of councils that are working very hard, to to make the difference. so yeah, hopefully, we we can all get it together.
Liz Allan [00:10:35]:
Yeah. And and I suppose actually the declaring a climate emergency would have a knock on effect and ramifications everywhere, wouldn't it? Because you know that once you do that, you're kind of setting setting light to the touch paper, aren't you? you know, and you're kind of going right, okay, the the knock on effect is a bit like dominoes, right, okay, all of these artments within the within the council are now going to be infected by this climate emergency you know, we and we don't we don't kind of we don't see how much pressure it it has put on the councils in in the first place. People just see it as whatever the output is and if the output's minimum, then it actually it's not necessarily a lot of the time, it's probably to do with the fact that they've just not got enough resources to do what they need to do. So it's it makes it very difficult, doesn't it?
Alec Peachey [00:11:31]:
Yeah. It does. You know, you're right. I mean, there is a huge challenge there. And of course, you know, there's that kind of skills, angle as well. you know, we've we've been able to find somewhere often a lot of the a lot of the skill set gets lost through retirement through that struggle to attract people, you know, into into local authorities. They're often, you know, the talent can often get lost in a private sector too. So you know, there is that that challenge, but of course, the other side of it is to put a positive spin on it is that actually, you know, in terms of net 0, A lot of younger people are very interested in this agenda. so they want to get involved and they want to come and make a difference. So there is those opportunities for the public sector and of course private sector to attract you know, the younger and more diverse workforce to come in and and really make the difference because that's what they want to do. That's often on the agenda now. It's often what is rooted as people in in the jobs that they do. There's huge opportunities. So I think actually for council that something they should perhaps be grasping, and really kind of making the most of that opportunity to perhaps bring the trainees through and so on and and make it appealing because, you know, you make the point quite rightly about people don't see what goes on in the background. or they just see one of my bins being collected every week, you know, on the road, like, what what what is the everyday output of what they pay their council tax towards. but actually, you know, there is, as I mentioned earlier, a lot of people doing a lot of great work. we've been local authorities And of course, they work closely with private sector and the the supply chain that that supports that too. So, yeah, you know, I think that it's all about just working out, you know, I suppose like anyone of the best kind of organizations and companies to work with to help them be able to deliver everything as efficiently and as effectively as they can.
Liz Allan [00:13:29]:
I agree with you. And and and that what you were just saying about, getting younger people in. You're right. I mean, this week, and I know this is not working with a council, but my son's on work experience, so he's seventeen. and he's on work experience. And and and he's not work it's not the council. He's working, my husband works at Reading uni, and my son's gone into work with the director of sustainability for a week, you know, because he's interested do you know what I mean? And and actually all all younger people need is a little bit of interest and you know, and obviously we're as a family, we've got sustainability is kind of top of our j agenda anyway. But like you say, we what we're doing now probably in my lifetime isn't going to massively, you know, it's going to be a it's not going to be a step change. It's going to be like little we call it Kaizen, which is the thing that's behind my head at the moment, you know, it's it's kind of small small small steps, you know, But in his lifetime, when he gets older and he and even when he gets his kids, you know, not that I'm marrying him off early, but do you know what I mean? Even even, you know, it's for it's for our kid's future, isn't it? You know, all of this? Yes.
Alec Peachey [00:14:43]:
A 100%. Exactly why we're all doing you know, I've got 22 sons and it is all about, you know, trying to make a difference and, you know, improve air quality and you know, all the different positive impacts that that this can have, you know, and I would describe this really as a once in a generation opportunity. if you like, you know, for those younger people to come through and they're gonna have careers, it's the economy. You know, if you if we do these things and we're getting right, everybody, as you say, kind of collectively makes a difference. We might all only be, I suppose, small dots on a landscape, but it's all those small dots coming together that are the collective difference. and if we do that and we are able to improve air quality you know, that has a massive knock on impact effect on, improving health care, improves economy, And then of course, you know, if you improve those different things, then it makes life easier for the different stakeholder groups such as local authorities because if there's less pressure on Care, there's a better economy and so on then that's more money being spent and hopefully more money going back into the the public sector ultimately from central government to be able to allow them to do more. So, you know, there there's a there's a lot of benefits to this. It's a it's a massive opportunity.
Liz Allan [00:15:58]:
Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. I totally agree. So tell me about transport and energy. Obviously, I've I've read it you know, and and I've I've subscribed to the newsletter. So you've told me why why you've set up, but who who are you getting in to kind of what's tell me a bit about your editorial team and who are you getting in to speak on different subjects and why and what are the hot topics at the moment.
Alec Peachey [00:16:26]:
Yeah. So obviously, as you mentioned, you know, we launched a brand to unite the sectors because I felt as though there was a gap really for a B2B media brands to to come in and and help educate, you know, the different stakeholder groups and professionals that are involved in trying to, accelerate this transition so I think for us, we're obviously a provider of news, content information, you know, run interviews, We run thought leadership opportunities. You know, we're about to dabble into webinars as well. and of course, we do our our annual event. in in term which is the transport energy forum. In in terms of our editorial advisory board, you know, that's a group of industry professionals from both sectors who have got between them, you know, countless years of experience and it's very important that, you know, we have an editorial board with the likes of Quentin Wilson and Jill Noelle, from LV. and we've got a representative from National Grid on there, for example, and many others, who all help kind of, I suppose, inform the direction of our brand and help us to decide what what's topical or what's not or you know, what what what can we be doing more of or less of? because they're the industry experts, you know, they're working day in, day out. So it's important that, you know, we listen to that group of professionals. And of course, you know, they benefit from being part of an aligned group of people, and hopefully, you know, the the connections and the, again, collaboration that's driven through their meeting, you know, we have meetings with the board. and of course, that's helped with the the our our annual event that we put on as well, our transport and energy forum, which this year will take place on 16th November in Birmingham. And the overarching theme for that is further and faster. and it's around accelerating the transition to a decarbonized future. So very much in line with Chris Skidmore, the government's net 0 to czar and his recent 0 review where he set out. I think it was 129 different recommendations to government for how they must move further and faster on climate change. and Chris will actually be speaking at our event which is a great curve. It's only the 2nd year that we've put this event on so to attract a keynote speaker as Chris, we're we're obviously delighted. and the agenda's really starting to take shape. You know, we'll have sessions with the CPOs, the charge point operators who've been talking about how collaborating, you know, there'll be sessions with the energy networks where they're talking about how to speed up the connections processes, for example, And then of course, the local authorities that we've already talked about in terms of the leave I fund which is a
Liz Allan [00:19:06]:
£450,000,000
Alec Peachey [00:19:07]:
pot of money. designed to accelerate the rollout of charging infrastructure amongst local councils which given our conversations of days, obviously much needed and a much most welcome because it will help upskill as well. There's a certain proportion of that funding that will be used to upskill the officers bring new EV offices into those councils, which again is needed. so there'll be a session on on that as well with some of the authorities that form part of the pilot project for the Levi Fund. So again, all of those sessions and of course there'll be other speakers and presentations too to supplement that. compliment now, I should say. and it's really about joining the dots between those different stakeholder groups. so that they're all learning from one another, essentially, and again, bringing both public and private sector together to collaborate. So, yeah, we're looking forward to, this year's event and and really trying to set out some, I suppose, practical solutions that people couldn't take away and implement in their day jobs, importantly.
Liz Allan [00:20:07]:
No. It's it sounds like a brilliant a brilliant event, with, you know, actually having an an agenda that matters with people that have got experience and you know, people, you know, especially for example, local authorities can learn best practice from what you know, what are those, what the local authorities have have learned and and actually, because sometimes you don't know who to speak to, do you? Do you know what I mean? So for example, you know, as as a local authority, I'm sure that that, you know, you're you're doing your best, but actually an event like yours provides that ability to kind of go, oh, right. Okay. So that person's had that, you know, this this is work for them. So maybe I can talk to them via linkedin or via via email or something just to kind of, you know, clean a bit more information out of them.
Alec Peachey [00:21:00]:
Yeah, definitely. And we actually, fully found the council places at our event, so, including their accommodation just to ensure that, you know, they get an opportunity come along because going back to our earlier point, you know, it don't have much money. It's very difficult for its Henley type of events, which is the reason why we do fully fund the places. which I think is important. But of course, share learning from other councils, but also importantly learning from, as I say, the other stakeholder groups who they're gonna have to engage with. So you know, the councils will be interested to hear how the ChargePoint operators are collaborating for example because they're likely to be working with a number of these CPOs as they go forward. So they'll need to understand, you know, what are the CPOs saying about their relationship with councils and how can they kind of lean on that and learn from it to help them be able to engage more closely with them and do their jobs more effectively. And again, the same with the council's probably earning from the energy networks will be in attendance and delivering updates because they need to understand how can we speed up the connections processes. And again, the CPOs, that would be relevant to them, which is a big challenge, with, you know, that side of the market because you know, there's a lot of low carbon technologies that are coming on stream and of course, you know, the the system needs to be ready you know, it needs to be, you know, quick enough to provide those connections for 4 more charging infrastructure to be rolled out and so on. and and for that to be done at the pace that's required which is, you know, while we've gone with this sort of overarching theme of further and faster, because I think that is generally what needs to happen. Everybody does need to go that bit further and faster.
Liz Allan [00:22:42]:
So so is the is the event, is it basically a, it's presentations and and kind of rather than an exhibition as it were then. So that is that how it's different to some of the others that we kind of have been on.
Alec Peachey [00:22:58]:
yeah, it is it does differentiate in that way. I mean, there is a tabletop exhibition that runs alongside it, but it's it's quite different to, you know, some of the other bigger kind of exhibitions that we've seen recently it's very much a day of learning as you say presentations and panel sessions and hopefully some interactivity with the audience, the Q and A's and so on. and then we actually have an evening reception which is a bit more of an informal environment where, you know, some of those connections that have been made during the day and those relationships that have been formed you know, they can continue in that more informal environment where we have an after dinner speaker and so on. so yeah, it is quite different to, you know, some other kind of exhibitions that that the the other exhibitions are available.
Liz Allan [00:23:40]:
Well, no. No. No. No.
Alec Peachey [00:23:43]:
Yeah. It's a sorry. Yeah. So I just think that, for for us as transport and energy, you know, our relationship obviously goes beyond the event So, you know, we're we're able to keep talking about what these companies and these organizations and the public sector are doing throughout the year. So we're providing that platform where we're delivering that losing information, basically every day, you know, trying to set the agenda, to help people learn and understand what's happening in the market because I think often a lot is made of educating a business to consume a level, but actually if not, perhaps greater is the need to educate at a B2B level because of course, a lot of this will start at a business level in terms of you think about how to decarbonize a fleet or put charging infrastructure in place and so on. you know, that starts with businesses and eventually goes down to the consumer level when people start to see it happening.
Liz Allan [00:24:38]:
I was and I was gonna say, you know, you were the first place that I saw about Charge UK coming up online because -- and that was -- that happened -- was that the weekend of fully charged south? that sort of like that we we heard about Charge UK setting up, didn't we?
Alec Peachey [00:24:57]:
Yeah, that's right. Yeah, I mean, I've always know, had a very good relationship, you know, with the with many of the ChargePoint operators and, you know, for them and again, they're supporting the event and this idea of putting on a session around CPO collaboration. I think obviously links very closely to the launch of Charge UK. again, you know, a good a good example of, collaboration where, you know, the CPOs are showing that they're greater than the sum of their parts. you know, they're talking with one voice, albeit they may have some differing opinions and politically they may position themselves slightly differently, but I you know, their end goal is the same, although their competitors end goal is we must roll out charging infrastructure, efficiently and effectively and and for it to be reliable, and and ultimately, if they kind of speak together and work together to do that and again, engage importantly engage with those other stakeholders, that I think is the key point really. they they do need to understand what the challenges are that are facing councils and energy networks and, you know, again, the purpose of our brand is really the USB. I suppose he's he's bringing everyone together as much as we can. And it is a huge challenge. Don't get me wrong. It is a huge challenge. but you know, we're we're seeing, you know, some success now in terms of our following in our community. I like to call it in terms of our numbers, you know, that we're that we're hitting and I think that we'll we'll continue to do that in the best way that we can and and that is being seen as a, you know, an unbiased and independent source and a trusted voice, I guess, for information.
Liz Allan [00:26:37]:
Yeah. I think you're totally right. And the the the the articles that I see that are coming through, you know, through the online publication are are really interesting, and it's good to actually get them because you are you are the hub, really, for all of this, aren't you? So you know, I kind of see lots of other newsletters coming through, but yours is kind of quite very specific, you know, and and and interesting to people that are are looking at the energy and the, and, you know, and the transport sectors. So I think you've you've I know I could it's obvious that you've put a hell of a lot of effort into all of this, which is brilliant.
Alec Peachey [00:27:19]:
Yeah, that's very kind of you to silence know, and is there's another great media brands out there, you know, doing a very good job as well on my ad, you know, and again, you know, we've we've collaborated with many of them ourselves, you know, including including fully charged, you know, including, Green Fleet recently as well. So, you know, we collaborate with those other media brands and actually, that that's very important for me because I think if we're talking about collaboration, you know, in terms of the the transport of the sectors, then we have to highlight that we're prepared to do that ourselves. And, I think that, you know, the media does play a very important role in all of this because we're actually seeing, unfortunately, seeing quite a lot of, negative headlines in the mainstream media that are aimed, designed to try and almost put people off some of these low carbon technologies and people driving electric. So it's very important that we do have other media out there that shining a positive light on the news and announcements and so on that taking place in the industry. So I've always taken an approach on any media brand I've ever worked on of that you have to work very much in partnership with the sector or in this case sectors that you represent So you have to be very positive about, what's happening, you know, not just look for what I would call clip bait. you know, you're putting a negative slot on the story. for me, that's not the way to do things. I think that, if you're trying to promote the best work that's taking place, then, as I say, you have to be positive about the, the industry and industries in in our case that that you're representing. And that perhaps is how US. But, you know, we are trying to kind of bring both the sectors together. I suppose to to use a term, it does exactly what it says on the team.
Liz Allan [00:29:06]:
Exactly. Exactly. So why just just looking at the negative side of stuff. And and I've asked other people about this, but why why do you think there is so much negativity or or and I and I know that that kind of, you know, all all you need is a few people, to push a negative agenda. But why why is that? Why why do you think what are they try what what are they trying to achieve when we know that by 2030, for example, for transport, you know, we're not going to be manufacturing you know, any any old, petrol or diesel cars. What what is the point in pushing a negative agenda? Is it to push it push that date back?
Alec Peachey [00:29:55]:
Well, that's a good question. I mean, there there's a lot of I think there's probably some vested interests out there, you know, where you know, particularly in the oil and gas market and so on, you know, but again, I don't wanna be too negative because I think it's about again, trying to work with all these different groups and for me, it's about educating all the time. Yeah. casing with facts and real life examples. and and if you do that in the end, I think that it, you know, it will win for. I mean, it's clearly happening already. You know, we we seeing a massive, uptake, you know, and the numbers speak for themselves. So, for me, I think it's about you know, just keep educating in the right way, being positive, about the the good work that's happening. and eventually, you know, that that will break through and of course, there's a lot of myths out there, you know, and it does only take, as you say, a handful of people for those myths to to get amplified. but, you know, professionals on the clean energy and transport space have to just keep combatting it and, you know, not not in my view not get too embroiled with the kind of negativity and the, you know, getting into rounds and so on. I think, you know, just let the facts speak for themselves and just just keep, you know, playing with a straight back if you like. that that that to me, I think if you do that, then eventually hopefully, you know, it it it strikes through, to the mainstream. And I think it has definitely started to get through to the mainstream. but of course, you know, some of these negative headlines, they do have an impact but all we can do is keep you know, backing them away as much as we can and educating in the right way. because again, I've got back to what I was talking about earlier, the economic opportunities as well for the country. and, of course, the health care benefits, they're massive. So it's not an opportunity that we wanna be missing. We need to be honest.
Liz Allan [00:31:51]:
No. No. Exactly. you know, it's funny, sort of just, I was talking to somebody on on Friday at a dealership, so So I we we were we were very close to actually, choosing an EV, but we're we're having to have some different different thoughts about the type of car we want. And but anyway, so I went to I went to this dealership and and another well, actually, my you know what? My husband took a car out for an electric, an EV out for a test drive because he'd never done it. and we were talking to to the the sales guy, and he was talking about driving, I can't remember. It was somewhere somewhere to Devon, we're in Redding. He was wanting to drive to Devon, and actually, even he was concerned about Ranger anxiety, and I'm just like, you know, when you just want to put your head in your hands go, why are you why are you worried about range anxiety? When you work for a dealership, And then all of a sudden, I came away and it just dawned on me, and I just thought, you've been listening to all these negative headlines. And because of the fact that you're pushing still pushing kind of petrol and diesel cars. And there's less of an incentive for you to push EVs nobody, nobody at the dealership is really educating you to understand that what, you know, what is real out there. and and actually the the manager rang me just to kind of say is there anything we could have done different blah blah blah And and I, I basically fed back to them, fed back to this guy, and I just said, you know, look, if I were you, I would learn you, all of you, learn more about electric vehicles, because this is the future, and actually you didn't there was a there was definitely a lack of knowledge there. It wasn't that the guy wasn't a nice guy. It was just the fact that, you know, for somebody like that to say about range anxiety. Thank god, me and my husband, we know more, you know, we know more than he knew, just because my husband's listening to the podcast, you know, to me, and we've talked about it, etcetera, etcetera. But but yeah, you if dealerships are doing that, for example, that and that's only a tiny, tiny part, isn't it? Really? You know, it just it just made me think, that's really sad. Well, I had to give that feedback, you know.
Alec Peachey [00:34:10]:
No. Exactly. Yeah. And it's fair feedback and hopefully they'll they'll listen and, you know, that that might mean start to to chime through and you know that the experience for the next customer might be different to at least make it kind of a bit more of a balance conversation when they're giving the options to the, to the consumer. but, yeah, again, it goes back to my kind of education point really, you know, in the sense that it is gonna be done, you know, this education side of things has gotta continue, you know, there is still a long way to go, you know, and we've gotta keep conveying some of these sort of negative rhetoric with positive stories Absolutely. Positive agenda from outside. And I do believe that there's a lot of really great people in both these industries who are working very hard to do that Yeah. And of course there are some good media brands as I mentioned, you know, not not just us, there's others as well. And if we can all kind of join falsies to keep pushing back and keep pushing the, you know, the positive stories about the good work happening in the clean energy and transport space, then, Eventually, that will combat some of this and hopefully we'll start to see those headlines get into the mainstream and then people talking about it in the right way.
Liz Allan [00:35:24]:
Exactly. And and do you know what? it would be wonderful if they started listening to the positive things because like you say, there are plenty of people I buzz out there who are really on board with this, aren't we? You know, so just listen to us, please.
Alec Peachey [00:35:39]:
Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. We just gotta gotta just keep trying, you know, as a collective, again, exact collaboration point, isn't it? You know, there's a lot of really great people doing a lot of great work and just got keep pushing and pushing those stories out, pushing that content out and know, bringing everyone together, really, it is about trying to get everybody on the on the same page. Yeah. And and so far, you know, central government seem to be back in it and they've stuck with the deadline, you know, there's the zed the zed mandate coming in and so on. So, you know, this is happening.
Liz Allan [00:36:11]:
Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. And and by the way, so I I was going to go back to I know you briefly mentioned Quentin Wilson earlier, didn't you? but you just, I know you've been working a little bit with him anyway, haven't you, with regards to his his kind of fair charge campaign. So do you want to just explain a little bit about that?
Alec Peachey [00:36:31]:
Yeah. That's right. Yeah. I mean, obviously, Quincy one of quite a few members on our, editorial advisory board and as you mentioned, he's got this, this fair charge campaign where he's, campaigning to try and get the rates of VAT that people pay on the public charging network to be comparable with what they pay, for home charging, which is obviously, a 5% rate. And at the moment, people are paying 20% VAT on a public charging net
Liz Allan [00:37:00]:
so. Yeah.
Alec Peachey [00:37:01]:
Yeah. Obviously, an important piece of work that that Quintin and others that are part of that campaign are doing, because again, it's about trying to make illegal ownership, I suppose, more socially equitable, you know, again, to try and meet for it to reach more of the masses. I think it is becoming more affordable, but of course, if if this piece of work and this campaign hopefully, you know, gets the positive outlook that we're all we're all hoping then of course that that will will make a difference and yeah, you know, as I say Quentin and and these colleagues on that campaign are doing a fantastic job of trying to get government to listen but yeah, we'll we'll we'll see where that goes. So we are supposed to stay tuned across you know, our our channels and and I'm sure others to see how that plays out. But, yeah, again, another good example of collaboration and you know, trying to keep these positive stories, getting out there to try and make that kind of a lot of way so that practical difference on the ground.
Liz Allan [00:38:03]:
He's definitely he's definitely pushing it pushing it on in a in a positive way anyways and he, you know, and and obviously working with you and and and and you've been able to work with everybody else and getting the the event out up and running and it just it all seems just really, really good for for the UK, what what, you know, like I say, what you're doing and what everybody else is doing. So what would you what how would you like to see things work out in in future? I know you've kind of said some of this anyway, but but what what are your plans for the future? How would you like to see, you know, your, you know, where would you like to see transport and energy? Where would you like to see as in, you know, the publication, where would you like to see the collaboration moving? what are your thoughts?
Alec Peachey [00:38:55]:
well, again, a good question. I think, from a publication point of view, I think you know, we've kind of obviously gone, grown organically, you know, in the sort of turn a bit years. We've been running the brand and I think that that's an approach that we took to kind of grow organically, follow-up by follower and subscribe by subscriber and our community keeps growing, I suppose. I use this analogy recently, but in terms of the amount of news and announcements that we get at the beginning when we launch compared to what we get now, you know, it's like comparing night and day. So if that's any borough to go on in terms of the progress that's being made, then, that can only be a good thing because you're just seeing more and more stories. more and more announcements on a literally daily basis, which are all positive, you know, they're all about the rollout, trying the infrastructure and flint electrifying and, you know, even hydrogen which is probably, you know, gonna have a role as well and we're we're technology agnostic as well. I should add that which I think is important. Again, you know, there's going to be different technologies that as long as they're 0 emission, they're all gonna they're all gonna complement each other. don't think we should be sort of trying to make it a competition. So, I think that, you know, as transport and energy progresses, I suppose we're gonna try and we'll be sort of growing arms and legs, I guess, as a brand in terms of the different you know, different offerings and different the sort of products, I suppose, that we launch around the brand, but again, they'll all be at the heart of them. We'll all set this kind of education piece it, you know, has to be about education. and being seen as sort of an unbiased, you know, voice really in the sector.
Liz Allan [00:40:28]:
Yeah. Well, you you definitely get in there. And what about the the the sectors themselves? Where where would you like the the sectors to be in kind of like by 2030, for example.
Alec Peachey [00:40:40]:
Well, I mean, in a night, they'll, hopefully, they'll all be speaking to each other a bit more regularly. and, you know, you'll see some of these different stakeholder groups actually working together more closely. but I think, you know, within the next sort of 2 to 3 years, hopefully you'll see the, you know, the silos that exist within a silo starting to break down more, you know, and and think that's probably the first sort of initial step, but you'll start to see that work with the different stakeholder groups, such as the networks and the authorities and the the ChargePoint operators and others, you know, you'll start to see that work taking shape and and being led, I think, more at a government level and by other trade groups and organizations and indeed the private sector trying to push the agenda and trying to make it happen, you know, it's about it's too easy to put things in the, you know, it's the in the too difficult to do column. yeah.
Liz Allan [00:41:39]:
can't do it. Can we? You know?
Alec Peachey [00:41:41]:
We can't do that. It's too easy to do that. It's too easy to say. It's too difficult to do. I'm not gonna bother. You know, for for this to happen, people have gotta just gotta make it happen, you know, they've gotta, in some cases, they've gotta stop talking about it and they they've gotta get on with it to be quite honest. There's not long to go. so hopefully we'll see this collaboration, driving forward, a much greater array and if there's transport and energy.com, you know, we can make a little bit of a difference in trying to split things up, then of course we will do what we can but we are, you know, we are a small dot on the landscape but I go back to my early point. There's many, many small dots on the landscape and if they all join full smell come together, then it makes that collective difference, and that's how we'll achieve next
Liz Allan [00:42:26]:
0. Absolutely. Absolutely. I'll let you've been an absolute star. I'm just gonna so you just you've literally just said your website is transportenergy.com. So get looking on there, everybody, and and actually So the further further fast, further and faster, is the is the forum, isn't it? So that's the 16th November this year. So so and I'm just looking at your website now and there's a if people actually do a search for transport and energy forum, and I'll share I'll share this link as well, and you can actually sign up for it as what you can sign up for it and you can look at the the actual forum itself by clicking on the link on there. Is that alright? That bit?
Alec Peachey [00:43:10]:
Yeah, right. Thank you.
Liz Allan [00:43:11]:
Yeah. Not a problem. Like I say, just think it's worth worth as many people as possible attending. So so yeah, get get yourselves get yourselves signed up for it for sure. But listen, is there any other place that you'd like if people want to contact you? Is there any other place that they can get ahold of you on?
Alec Peachey [00:43:30]:
Yeah. Just on my email which is just [email protected]. so if anyone wants to drop me a line or linkedin as well, you'll find me on there. if she's just searching me or if you want to follow transport so it's transport and then a plus single energy. and yeah, follow us on there which is obviously we're building up quite a big following nearly 12,000 followers on LinkedIn now and obviously post the majority of our content on there. So that's a good place to see what we're doing.
Liz Allan [00:44:01]:
yeah, there's lots there's lots of stuff that you're putting on there because that comes up in my in my feed. So so yeah, Alex has been really interesting talking to you really has. you're doing a great job. Just keep doing that great job, my love. And yeah, thank you. Thank you for joining me.
Alec Peachey [00:44:23]:
We will keep going. Yeah. You know, it's as I say, it's not an easy task, but if we all put if we all say everything's too difficult, then you know, we don't make a change. So, you know, people have to have to take things on head on sometimes to, you know, if they're believing something strong enough, then, you know, go go for it. It's my message, really. You know, just keep trying it. because, eventually, you know, by working together, we we we can make a difference in my opinion.
Liz Allan [00:44:50]:
Yeah. like I say, you're speaking from exactly the same him sheet as me. So thank you. Perfect. On that note, I'm going to say thank you again and I'm going to say to everybody else, I'm going to see you next time. Thanks for joining. Bye.