In our end of season round table episode my three guests each discuss a topic of interest. The topics under discussion are: How the approach to rural EV infrastructure is changing The second hand market (how experiences may differ and ways to attract and better support new drivers that come in through this channel) Will increased range, new charging solutions, and familiarity with EVs lead to lower demand for en-route charging? If so how will this affect CPOs? And I will be asking the question: ...
Jun 23, 2025•54 min•Season 13Ep. 260
In this episode Gary answers some listener question on topics as diverse as: The ZEV Mandate The difference between kW and Kwh Price parity between BEV and ICE Charging past 80% on a rapid charger Why is public charging so expensive We also discuss a semi-philosophical question : Why do some public chargers want you to plug in before authenticating for payment and others want you to authenticate for payment before plugging in? This season of the podcast is sponsored by Zapmap , the free to downl...
Jun 16, 2025•31 min•Season 13Ep. 259
In this episode of EV Musings, Gary Comerford explores the concept of roaming in electric vehicle charging, discussing its definition, importance, and the current landscape of roaming operators in the UK. He highlights the benefits and challenges of roaming services, including interoperability, user convenience, and data privacy concerns. The conversation also touches on the future of roaming and its potential impact on electric vehicle adoption and green transportation goals. We also hear from ...
Jun 09, 2025•21 min•Season 13Ep. 258
In this episode of EV Musings, Gary interviews John Fairley, Managing Director of AW Energy, to explore how the company offers ultra-rapid EV charging at just 39p/kWh—significantly below the UK average. The discussion covers AW Energy’s history, its integration of renewable energy with EV infrastructure, and the Checkley Wood site, where a wind turbine directly powers EV chargers. They also discuss the scalability of this model, future plans for commercial and HGV charging, and the broader impli...
Jun 02, 2025•47 min•Season 13Ep. 257
In this episode of EV Musings, Gary explores the electrification of vehicle fleets, focusing on the challenges and innovations in transitioning from combustion to electric vehicles. The discussion includes insights from Russ Boulton of Ayvens and Roel Visser of Milence, covering both light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Key topics include depot vs. home charging, driver education, reimbursement models, infrastructure limitations, and the future of megawatt charging f...
May 26, 2025•1 hr•Season 13Ep. 256
In this episode, Gary looks at the newest issue hitting EV drivers and Charge Point Operators: Cable theft. What is it and how can we stop it? 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: How Helsinki ditched coal in 2 years - Cool thing 190 - The Induction Charging Episode - The EV Musings Podcast Episode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts...
May 19, 2025•15 min•Season 13Ep. 255
In this episode of EV Musings, host Gary dives deep into the concept of "plug and charge" for electric vehicles. He explains how Tesla has mastered this seamless charging experience and why other networks are struggling to implement it. Gary discusses the technical, operational, and logistical challenges that prevent widespread adoption, including the need for standardized hardware, software, payment systems, and backend support. He also highlights the efforts of companies like Hubject in creati...
May 12, 2025•30 min•Season 13Ep. 254
In this episode of EV Musings, host Gary explores the misconception that faster rapid chargers automatically result in faster EV charging. He discusses how various factors—such as vehicle compatibility, battery temperature, and charger infrastructure—impact actual charging speeds. Guest Russ Boulton shares real-world insights about charger misuse, where EV drivers often occupy ultra-rapid chargers their vehicles can't fully utilize. The episode emphasizes the importance of education, app optimiz...
May 05, 2025•43 min•Season 13Ep. 253
This episode of EV Musings explores the practicalities and economics of living with an electric vehicle without access to a home charger. Gary chats with Bob Murphy, a technical executive in EV infrastructure, who shares his experience of driving a Kia Soul EV while relying solely on public and workplace charging. Over a month, Bob tracked his charging habits and costs, revealing that with thoughtful planning and strategic use of available infrastructure, it's possible to keep EV running costs c...
Apr 28, 2025•31 min•Season 13Ep. 252
In this episode of EV Musings, host Gary explores the challenges and solutions for electric vehicle owners who do not have access to home charging. This is the first part of a two-part series, focusing on the various charging options available, their pros and cons, and cost implications. Gary discusses public charging, street charging, shared charging, and innovative solutions for apartment dwellers and those without off-street parking. He also highlights the importance of adapting habits and le...
Apr 21, 2025•24 min•Season 13Ep. 251
In episode 250 of the show, Gary hosts a mid-season roundtable with guests Charlie Gilbert from Field Dynamics and Liz Allan from Full Circle Continuous Improvement. The discussion centres on three key areas: strategic EV charger placement, the EV charging customer experience, and public charging speeds. Charlie emphasises the importance of data-driven decisions in charger deployment, especially in rural areas, while Liz highlights the need for a seamless and reliable customer experience. The pa...
Apr 14, 2025•57 min•Season 13Ep. 250
In this episode of EV Musings, Gary interviews Andreas Atkins, the UK and Ireland country manager for Ionity, about the company's charging network expansion, pricing strategy, and accessibility. The discussion covers Ionity's rollout plans, the challenges of site selection and power availability, and the controversy surrounding their pricing model. The episode also explores Ionity's partnerships with Village Hotels and their approach to urban charging hubs. Guest Details: Andreas Atkins - Andrea...
Apr 07, 2025•50 min•Season 13Ep. 249
This episode of the podcast explores the rising cost of electric vehicle insurance premiums. Gary is joined by insurance expert Steven Williams to discuss the factors influencing these increases, including inflation, repair costs, and the evolving nature of vehicle technology. They also examine the role of telematics, the impact of software updates on insurance pricing, and potential innovations in EV insurance. The conversation highlights the challenges insurers face in pricing EV policies accu...
Mar 31, 2025•40 min•Season 13Ep. 248
This episode of EV Musings explores the reasons why some electric vehicle owners switch back to internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. Gary discusses misconceptions about EVs, challenges with charging infrastructure, and external factors that may force a return to petrol or diesel vehicles. He emphasizes the importance of education in helping new EV owners adapt to the differences between EVs and ICE cars. The episode also highlights research showing that 97% of EV owners remain satisfied with t...
Mar 24, 2025•21 min•Season 11Ep. 247
In this episode, Gary chats with reviewer Alex Lowe about what's out in the market in terms of new and cheap EVS. They cover all the NCAP market segments and identifies what's recently been released alongside what's coming in the next few months. So if you're looking for a new electric vehicle this is the episode to listen to. Guest Details: Alex Lowe: @alex.theinterface on Instagram Alex's Website Alex on YouTube This season of the podcast is sponsored by Zapmap , the free to download app that ...
Mar 17, 2025•48 min•Season 11Ep. 246
This episode of EV Musings explores the concept of renting electric vehicles (EVs) instead of owning them. The discussion covers short-term rental services like Zimble, which offers hourly EV rentals with home delivery, and traditional rental companies like Europcar, which provide both short-term and long-term EV rental options. The episode highlights the benefits of EV rentals, including cost savings, reduced environmental impact, and the opportunity for potential EV buyers to experience drivin...
Mar 10, 2025•58 min•Season 13Ep. 245
This episode of EV Musings explores the evolution of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Host Gary reunites with Mark McCall, chair of the EV Association of Northern Ireland, to discuss the progress made since their last conversation in 2023. They examine the state of EV adoption, improvements in the charging network, government involvement, and challenges still facing EV drivers in the region. While significant strides have been made, Northern Ireland still lags behind...
Mar 03, 2025•39 min•Season 13Ep. 244
This episode of EV Musings explores the concept of battery swapping for electric vehicles. I discuss how battery swapping could address one of the biggest concerns of EV skeptics—charging time. The episode examines the benefits of battery swapping, such as speed and flexibility, while also highlighting the challenges, including infrastructure requirements and limited manufacturer adoption. The discussion focuses on NIO, a Chinese EV company leading the way in battery swapping technology, and con...
Feb 24, 2025•14 min•Season 13Ep. 243
In this episode of EV Musings, host Gary explores the BYD Dolphin, an affordable electric vehicle with a strong feature set. Guest Adrian Bond, an experienced EV owner, shares his insights after six months of ownership. They discuss the Dolphin’s range, charging capabilities, software updates, and practical usability. Adrian highlights the car’s strengths, such as its spacious interior and vehicle-to-load functionality, while also pointing out minor drawbacks like the lack of a heated steering w...
Feb 17, 2025•37 min•Season 13Ep. 242
This episode of EV Musings features an in-depth conversation with Vicky Edmonds, the new CEO of EVA England. The discussion covers the organization's role in advocating for EV drivers, the challenges of EV adoption, and the policies needed to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. Topics include the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, the cost of charging, public misinformation about EVs, and the importance of reducing the upfront cost of EVs. Vicky also shares her personal experiences...
Feb 10, 2025•48 min•Season 13Ep. 241
In Episode 240 Gary chats with jess Shanhan, Alec peachey and Shayne Ress on various different topics Jess leads a discussion on misinformation and the role of journalists. Shayne talks about the economics of public charging as a CPO. Alec talks about the role of councils in the EV infrastructure roll out. Gary talks about whether we're actually getting the charge speeds we should be from all this new high-powered kit that's being installed. What did you think about the guests and the topics und...
Dec 30, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 12Ep. 240
In the final non-round-table episode of the season, we look at the new government and what they can do. With each guest this season I've asked them the same question "With the change in government what can the new government do to increase the uptake of EVs?" I've collated all the answers and summarised the key themes. What I've also done is asked Matt Adams from the REA to comment on the likelihood of things happening and to discuss what the REA are currently doing in the governmental realm. Ma...
Dec 23, 2024•31 min•Season 12Ep. 239
This episode of EV Musings explores the history, evolution, and current state of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) in the UK, with a focus on its implications for electric vehicles. The discussion covers the origins of VED, its transition from engine size-based taxation to emissions-based bands, and the recent changes introduced in the 2024 budget. This episode also examines how these changes impact EV owners, particularly regarding costs for vehicles under and over £40,000. Additionally, it highlights ...
Dec 16, 2024•17 min•Season 12Ep. 238
This episode of EV Musings reflects on five years of podcasting about electric vehicles and renewable energy. Gary discusses the evolution of EVs, charging infrastructure, and public perception since 2019. Topics include the growth of Chargepoint Operators (CPOs), the challenges of misinformation, and the increasing integration of EVs with renewable energy systems. Gary also highlights key milestones in EV development, such as the rise of Tesla, the BMW i3, and the Korean EV market. Guest Detail...
Dec 09, 2024•35 min•Season 12Ep. 237
This episode of EV Musings dives into the topic of electric vehicle (EV) fires, addressing common misconceptions and providing detailed insights into the causes, risks, and methods of extinguishing such fires. The discussion highlights several high-profile incidents, such as the Fremantle Highway and Luton Airport fires, which were falsely attributed to EVs. The episode also explores the chemistry behind battery fires, the likelihood of EV fires compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) fires...
Dec 02, 2024•23 min•Season 12Ep. 236
This episode of EV Musings delves into the challenges and opportunities surrounding electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the United States. Despite being the birthplace of Tesla, the U.S. lags behind other countries like Norway in terms of EV uptake. The discussion covers the complexities of the U.S. charging infrastructure, the dominance of Tesla, the role of politics in EV adoption, and the importance of education for consumers. It touches on the potential impact of Chinese EVs on the U.S. market...
Nov 25, 2024•38 min•Season 12Ep. 235
In this episode of EV Musings, Gary discusses the feasibility of long-distance electric vehicle journeys, debunking common myths about range anxiety and charging infrastructure. Using personal experiences from a London to Geneva rally, Gary highlights the ease of long-distance EV travel, comparing it to fossil fuel vehicles. He also shares tips for first-time EV drivers and emphasizes the importance of education in avoiding common pitfalls. The episode concludes with insights from Julie Ramsey, ...
Nov 18, 2024•24 min•Season 12Ep. 234
Zapmap, a key player in the electric vehicle ecosystem, is the focus of this episode of EV Musings. Host Gary discusses the evolution of ZapMap, its role in simplifying public charging, and the challenges it faces as the EV market grows. The episode features Ed Walsh, Head of Product at Zapmap, who provides insights into the app's development, its future roadmap, and how it balances user needs with business goals. The episode also touches on ZapMap's collaboration with Field Dynamics to improve ...
Nov 11, 2024•46 min•Season 12Ep. 233
In this episode of EV Musings, Gary explores the electric vehicle market in Australia. He is joined by Sarah Aubrey, an electrification advocate, to discuss the current state of EV adoption in the country. They touch on the impact of government policies, the growth of EV sales, and the challenges faced by the Australian market. The conversation highlights the recent shift in government incentives and the dominance of Tesla in the market. Guest Details : Sarah Aubrey is one of Australia’s most re...
Nov 04, 2024•35 min•Season 12Ep. 232
In this episode of EV Musings, we focus on the topic of battery health in second-hand electric vehicles (EVs). Gary discusses the common misconceptions about EV batteries, particularly the comparison between smartphone batteries and EV batteries. He explains how battery degradation works, the importance of battery management systems, and how to assess the health of a second-hand EV battery. The episode also highlights tools and services available for evaluating battery health, such as Avalu and ...
Oct 28, 2024•23 min•Season 12Ep. 231
