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S03E10: Neill Emmett – Are Motorway Service Stations the Key to EV Success?

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S03E10: Neill Emmett – Are Motorway Service Stations the Key to EV Success?

About the episode:

Toby speaks with Neill Emmett, Global Marketing & Brand Director at Gilbarco Veeder-Root, a company with a 160-year legacy in refueling and energy solutions. Now leading the EV transition, Gilbarco’s Konect provides turnkey solutions for fuel retailers adapting to electric charging. Neill shares insights on seamless EV infrastructure, retail profitability, and the future of fuel stations in the electrified world.

In the episode, Toby and Neill discuss Konect’s role in EV transition, how to ensure quality service in EV charging, competition in the EV charging landscape, monetising the EV charging experience, adapting to the EV Transition, how Konect expands beyond fuel sites, and how best to address myths and misunderstandings about EVs.

Guest Name: Neill Emmett

Neill Emmett is the Global Marketing and Brand Director at Konect, a subsidiary of Gilbarco Veeder-Root. He has over 25 years of experience leading award-winning campaigns in vehicle electrification and financial services. Known for strategic expertise and team empowerment, he joined Konect to redefine EV charging infrastructure delivery. 

Konect provides a turnkey electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure ecosystem, enabling seamless integration with existing fuelling, payment, and service offerings. 

Transcription:

Links:

Konect Product

Konect Solution

I hope you enjoy the show and if you have any comments or suggestions, please write to me at: [email protected].

Wicked Problems is powered by Adaptavis®

Adaptavis is a Business Performance Management and Transformation consultancy aimed at forward-thinking leaders, based in London UK. The company specialises in helping organisations to enhance operational efficiency, drive business growth, and navigate complex transformations. From strategy to execution, they focus on providing insights and practical solutions to improve the overall performance of businesses, ensuring they can adapt to changing market conditions and achieve sustainable success. Toby Corballis is a Partner at Adaptavis.

You can find out more about their work by visiting: www.adaptavis.com

Enjoy,

Toby Corballis

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S03E09: Tom Hurst: Will EV Charging Keep Up? The Future of Ultra-Rapid Charging

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S03E09: Tom Hurst: Will EV Charging Keep Up? The Future of Ultra-Rapid Charging

About the episode:

Toby welcomes Tom Hurst from FastNed, a leading company in ultra-rapid EV charging across Europe. Fastned operates in nine countries with over 2,000 chargers at 340+ locations, providing high-speed, accessible charging solutions. Tom shares his journey from oil and gas to sustainable energy, discusses the evolution of EV infrastructure, and tackles industry myths, highlighting Fastned’s commitment to efficiency, accessibility, and future expansion.

Guest Name: Tom Hurst

Tom Hurst, UK Country Director: Tom joined Fastned in late 2017 and is currently its UK Country Manager, where he is responsible for driving the roll-out of the UK’s best-rated charging network. Prior to getting involved in the e-mobility adventure, he spent six years as a consultant with Arup, advising cities, governments, NGOs, and corporations on their energy and climate change strategy. He has a Masters in Mechanical Engineering, an MSc in Sustainable Energy, an MBA and is a Chartered Environmentalist. 

Transcript:

Links:

FastNed (International site)

FastNed UK (UK site)

I hope you enjoy the show and if you have any comments or suggestions, please write to me at: [email protected].

Wicked Problems is powered by Adaptavis®

Adaptavis is a Business Performance Management and Transformation consultancy aimed at forward-thinking leaders, based in London UK. The company specialises in helping organisations to enhance operational efficiency, drive business growth, and navigate complex transformations. From strategy to execution, they focus on providing insights and practical solutions to improve the overall performance of businesses, ensuring they can adapt to changing market conditions and achieve sustainable success. Toby Corballis is a Partner at Adaptavis.

You can find out more about their work by visiting: www.adaptavis.com

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Toby Corballis

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S03E08: George Symes: 🚨 Can Emergency Vehicles Go Electric? 🚓⚡

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S03E08: George Symes: 🚨 Can Emergency Vehicles Go Electric? 🚓⚡

About the episode:

Toby speaks with George Symes, founder of Evaluate Strategy, a consultancy specialising in decarbonising complex fleets. With over 15 years in transport and infrastructure consulting, George shares insights on the challenges and opportunities of electrifying emergency services, rental fleets, and logistics companies. From the UK’s ZEV mandate to fleet telematics, this discussion dives into the future of sustainable mobility.

Guest Name: George Symes

George runs EValuate Strategy Consulting, helping complex fleets to decarbonise. These fleets include emergency services, and shared mobility operators such as car rental, car sharing and e-scooter operators. Typically, they are characterised by unpredictable and “spikey” demand, critical services and a “many-to-one” relationship between the drivers and vehicles. 

George has over 15 years strategy consulting experience in the infrastructure, automotive and mobility industries, with experience across fleet and charging infrastructure in the UK, mainland Europe and Australia. He has diverse experience within new mobility in both advisory and operational roles: with Neuron Mobility (e-scooter and e-bike sharing), Zipcar (car and van sharing) and Avis. 

Prior to EValuate he worked at GrainCorp and KPMG, focused on infrastructure, transport and energy clients. 

Transcript:

Links:

Evaluate Strategy

Follow George on LinkedIn

I hope you enjoy the show and if you have any comments or suggestions, please write to me at: [email protected].

Wicked Problems is powered by Adaptavis®

Adaptavis is a Business Performance Management and Transformation consultancy aimed at forward-thinking leaders, based in London UK. The company specialises in helping organisations to enhance operational efficiency, drive business growth, and navigate complex transformations. From strategy to execution, they focus on providing insights and practical solutions to improve the overall performance of businesses, ensuring they can adapt to changing market conditions and achieve sustainable success. Toby Corballis is a Partner at Adaptavis.

You can find out more about their work by visiting: www.adaptavis.com

Enjoy,

Toby Corballis

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S03E07: Matthew Lumsden – How Connected Energy is Giving EV Batteries a Second Life

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S03E07: Matthew Lumsden – How Connected Energy is Giving EV Batteries a Second Life

About the episode:

Matthew Lumsden, CEO of Connected Energy, discusses how his company repurposes second-life EV batteries for energy storage solutions. Connected Energy, founded in 2013, emerged from an EV charging project that highlighted grid limitations. By working with Renault and securing investments from Volvo Energy and Caterpillar, they’ve created an innovative approach to sustainable energy. Matthew shares insights into battery sourcing, quality control, and the future of energy storage.

Guest Name: Matthew Lumsden


Matthew has worked in the renewable energy and clean tech sector since 2000 when he joined energy consultancy, TNEI. He then established an electric vehicle related consultancy in 2009 where he was responsible for delivering several major EV trails, charging infrastructure roll outs, V2G trials and strategies for major industry players.  

Connected Energy was born out of the insight and knowledge gained in the EV industry and the challenges facing OEMs around electric vehicle batteries. Combining the worlds of energy storage, electric vehicles and the circular economy, the company commercialised its innovative E-STOR system which is now in operation at businesses across the UK and in Europe. The company is now scaling up in response to the growing availability of second life EV batteries and is developing utility scale battery energy storage sites. 

Transcript

Links:

Connected Energy

I hope you enjoy the show and if you have any comments or suggestions, please write to me at: [email protected].

Wicked Problems is powered by Adaptavis®

Adaptavis is a Business Performance Management and Transformation consultancy aimed at forward-thinking leaders, based in London UK. The company specialises in helping organisations to enhance operational efficiency, drive business growth, and navigate complex transformations. From strategy to execution, they focus on providing insights and practical solutions to improve the overall performance of businesses, ensuring they can adapt to changing market conditions and achieve sustainable success. Toby Corballis is a Partner at Adaptavis.

You can find out more about their work by visiting: www.adaptavis.com

Enjoy,

Toby Corballis

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S3 E6: Linda Grave – What’s Next for Electric Vehicles?

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S3 E6: Linda Grave – What’s Next for Electric Vehicles?

About the episode:

Linda Grave, founder of EV Driver, discusses her journey from renewable energy to pioneering the EV charging sector. She shares how she built and sold a successful charging network, her passion for user-friendly EV solutions, and the importance of interoperability. Linda offers insights on industry challenges, innovations like battery storage and solar PV integration, and promotes her upcoming EVEX 2025 event, aimed at showcasing the future of electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies.

Guest Name: Linda Grave


Linda Grave is an entrepreneur who has built successful companies within the renewable energy and EV sectors over an 18-year period, with a wealth of experience in building successful EV Charging networks. Linda is focused on business growth and development within the EV sector.

In 2016 she started to build the EV Driver network of public charge points in the East of England, with an emphasis on providing an easy access PAYG network for all to use. She sold the network in January 2020 to allow her to focus on helping others create the best user-friendly EV charging solutions. Linda is a pioneer in EV roaming and interoperability in the UK, passionate about ensuring the barriers to access are lowered and that customer satisfaction is paramount.

Links:

EV Driver

Linda on LinkedIn

EVEX 2025 (Save the date)

Highlights from EVEX 2024

Recognised as one of the Top Women in EV 2022

Awarded one of the prestigious EV Champion awards 2022 by Green Fleet

I hope you enjoy the show and if you have any comments or suggestions, please write to me at: [email protected].

Transcript

Wicked Problems is powered by Adaptavis®

Adaptavis is a Business Performance Management and Transformation consultancy aimed at forward-thinking leaders, based in London UK. The company specialises in helping organisations to enhance operational efficiency, drive business growth, and navigate complex transformations. From strategy to execution, they focus on providing insights and practical solutions to improve the overall performance of businesses, ensuring they can adapt to changing market conditions and achieve sustainable success. Toby Corballis is a Partner at Adaptavis.

You can find out more about their work by visiting: www.adaptavis.com

Enjoy,

Toby Corballis

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S3 E5: Niall Riddell – Why EV Drivers Hate Public Charging (And How PAUA is Solving It!)

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S3 E5: Niall Riddell – Why EV Drivers Hate Public Charging (And How PAUA is Solving It!)

About the episode:

Niall Riddell, founder of PAUA, discusses how their platform is transforming the EV charging experience for all EV drivers. PAUA streamlines payments across public, home, and workplace charging, reducing complexity and admin for businesses. Niall also shares insights on the challenges of fragmented charging networks, the importance of seamless payments, and innovations like ISO 15118 that aim to simplify the future of EV adoption.

Guest Name: Niall Riddell


Niall Riddell is the CEO and co-founder of Paua, a technology start-up based in London that simplifies electric vehicle (EV) fleet charging and payments for businesses. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, Niall leads Paua in delivering solutions that address challenges such as reimbursement for home charging, fraud detection, and integrating diverse charging networks including shared depots. He brings expertise in fleet electrification and a passion for enabling businesses to transition to cleaner transport. Niall’s entrepreneurial journey reflects his commitment to advancing EV technology while making it accessible and efficient for companies across the UK. He is the winner of the EVIES 2024 special recognition award, number 55 in the Green Fleet top 100 and worked previously at SSE as Smart Systems Director and EDF Energy as Head of Electric Vehicles. He holds an MBA from City University and an MEng from Newcastle University.  

Links:

PAUA

ElectricVehicles.tv

I hope you enjoy the show and if you have any comments or suggestions, please write to me at: [email protected].

Transcript:

Links to companies mentioned in this episode:

Fuuse App Shell Recharge SolutionsCharge Place Scotland
SpiriiBP PulseInstavolt
DriivzIndraGRIDSERVE
AmpecoMotor Fuel Group (MFG)Osprey
GreenfluxANBWIonity
SWARCOmyenergiFastned
HubjectPod PointMonta
PlugMeInMercedes eActros 600 eTruckHive (EV)
ElectraDAF XB Electric eTruckGreen Fleet
(Green Fleet EV Rally Cymru 2024)

Wicked Problems is powered by Adaptavis®

Adaptavis is a Business Performance Management and Transformation consultancy aimed at forward-thinking leaders, based in London UK. The company specialises in helping organisations to enhance operational efficiency, drive business growth, and navigate complex transformations. From strategy to execution, they focus on providing insights and practical solutions to improve the overall performance of businesses, ensuring they can adapt to changing market conditions and achieve sustainable success. Toby Corballis is a Partner at Adaptavis.

You can find out more about their work by visiting: www.adaptavis.com

Enjoy,

Toby Corballis

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S3 E4: Dan Caesar – Clearing the Air: Combating Misinformation in Clean Energy

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S3 E4: Dan Caesar – Clearing the Air: Combating Misinformation in Clean Energy

About the episode:

We dive into the critical role of truth and clarity in the world of clean energy and technology. Join us as we explore the myths and misconceptions surrounding electric vehicles, renewable energy, and sustainable living. Dan Caesar, CTO and presenter of the Fully Charged Show discusses how misinformation impacts progress and what we can do to empower communities with facts, inspire action, and drive change. Whether you’re an EV enthusiast or simply curious about the truth behind the headlines, this episode is packed with insights to charge your mind and fuel your understanding.

Guest Name: Dan Caesar

After more than two decades of advocating for ‘cleaner technologies’, Dan has driven electric since 2015 and has led the Fully Charged Show for 7 years.

A passionate promoter of electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes, and home energy tech too, Dan has played a transformational role in developing the Fully Charged Show on YouTube, pioneering its exhibition programme, expanding its ‘Everything Electric’ offering and recently launching Electric Vehicles UK.

Passionate about products that can tackle air pollution and climate breakdown, Dan is practical, that it is in fact, better tech that will inspire the most change.

Dan has been a champion of cleaner technologies for over two decades. Since 2015, he’s driven electric and, for the last seven years, led the Fully Charged Show.

As CEO and presenter of Fully Charged, the world’s no.1 clean energy and electric vehicle show, Dan’s mission is to inform, educate, and inspire millions globally on the benefits of cleaner energy and transport.

A fervent advocate for electric vehicles and home energy tech, Dan has transformed the Fully Charged Show on YouTube, pioneered its exhibitions, expanded its ‘Everything Electric’ range, and recently launched Electric Vehicles UK.

Dan has conceived and delivered multiple groundbreaking projects like Fully Charged LIVE, Stop Burning Stuff, Zero Carbon Kitchen, and the Renewables Roadshow. These initiatives have attracted a loyal audience of over 2.5 million YouTube viewers, 3-5 million episode views per month, over 1 million subscribers, and 100k+ attendees.

Passionate about tackling air pollution and climate breakdown, Dan believes better tech drives the most change. Dan has collaborated with clients and partners like Ceres Power, Solar Media, Accelerating Clean Technologies, and the Department of Energy & Climate Change.

Links:

Fully Charged YouTube Channel

Fully Charged Website

Everything Electric

Electric Vehicles UK

Follow Fully Charged on Twitter

I hope you enjoy the show and if you have any comments or suggestions, please write to me at: [email protected].

Transcript:

Wicked Problems is powered by Adaptavis®

Adaptavis is a Business Performance Management and Transformation consultancy aimed at forward-thinking leaders, based in London UK. The company specialises in helping organisations to enhance operational efficiency, drive business growth, and navigate complex transformations. From strategy to execution, they focus on providing insights and practical solutions to improve the overall performance of businesses, ensuring they can adapt to changing market conditions and achieve sustainable success. Toby Corballis is a Partner at Adaptavis.

You can find out more about their work by visiting: www.adaptavis.com

Enjoy,

Toby Corballis

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S3 E3: Euan McTurk – Battery Breakthroughs: Debunking Electric Vehicle Myths

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S3 E3: Euan McTurk – Battery Breakthroughs: Debunking Electric Vehicle Myths

About the episode:

Battery chemist and founder of Plug Life Television, Dr. Euan McTurk, uncovers the facts behind EV batteries, from ethical sourcing and recycling to cutting-edge technology that’s driving down costs and boosting range. Discover why EV fires are rare, how new charging methods can extend battery life, and what the latest advancements mean for the future of small, powerful, and sustainable cars.

Guest Name: Euan McTurk

Dr Euan McTurk is a Consultant Battery Electrochemist who has been working on – and driving – electric vehicles since 2009.  Having worked on next-generation cell chemistries during his PhD at the University of Oxford, developed ways to study how electric vehicle cells fail and how to stop them failing (at WMG*, University of Warwick) and built up a state-of-the-art 200 kW battery test facility in Edinburgh, Euan founded Plug Life Consulting, which provides technical, strategic and public outreach services to projects involving battery electrochemistry, electric vehicles, energy storage systems and charging infrastructure.  Euan is also the creator of Plug Life Television, a YouTube channel on batteries and EVs that explains complex electrochemistry in a way that anyone can understand and busts common myths and misconceptions about electric vehicles. 

*Warwick Manufacturing Group 

Transcript:

Links:

LinkedIn: Euan McTurk

Plug Life Television: www.pluglifetelevision.co.uk

The Plug Life Television episode, “Can electric vehicle batteries be recycled?

Charge Saint: https://chargesaint.com/

Links to other organisations and topics covered in this episode:

I hope you enjoy the show and if you have any comments or suggestions, please write to me at: [email protected].

Wicked Problems is powered by Adaptavis®

Adaptavis is a Business Performance Management and Transformation consultancy aimed at forward-thinking leaders, based in London UK. The company specialises in helping organisations to enhance operational efficiency, drive business growth, and navigate complex transformations. From strategy to execution, they focus on providing insights and practical solutions to improve the overall performance of businesses, ensuring they can adapt to changing market conditions and achieve sustainable success. Toby Corballis is a Partner at Adaptavis.

You can find out more about their work by visiting: www.adaptavis.com

Enjoy,

Toby Corballis

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Pioneering the Future of Renewable Energy: An Interview with Jordan Brompton

Wicked Problems logo, green and blue on white, with Jordan Brompton named underneath and a picture of Jordan to the right of the logo.

Introduction

In episode 1 of Series 3 of the Wicked Problems podcast, host Toby Corballis sits down with Jordan Brompton, the dynamic co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of myenergi. Their conversation offers a deep dive into Jordan’s entrepreneurial journey, the innovative strides of myenergi, and the broader implications for the renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) sectors.

From Humble Beginnings to Industry Leaders

Jordan’s story is one of serendipity and determination. Her journey into the renewable energy sector began when she met Lee Sutton, a self-taught electronics engineer with a knack for innovation. Together, they founded myenergi in 2016, but their collaboration started much earlier. Initially, they worked on a device that diverted excess solar energy to heat water, addressing a common issue for solar panel owners. This early success laid the groundwork for their future innovations.

Revolutionising Home Energy Management

myenergi’s breakthrough came with the development of the zappi, the world’s first solar EV charger. Unlike other products on the market, the zappi integrates seamlessly with home energy systems, including the eddi hot water diverter. This holistic approach allows homeowners to manage their energy consumption more efficiently, making myenergi a standout in a crowded market.

Navigating Challenges with Resilience

The path to success was fraught with challenges. An earlier business they worked at together went into insolvency, forcing Jordan and Lee to start from scratch. They invested their own money, took significant financial risks, and persevered through tough times. Their unwavering belief in the renewable energy market and their innovative products kept them moving forward.

Customer-Centric Innovation

A key factor in myenergi’s success is its customer-centric approach. Jordan emphasises the importance of creating a seamless, integrated energy solution for homeowners. This focus on the customer experience has helped myenergi build a strong brand and a loyal customer base. By prioritising the needs and preferences of their customers, myenergi has set a new standard in the industry.

The Impact of Government Policies and Market Dynamics

Jordan discusses the significant impact of government policies and market dynamics on the renewable energy sector. Initially driven by passion and purpose, myenergi’s strategy has evolved in response to external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has had to navigate changing regulations and market conditions, often requiring quick and bold decision-making.

Looking Ahead: Optimism and Caution

Despite the uncertainties, Jordan remains optimistic about the future of renewable energy and electric vehicles. She highlights the potential of smart home technology and the importance of maintaining flexibility and agility in business operations. However, she also acknowledges the challenges posed by political and economic factors, emphasising the need for consistent government policies to support the industry’s growth.

Lessons from the Journey

Jordan shares valuable lessons from her entrepreneurial journey. She stresses the importance of hiring the right people, being prepared for unexpected challenges, and balancing bold decision-making with cautious planning. Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to stay true to their vision, remain adaptable, and never take success for granted.

Conclusion

Jordan Brompton’s insights provide a fascinating glimpse into the world of renewable energy and the entrepreneurial spirit driving innovation in this sector. Her story is a testament to the power of resilience, customer focus, and visionary thinking in building a successful business. As the renewable energy landscape continues to evolve, myenergi’s integrated approach and commitment to sustainability position it well for future growth and impact.

For more insights and updates, visit myenergi.com or follow Jordan Brompton on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Watch Jordan’s episode here. Enjoy!

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S3 E2: Sam Clarke: Breaking World Records, Debunking Myths, and the Future of Electric Vehicle Charging.

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S3 E2: Sam Clarke: Breaking Records, Debunking Myths, and the Future of Electric Vehicle Charging.

About the episode:

EV industry pioneer Sam Clarke, a record-holding entrepreneur with over two decades in electric mobility shares his journey from importing electric motorbikes in the early 2000s to founding a zero-emissions logistics company and advising on national EV infrastructure. We discuss debunking myths around electric vehicles and explore how the concept of ‘grazing’ can reset our expectations of electric vehicle charging.

Guest Name: Sam Clarke

Sam Clarke is a life-long entrepreneur, industry advisor, EV owner/driver for over 20 years and a multiple Guinness World Record Holder for EV driving. His EV journey started back in 2002 with electric motorbikes before founding a zero-emission logistics firm (Gnewt) which he sold to John Menzies Plc in 2017. He now works on national charging infrastructure needs for GRIDSERVE in particular leading on the £100M+ Government funded (ZEHID) eHGV Electric Freightway Project. He is also a founding member of The EV Café webinar and news channel.

In 2015, Sam was a Great British Entrepreneur’s Award winner. By 2022 he was made a GreenFleet EV Champion for services to the industry and in 2024 he was voted #1 in the Motor Transport Power Players 2 list and #14 in the greenfleet.net 1 top 100 most Influential list. He also holds two Guinness World Records for the longest distances ever driven in an electric car and van on a single charge 7 (569 and 311 miles respectively).

In 2009 he founded the all-electric last-mile logistics business Gnewt which subsequently won multiple awards nationally and globally and was acquired by John Menzies Plc in 2017. During his tenure, he created the UK’s largest fully electric commercial fleet, the largest privately-owned smart charging infrastructure and UK’s most advanced private V2G (Vehicle to Grid) network. With Sam at the helm, the business was able to deliver over 10 million parcels in its first 10 years of trading 3, mainly in Central London, courtesy of a trail-blazing fully zero-emission fleet, the first of its kind anywhere in the UK.

Most recently, Sam has extended his role from Board advisor at GRIDSERVE to become their Chief Vehicle Officer 4. His role is to drive forward mass uptake of electric vehicles through the creation of a net-zero EV leasing division, commercial charging infrastructure build-outs and support the nationwide roll out of high-powered Electric Forecourts and upgrade of the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway network that resides on 85% of the service stations nationally. In 2023 he led the successful bid for a £100M+ Innovate UK Government fund (ZEHID 6) whose purpose is to roll out eHGV charging infrastructure nationwide, the second largest award ever issued by Innovate UK to private enterprise.

Sam is a high-profile member of the EV community, a regular public speaker for the industry and has previously been invited to speak at the Transport Select Committee in Westminster and at the European Commission in Brussels. He is also a founding member and Company Director/Shareholder of The EV Café Ltd 5. which is a popular webinar series discussing all aspects of EV adoption on regular weekly and monthly sessions. The EV Café has a number of high-profile sectoral sponsors including companies such as, but not limited to, The AA, Europcar, Bridgestone and Webfleet.

Transcript:

Links:

LinkedIn: Sam Clarke

www.gridserve.com

I hope you enjoy the show and if you have any comments or suggestions, please write to me at: [email protected].

Wicked Problems is powered by Adaptavis®

Adaptavis is a Business Performance Management and Transformation consultancy aimed at forward-thinking leaders, based in London UK. The company specialises in helping organisations to enhance operational efficiency, drive business growth, and navigate complex transformations. From strategy to execution, they focus on providing insights and practical solutions to improve the overall performance of businesses, ensuring they can adapt to changing market conditions and achieve sustainable success. Toby Corballis is a Partner at Adaptavis.

You can find out more about their work by visiting: www.adaptavis.com

Enjoy,

Toby Corballis

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