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Episode 142: Liz Allan and Kirsty Pendleton - Fleet Electrification, Customer Care, and Data Insights at the AA.

Liz Allan chats with Kirsty Pendleton, Head of B2B Marketing at the AA, about how the iconic motoring organisation is evolving to meet the challenges of an electric future.

With 25 years at the AA under her belt, Kirsty shares how the business has continually adapted, from classic roadside recovery to pioneering support for EV charge point operators. Discover how the AA’s deep-rooted values of “courtesy and care” are being channelled into new services like EV customer support lines, second-line technician response for faulty chargers, and predictive vehicle maintenance powered by AI.

Liz and Kirsty delve into the power of storytelling in marketing, the public’s lingering misconceptions about EVs, and the importance of proactive, data-driven support for drivers and fleets. Kirsty also lifts the lid on the AA’s role in initiatives like the Greenfleet rallies and their support of Guinness World Record-breaking EV journeys.

Kirsty Pendleto Bio:
Kirsty Pendleton is Head of B2B Marketing at the AA, where she has worked for an incredible 25 years. With a background in brand, education, and theatre marketing, Kirsty is a passionate advocate for customer experience, innovation, and the human side of the EV transition. She plays a key role in shaping how the AA supports drivers, fleets, and Charge Point Operators as the automotive world embraces electrification. Kirsty is also a proud EV Champion Award recipient and a regular presence at industry events like Greenfleet and Everything Electric.

Quote of the Episode:
“There’s something so reassuring about seeing that yellow AA van come over the horizon, you just know you’re in safe hands.”
— Kirsty Pendleton

Kirsty Pendleton Links:
Website: https://www.theaa.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsty-pendleton-35818a60

The AA EV Viewpoint Report https://www.the

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Episode 141: Liz Allan and Chris Cheetham - Why Annual Safety Inspections Matter for Every EV Charging Site.

Liz Allan is joined by Chris Cheetham, Founder and CEO of Safer Charging, to explore the often-overlooked world of post-installation care in the EV charging sector. Chris shares his journey from studying environmental science to his early days at PodPoint and the pivotal moment that led him to launch Safer Charging. He explains why EV charge points, much like any safety-critical infrastructure, require ongoing inspection and maintenance, rather than a one-time install-and-forget approach.

Their conversation covers the unique risks within EV charging environments, the importance of fire risk inspections, and the launch of the UK’s first EV Charging Installation Condition Report (EVCICR). They also unpack the real-world impact of overheating units, cable degradation, and poorly managed private infrastructure. Liz and Chris highlight how local authorities, landowners, and fleet operators can better safeguard their EV assets and why public trust is eroded whenever a charger is seen bagged off or left out of service.

Quote of the Episode
"Time degrades user attention as well as hardware. We need to treat charge points like safety-critical infrastructure—not just install and forget."
— Chris Cheetham, Founder & CEO of Safer Charging

Chris Cheetham Bio:
Chris Cheetham is a passionate advocate for safer, smarter EV charging. As CEO of Safer Charging, he works with businesses, councils, and landowners to ensure charge points are correctly installed and maintained to a high standard long after. With deep sector knowledge and a practical, solutions-focused mindset, Chris aims to make safety and reliability the norm across the UK’s charging infrastructure. His work helps clients confidently and clearly navigate fire risk, compliance, and operational performance.

Chris Cheetham Links:
Website: https://www.safercharging.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-cheetham-06185873

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The Electric Evolution Podcast is proudly produced by Podforge, helping purpose-driven voices be heard.

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Episode 140: Liz Allan and Gary Comerford - Driving Change: What Makes an Outstanding EV Charging Experience?

Liz Allan is once again joined by Gary Comerford, host of the EV Musings Podcast. Together, they take a deep dive into the world of EV charging experiences, sharing personal anecdotes, lessons learned, and small but vital improvements that could transform EV adoption.

Gary brings his six years of EV driving experience into the conversation, offering brilliant insights into how the public charging network has evolved and where it still needs to develop. From memorable moments involving misaligned GPS pins to the essential elements that make or break a charging experience, Liz and Gary cover it all with their trademark warmth, humour, and constructive spirit.

They discuss the impact of good signage, payment reliability, canopy protection, proactive fault management, and why transparency around charging speeds is critical for drivers. This episode is a must-listen for CPOs, EV drivers, and anyone passionate about making EV journeys smoother, safer, and more satisfying.

Gary Comerford Bio:
Gary Comerford hosts the EV Musings podcast, where he shares practical advice, interviews, and real-world experiences from the front lines of electric vehicle adoption. An EV driver since 2018, Gary’s passion for demystifying the EV journey shines through. With a keen eye for what makes or breaks the charging experience, he’s become a trusted voice within the EV community, advocating for improvements that benefit drivers and infrastructure providers.

Gary Comerford Links:
Website: https://evmusings.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garycomerford

Quote of the Episode:
"A lot of charge point operators think they're doing fine because they’re busy, but being used isn’t the same as being loved. True success comes from making the EV charging experience as seamless and intuitive as possible."
— Gary Comerford, EV Musings Podcast

Support the show

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The Electric Evolution Podcast is proudly produced by Podforge, helping purpose-driven voices be heard.

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Episode 139: Liz Allan and Richard Hackforth-Jones - Sainsbury’s Smart Charge Vision for Net Zero and Customer Excellence.
Liz Allan speaks to Richard Hackforth-Jones, Product and Operations Director at Sainsbury’s Smart Charge, to explore how one of the UK’s biggest retail giants is revolutionising the EV charging landscape. Richard shares Smart Charge's incredible growth journey, from launching its first site in July 2023 to rapidly scaling to over 75 sites and 615 ultra-rapid charging bays in less than a year. More than just numbers, Richard dives into Sainsbury’s customer-first approach, using its retail expertise, existing property assets, and Nectar loyalty scheme to make EV charging both accessible and rewarding for drivers. He explains how their ability to use existing grid connections and relentless focus on process improvement make Smart Charge a stand-out player in the industry.

Richard Hackforth-Jones Bio:
Richard Hackforth-Jones is the Product and Operations Director at Sainsbury’s Smart Charge, leading the charge (quite literally) on scaling one of the UK’s fastest-growing EV charging networks. With a background spanning tech consultancy, product management, and e-mobility strategy, Richard brings a unique blend of technical know-how and strategic insight to the EV space. Passionate about simplifying the EV driver experience, Richard is driving Smart Charge’s mission to deliver ultra-rapid, accessible, and customer-friendly charging at Sainsbury’s nationwide, while supporting the retailer’s broader net-zero goals.

Quote of the Episode:
"We have a duty, as an industry, to make it easy to onboard those customers into this new behaviour of public charging. If we don’t, we risk leaving people behind.” Richard Hackforth-Jones, Sainsbury’s Smart Charge

Richard Hackforth-Jones Links:
Website: https://smartcharge.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-drake-hackforth-jones

Support the show

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The Electric Evolution Podcast is proudly produced by Podforge, helping purpose-driven voices be heard.

Links for Full Circle CI:
Download our EV Charging White Paper: https://fullcircleci.co.uk/plugging-into-the-future-whitepaper
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Episode 138: Liz Allan and Denis Watling – Powering Apartments with ChargeGuru’s EV Charging Solution.

Liz Allan speaks to Denis Watling, Managing Director of ChargeGuru UK & Ireland, to uncover how ChargeGuru is revolutionising EV charging for apartment living. Together, they explore the fully funded solution, making home charging accessible for residents in apartment blocks; a critical move in the mission towards net zero and sustainable transport. Denis shares how his automotive journey, from Hyundai’s early hydrogen vehicle programme to Pod Point, shaped his passion for alternative fuels and led him to spearhead ChargeGuru’s expansion across Europe. Liz and Denis explore the realities of EV adoption in urban environments, the challenges freeholders and residents face, and why retrofitting apartment blocks is more complex than it appears.

Denis Watling Bio:
Denis Watling is the managing director of ChargeGuru UK & Ireland. With over a decade of automotive experience, Denis has held roles spanning fleet operations, public sector partnerships, and used vehicle management at Hyundai, where he first developed a passion for alternative fuels. He then sharpened his focus on the UK EV market with Pod Point, before launching ChargeGuru in the UK and Ireland. Denis brings a rare blend of hands-on industry knowledge and strategic leadership and is helping ChargeGuru remove barriers to electrification, making apartment charging simple, scalable, and affordable.

Quote of the Episode:
"We genuinely want to enable a more sustainable energy network, and that takes serious investment to do at scale." Denis Watling, ChargeGuru.

Denis Watling Links:
ChargeGuru Website: https://chargeguru.com/uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denis-watling-815b663b

Support the show

If you enjoyed this episode of Electric Evolution, please take a moment to leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us improve and enables more people to discover valuable insights from our amazing guests.

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The Electric Evolution Podcast is proudly produced by Podforge, helping purpose-driven voices be heard.

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Episode 137: Liz Allan and Vicky Edmonds - How EVA England Champions the EV Driver Experience and Net Zero.

Liz Allan is joined by Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England. Together, they explore the realities of supporting EV drivers, tackling misinformation, and driving forward the electric transition to achieve our net-zero goals. Vicky brings a wealth of experience from her years in government transport decarbonisation policy and now leads EVA England with a mission to ensure the EV driver’s voice is heard loud and clear. Liz and Vicky discuss the challenges of misinformation and confusing EV terminology, the need for clearer signage and inclusive infrastructure, and how EVA England advocates for improved accessibility, affordable charging solutions, and a thriving second-hand EV market.

Vicky Edmonds Bio:
Vicky Edmonds is the Chief Executive Officer of EVA England, the leading voice for EV drivers across the UK. With nearly two decades of experience in government transport policy, including senior roles at the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and Energy Systems Catapult, Vicky has been at the heart of the UK’s journey towards decarbonised transport. A dedicated EV driver, she brings a unique blend of policy expertise and real-world experience to championing driver interests, tackling misinformation, and advocating for better accessibility and affordability in the EV sector.

Quote of the Episode:
"The driver doesn’t care particularly about the ZEV mandate. What they do care about is buying a car they’ve never driven before and don’t understand. Our role is to ensure the driver’s voice is heard loud and clear."
— Vicky Edmonds, CEO, EVA England.

Episode Keywords:
EV charging, Net zero, Electric vehicles, Driver experience, Decarbonisation, Public charging, Accessibility, EV infrastructure, Sustainable transport, Customer advocacy

Episode Hashtags:
#EVCharging #NetZero #ElectricVehicles #SustainableTransport #DriverExperience #Decarbonisation #EVInfrastructure #Accessibility #EVDrivers #EVAEngland

Support the show

If you enjoyed this episode of Electric Evolution, please take a moment to leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us improve and enables more people to discover valuable insights from our amazing guests.

Click the link below to find out how to add a review on Apple or Spotify
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The Electric Evolution Podcast is proudly produced by Podforge, helping purpose-driven voices be heard.

Links for Full Circle CI:
Download our EV Charging White Paper: https://fullcircleci.co.uk/plugging-into-the-future-whitepaper
Visit our website: https://fullcircleci.co.uk/podcasts
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Episode 136: Liz Allan and Colin Walker - ZEV Mandate Update: Government’s Latest Changes.

In this special, very pertinent and timely episode, Liz Allan welcomes back Colin Walker, Head of Transport at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), to unpack the latest government changes to the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. They discuss what the headlines mean, beyond the noise and confusion. Colin explains how the ZEV mandate is evolving, what manufacturers are lobbying for behind the scenes, and how these shifts could impact the EV market and our climate goals. Together, they explore why the government’s rationale for these changes may not stack up, the risks of short-term thinking in the auto industry, and the threat these changes pose to the UK’s EV leadership

Colin Walker Bio:
Colin Walker is the Head of Transport at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), a non-profit think tank dedicated to accelerating the UK’s transition to net zero. With a sharp eye on policy, industry trends, and decarbonisation pathways, Colin offers clear-headed analysis on the intersection of transport and climate strategy. He is a trusted voice in the EV and policy space, known for cutting through the jargon and helping audiences understand the real-world impact of complex decisions shaping our future.

Quote of the Episode:
"The world is moving to EVs. Whether people like it or not, that is where we're going, and a failure to embrace EVs is a threat to our car industry."
— Colin Walker, ECIU

Colin Walker Links:
ECIU Website: https://eciu.net
Twitter: https://x.com/colinwalker79
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colin-walker.bsky.social
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-walker-1a55a084/

Episode Keywords:
ZEV mandate, Net zero, Electric vehicles, EV policy update, Decarbonisation, Sustainable transport

Support the show

If you enjoyed this episode of Electric Evolution, please take a moment to leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us improve and enables more people to discover valuable insights from our amazing guests.

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The Electric Evolution Podcast is proudly produced by Podforge, helping purpose-driven voices be heard.

Links for Full Circle CI:
Download our EV Charging White Paper: https://fullcircleci.co.uk/plugging-into-the-future-whitepaper
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Episode 135: Liz Allan and Patrick Cresswell - How ClearWatt is Revolutionising Battery Health Transparency.

Liz Allan is joined by Patrick Cresswell, Co-Founder and Managing Director of ClearWatt, an innovative platform bringing trust and transparency to the used electric vehicle market. With over a decade of experience in the EV sector, including his time leading the pioneering eCar Club, Patrick shares how ClearWatt emerged from a deep gap analysis of the second-hand EV space. ClearWatt’s mobile app and data services are designed to demystify EV battery health, offering both peace of mind for drivers and practical tools for dealerships, leasing companies, and fleet operators. From real-world range estimates to aggregated performance data across vehicle types, Patrick explains how ClearWatt helps users make confident decisions, whether buying, selling, or wanting to understand their EVs’ performance better.

Quote of the Episode
“Battery health is holding up fairly well; it’s not about degradation but confidence. We’re here to give people peace of mind.” — Patrick Cresswell

Patrick Cresswell Bio:
Patrick Cresswell is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of ClearWatt, a groundbreaking platform delivering accessible EV battery health checks and data services. With over 11 years in the electric vehicle sector, Patrick previously led eCar Club and contributed to Europcar’s urban mobility strategy. His mission with ClearWatt is to build confidence in the second-hand EV market through transparency, smart data, and better customer tools.

Patrick Cresswell Links:
Website: https://clearwatt.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-cresswell-629178a3

Support the show

If you enjoyed this episode of Electric Evolution, please take a moment to leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us improve and enables more people to discover valuable insights from our amazing guests.

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The Electric Evolution Podcast is proudly produced by Podforge, helping purpose-driven voices be heard.

Links for Full Circle CI:
Download our EV Charging White Paper: https://fullcircleci.co.uk/plugging-into-the-future-whitepaper
Visit our website: https://fullcircleci.co.uk/podcasts
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