Electric Evolution

We love hearing from you! After listening to an episode, if you’d like to share a comment or ask a question, just click here to send us your message.Episode 174: Liz Allan and Peter Higgins - Cross-Pavement Solutions Done Properly.Liz Allan speaks to Peter Higgins, EV Project Officer at Stoke on Trent City Council, to explore one of the most important and often misunderstood challenges in the EV transition: how to support residents who cannot charge at home.Peter shares how Stoke-on-Trent is tackling the equity gap faced by households without off-street parking, using cross-pavement charging solutions to enable safe, affordable home charging for terraced streets. Drawing on his background in environmental management and years within local government, Peter explains how his team has navigated accessibility concerns, electrical regulations, planning complexities, and internal governance to deliver a scalable and future-proof solution.The conversation goes deep into the practical realities local authorities face, from health and safety and electrical separation rules, through to ownership models, highway adoption, and why councils often feel risk-averse. Peter also offers refreshingly honest advice to other authorities: do not reinvent the wheel. Learn from those already doing the work.Quote of the Episode: “If someone’s already done the hard work, steal their homework. We’re all trying to solve the same problem.” Peter Higgins.Peter Higgins Bio:Peter Higgins has over a decade of experience in local government and a degree in Environmental Management and Technology. He brings a practical, evidence-led approach to decarbonisation and transport equity, and is particularly known for his work on cross-pavement charging and for openly sharing lessons learned with other councils across the UK.Peter Higgins Links:Website: https://www.stoke.gov.uk/info/20006/housing_and_neighbourhoods/792/cross_pavement_gully_schemeLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-higgins-stoke?Support the showIf 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 https://bit.ly/4dtiMJK The Electric Evolution Podcast is proudly produced by Podforge, helping purpose-driven voices be heard. Links for Full Circle CI:Visit our website: https://fullcircleci.co.uk/podcasts Electric Evolution LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/electric-evolution-podcast Support our podcast here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/electricevolutionpodcast

We love hearing from you! After listening to an episode, if you’d like to share a comment or ask a question, just click here to send us your message.Episode 173: Liz Allan and Elaine Meskhi - Making EV charging fair, accessible, and fit for the futureLiz Allan speaks to Elaine Meskhi, a Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Consultant at Steer, for a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation about the future of EV charging.Elaine brings over a decade of experience spanning energy systems, transport planning, and innovation projects, including early EV trials and grid impact studies. Together, Liz and Elaine explore why EV charging strategies must start with wider transport goals, how local authorities can better navigate energy constraints, and why collaboration between transport planners, energy networks, and charge point operators is essential.A central theme of the episode is accessibility. Elaine explains why accessible charging is not just about wheelchair access, but about recognising a wide range of needs, including neurodivergence, hidden disabilities, temporary injuries, older drivers, and people who are not confident with technology. She shares powerful insights from real-world audits and a personal story of hosting an EV driver with a prosthetic limb through a home charging-sharing scheme, highlighting where the system works and where it still falls short.The conversation also dives into standing charges, grid capacity myths, depot charging for fleets, HGV electrification, and the policy changes needed to ensure EV charging is fair, reliable, and future-proofed.Quote of the Episode:“Accessibility isn’t about one group of people. It’s about recognising that at different points in our lives, all of us will have different needs, and the charging network has to work for that reality.” — Elaine MeskhiElaine Meskhi Bio:Elaine Meskhi is a Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Consultant at Steer, where she works across EV infrastructure strategy, accessibility, fleet electrification, and sustainable transport systems. With a background in systems engineering and over a decade of experience in energy and transport innovation, Elaine has worked on some of the UK’s earliest EV and grid impact projects. She is particularly passionate about inclusive infrastructure and ensuring the transition to electric transport works for people with diverse needs. Elaine also brings a thoughtful, evidence-led perspective to how policy, planning, and real-world delivery intersect. Elaine Meskhi Links:Support the showIf 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 https://bit.ly/4dtiMJK The Electric Evolution Podcast is proudly produced by Podforge, helping purpose-driven voices be heard. Links for Full Circle CI:Visit our website: https://fullcircleci.co.uk/podcasts Electric Evolution LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/electric-evolution-podcast Support our podcast here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/electricevolutionpodcast

We love hearing from you! After listening to an episode, if you’d like to share a comment or ask a question, just click here to send us your message.Episode 172: Electric Evolution Christmas Special with Liz Allan and Michele Liddle - People, Purpose and the Conversations Behind the Work.In this special Christmas episode, Liz Allan is joined by someone listeners may have heard mentioned many times but are only now meeting properly, Michele Liddle.Michele is the Marketing Director of ChargeWise CX and has worked alongside Liz at Full Circle CI for over four years. In this relaxed and honest festive conversation, Liz and Michele reflect on the year that's been, the lessons they’ve learned, and the realities of building meaningful work in the EV charging and sustainability space.Together, they talk openly about working remotely for years before properly meeting, navigating burnout, rediscovering purpose, and how neurodivergence has shaped the way they work, think and support others. Michele also shares her creative life beyond EVs, from running her own podcast, Shell's Spooky Stories, to paranormal investigation and storytelling.This episode is less about technology and more about people. It’s a reminder that progress in EV charging, net zero and sustainability comes from empathy, curiosity and collaboration, not noise or blame.Michele Liddle Bio:Michele Liddle is the Marketing Director of ChargeWise CX and a long-standing member of the Full Circle CI team, having worked closely with Liz Allan for over four years. With a strong creative background, Michele leads on visual storytelling, digital content and brand development, bringing clarity and humanity to complex topics. Alongside her work in EV charging and sustainability, Michele hosts her own podcast, Shell's Spooky Stories, which explores folklore, paranormal investigation, and personal storytelling. She is also a passionate advocate for neurodivergent ways of working and creating healthier, more compassionate professional environments.Quote of the Episode:“If you come from a positive place, you can actually solve more problems. Pointing fingers just makes people feel bad, it doesn’t make anything better.”Michele LiddleMichele Liddle Links:Website: https://fullcircleci.co.ukLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-marie-liddleShell's Spooky Stories - YouTube:Support the showIf 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 https://bit.ly/4dtiMJK The Electric Evolution Podcast is proudly produced by Podforge, helping purpose-driven voices be heard. Links for Full Circle CI:Visit our website: https://fullcircleci.co.uk/podcasts Electric Evolution LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/electric-evolution-podcast Support our podcast here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/electricevolutionpodcast

We love hearing from you! After listening to an episode, if you’d like to share a comment or ask a question, just click here to send us your message.Episode 171: Liz Allan and Rolle Niemenen - The Technology Driving Trust in EV Charging.Liz Allan speaks to Rolle Nieminen, Head of Sales and Country Manager for the UK and Ireland at Kempower, to dive into the technology, strategy, and innovation shaping the next era of EV charging. From distributed power solutions and exceptional uptime to megawatt charging and the electrification of heavy transport, Rolle brings clarity and insight into what it really takes to build reliable, future-proof charging infrastructure.Rolle shares his journey from early EV adopter to co-founding EVA England, before joining Kempower, a manufacturer known for its robust, customer-focused charging systems that "just work." Together, Liz and Rolle explore why reliability matters, how drivers build confidence in public charging, and why more connectors often matter more than peak charging speeds. They also tackle the complexities of electrifying buses, ports, and EHGV fleets, including the real-world engineering needed to keep 24/7 operations running smoothly.Quote of the episode:"We want to be in the confidence-building business for customers; you should be able to plug in, walk away, and trust that the charger will do exactly what you need." Rolle NieminenRolle Niemenen Bio:Rolle Nieminen is a long-standing advocate for electric mobility with a background spanning automotive manufacturing, consumer insights, and infrastructure delivery. An early EV adopter, Rolle has spent years championing the needs of drivers, including co-founding EVA England to ensure the EV driver voice was represented in national conversations. Today, his work focuses on applying that user-first mindset to complex charging environments, from public rapid charging through to large-scale fleet, bus, and heavy-duty applications. Rolle brings a pragmatic, systems-led approach to electrification, shaped by real-world experience of what works and what does not. Rolle Niemenen LinksWebsite: https://kempower.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rolle-nieminen-63484325Support the showIf 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 https://bit.ly/4dtiMJK The Electric Evolution Podcast is proudly produced by Podforge, helping purpose-driven voices be heard. Links for Full Circle CI:Visit our website: https://fullcircleci.co.uk/podcasts Electric Evolution LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/electric-evolution-podcast Support our podcast here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/electricevolutionpodcast

We love hearing from you! After listening to an episode, if you’d like to share a comment or ask a question, just click here to send us your message.Episode 170: Liz Allan and Belinda Guy - Cutting Through the Noise: Making EVs Simple for Everyone.Liz Allan speaks to Belinda Guy, founder of Belinda Automotive and a product marketing specialist who has rapidly become a recognised voice across the automotive and EV sectors.Together, they explore the human side of communication in EV adoption, why clear, jargon-free messaging matters, how companies can better understand their audiences, and the role product marketing plays in shaping trust, confidence, and buying decisions.Belinda shares her journey from secondary school teacher to automotive product marketer, discussing what she learned along the way and why she believes EV communication must be rooted in empathy, education, and real-world experience. The pair reflect on mindset shifts, misinformation, accessibility, and how to support consumers who are overwhelmed by unfamiliar language and big purchasing decisions.Quote of the episode:"If you don't understand who your product is for, how are you designing a good product? Everything starts with knowing your audience." Belinda Guy.Belinda Guy Bio:Belinda Guy is the founder of Belinda Automotive and a highly regarded product marketing specialist working across automotive, EV charging, and emerging mobility technologies. With a background spanning OEM environments, EV charging back-office systems, and consumer engagement, Belinda helps organisations understand their audiences, articulate value, and communicate more clearly. Her work focuses on simplifying complexity, strengthening product positioning and supporting commercial teams to sell with confidence. Belinda is also known for her accessible, educational social media content, where she breaks down automotive concepts for everyday drivers. Belinda Guy Links:Website: https://www.belinda-automotive.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belinda-automotiveLinktree: https://linktr.ee/belinda_automotiveSupport the showIf 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 https://bit.ly/4dtiMJK The Electric Evolution Podcast is proudly produced by Podforge, helping purpose-driven voices be heard. Links for Full Circle CI:Visit our website: https://fullcircleci.co.uk/podcasts Electric Evolution LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/electric-evolution-podcast Support our podcast here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/electricevolutionpodcast