The EV Musings Podcast

This was a milestone episode to wrap up the season - episode 300 of EV Musings.
In this special roundtable, I'm joined by Dora Clarke (Osprey Charging), Kate Tyrrell (EVCI Global / ChargeSafe), and Teresa Swift (Stark Charge) for an honest discussion on the real-world driver experience, from signage and infrastructure to advertising, pricing, and making EVs more accessible.
What You’ll Discover
- The State of EV Road Signage: Why current signage is lacking, what drivers actually need to see, and how better signs could boost confidence and utilisation.
- Profit vs People in Public Charging: The real economics facing CPOs, the pressures on pricing, and whether operators are prioritising the driver experience.
- Advertising on Chargers: Should drivers see ads while charging, and what (if anything) they should get in return - discounts, freebies, or better facilities?
What really stood out is how much of the conversation came back to trust and practicality. Whether it’s clearer signage so people can actually find chargers, maintaining sites properly, or making the whole experience feel welcoming (especially for women and new EV drivers), the panel agreed that getting the fundamentals right will matter far more than flashy gimmicks as the market matures.
A brilliant, wide-ranging discussion to close out Season 15 and hit a huge milestone for EV Musings.
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence.
Episode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk
(C) 2019-2026 Gary Comerford
Support me:
Patreon Link: http://www.patreon.com/evmusings
Ko-fi Link: http://www.ko-fi.com/evmusings
The Books:
'So, you've gone electric?' on Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q5JVF1X
'So, you've gone renewable?’ on Amazon : https://amzn.to/3LXvIck
Social Media:
EVMusings: Twitter https://twitter.com/MusingsEv
Instagram: @EVmusings
Octopus Energy referral code (Click this link to get started) https://share.octopus.energy/neat-star-460
Upgrade to smarter EV driving with a free week's trial of Zapmap Premium, find out more here https://evmusings.com/zapmap-premium
Mentioned in this episode:
Zapmap
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence. Zapmap is free to download and use, with subscription plans for enhanced features such as using Zapmap in-car on CarPlay or Android Auto, and discounted charging across thousands of charge points.

Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or find out more at www.zapmap.com.
Zapmap EV Guide

I wanted to get an industry expert back on to talk about where things really stand in the EV space right now.
In this episode, I catch up with Sam Clarke - Guinness World Record holder, and Green Fleet 100 nominee, for a wide-ranging conversation on the current state of electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and the challenges facing the industry.
What You’ll Discover
- The State of EV Misinformation: Why Sam is less bothered by it now and how facts are winning in the long term despite the noise.
- Public Charging Realities: Pricing pressures, utilisation, first-mover advantage, and why some networks perform better than others.
- The Future of HGV Charging and Consolidation: What’s happening with eHGVs, roaming, and why the market is inevitably heading towards fewer, stronger players.
He acknowledges the real challenges around pricing, grid connections, and inconsistent government policy, but remains optimistic about the direction of travel. His point about needing more joined-up thinking from government and the value of consolidation for simplicity and reliability felt particularly timely.
If you’re interested in where public charging is heading, the realities of operating a network, or how the HGV transition is progressing, this episode gives you a clear-eyed insider perspective.
Guest Details:
Sam Clarke is an award-winning entrepreneur, EV owner for 24 years, head of eHGV at GRIDSERVE & a 4-time Guinness World Record Holder for EV driving. His EV journey started in 2002 with all electric motorbikes before founding a zero-emission logistics firm which he sold to John Menzies Plc in 2017. He now works on public charging infrastructure for GRIDSERVE, being the architect of the ‘Electric Freightway’ a £100M Government funded eHGV Project. He is a regular public speaker on EV and is a founder of The EV Café webinar & news channel, an industry recognised voice in the EV community. In 2015, Sam was a Great British Entrepreneur’s Award winner and by 2022 he was a GreenFleet EV Champion for services to the industry. In 2024 he was voted #1 in the Motor Transport Power Players list and #7 in the greenfleet.net top 100 most Influential list in 2026. He holds 4 Guinness World Records for the longest journeys ever driven in an electric car, SUV, van and motorbike on a single charge.
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence.
Episode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk
(C) 2019-2026 Gary Comerford
Support me:
Patreon Link: http://www.patreon.com/evmusings
Ko-fi Link: http://www.ko-fi.com/evmusings
The Books:
'So, you've gone electric?' on Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q5JVF1X
'So, you've gone renewable?’ on Amazon : https://amzn.to/3LXvIck
Social Media:
EVMusings: Twitter https://twitter.com/MusingsEv
Instagram: @EVmusings
Octopus Energy referral code (Click this link to get started) https://share.octopus.energy/neat-star-460
Upgrade to smarter EV driving with a free week's trial of Zapmap Premium, find out more here https://evmusings.com/zapmap-premium
Mentioned in this episode:
Zapmap
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence. Zapmap is free to download and use, with subscription plans for enhanced features such as using Zapmap in-car on CarPlay or Android Auto, and discounted charging across thousands of charge points.

Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or find out more at www.zapmap.com.
Zapmap EV Guide

I wanted to revisit something that matters to every EV driver - tyres.
In this episode, I follow up on the Hankook ION EVO tyres I fitted last season (replacing a set of budget Devantis), and I’m joined by Andrew Till (Mr EV) who fitted the all-season ION FlexClimate SUV tyres. We compare notes on handling, road noise, and real-world efficiency after several months and thousands of miles.
What You’ll Discover
- The Difference EV-Specific Tyres Actually Make: From reduced road noise to better planted feel and confidence in corners and wet conditions.
- Real-World Noise & Efficiency Results: Our (imperfect but honest) decibel measurements and efficiency comparisons between old and new tyres.
- Summer vs All-Season EV Tyres: How the Hankook ION range performs in daily driving and what to expect when upgrading.
What really stood out to me is how much of a difference quality EV-specific tyres can make, especially if you’re coming from budget rubber. The car feels noticeably quieter and more composed, and while exact efficiency gains are hard to isolate perfectly, both of us are seeing small but meaningful improvements that add up over time. As Neil from Hankook explained last season, brand new tyres need a bit of wear before they’re at their most efficient - so the best is probably still to come.
If you’re thinking about your next tyre change or you’ve been putting up with noisy rubber, this episode gives you a real-driver perspective on whether EV-specific tyres are worth it.
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence.
Episode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk
(C) 2019-2026 Gary Comerford
Support me:
Patreon Link: http://www.patreon.com/evmusings
Ko-fi Link: http://www.ko-fi.com/evmusings
The Books:
'So, you've gone electric?' on Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q5JVF1X
'So, you've gone renewable?’ on Amazon : https://amzn.to/3LXvIck
Social Media:
EVMusings: Twitter https://twitter.com/MusingsEv
Instagram: @EVmusings
Octopus Energy referral code (Click this link to get started) https://share.octopus.energy/neat-star-460
Upgrade to smarter EV driving with a free week's trial of Zapmap Premium, find out more here https://evmusings.com/zapmap-premium
Mentioned in this episode:
Zapmap
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence. Zapmap is free to download and use, with subscription plans for enhanced features such as using Zapmap in-car on CarPlay or Android Auto, and discounted charging across thousands of charge points.

Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or find out more at www.zapmap.com.
Zapmap EV Guide

I wanted to dig into one of the most confusing and frustrating topics for EV drivers - why electricity bills keep rising even as more renewables come online.
In this episode, I break down how electricity pricing actually works in the UK. From wholesale markets and marginal pricing to Contracts for Difference, curtailment payments, grid constraints, and all the hidden levies that end up on your bill, this is a clear-eyed look at why gas still dominates pricing and what it means for EV owners.
What You’ll Discover
- How Marginal Pricing Works: Why the price of the most expensive source (often gas) sets the wholesale price for everyone, even when most power comes from cheap wind and solar.
- Contracts for Difference (CfD) Explained: How strike prices, the Low Carbon Clearing Company (LCCC), and payments flow between renewables and the grid, and why this system doesn’t always reduce consumer bills.
- The Hidden Costs Driving Up Your Electricity Bill: Curtailment payments, transmission constraints, levies, VAT differences, and why domestic gas often looks cheaper than electricity despite the headlines.
What is clear is just how complex and inefficient the current system has become. We’re generating more cheap, clean power than ever, yet structural issues like marginal pricing, curtailment, and regional transmission problems mean we’re still paying gas prices for much of our electricity and footing the bill for millions in payments to switch off renewables. It’s a fascinating but frustrating picture.
If you’ve ever wondered why public charging feels expensive or why your home electricity bill doesn’t reflect all those windy days, this episode cuts through the noise and gives you a much clearer understanding of what’s really going on.
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence.
Episode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk
(C) 2019-2026 Gary Comerford
Support me:
Patreon Link: http://www.patreon.com/evmusings
Ko-fi Link: http://www.ko-fi.com/evmusings
The Books:
'So, you've gone electric?' on Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q5JVF1X
'So, you've gone renewable?’ on Amazon : https://amzn.to/3LXvIck
Social Media:
EVMusings: Twitter https://twitter.com/MusingsEv
Instagram: @EVmusings
Octopus Energy referral code (Click this link to get started) https://share.octopus.energy/neat-star-460
Upgrade to smarter EV driving with a free week's trial of Zapmap Premium, find out more here https://evmusings.com/zapmap-premium
Mentioned in this episode:
Zapmap
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence. Zapmap is free to download and use, with subscription plans for enhanced features such as using Zapmap in-car on CarPlay or Android Auto, and discounted charging across thousands of charge points.

Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or find out more at www.zapmap.com.
Zapmap EV Guide

I wanted to revisit something that comes up again and again with EV drivers and people thinking about going electric. Battery degradation.
In this episode, I break down what’s really going on, using a simple comparison we all understand: our phones. From how we charge to when we charge, I explore what actually impacts battery health and what really matters when it comes to keeping your EV running well long term.
What You’ll Discover
- Why EV Batteries Aren’t Like Your Phone: Despite common fears, EV batteries degrade far slower and often outlast the car itself.
- The 80 Percent Rule Explained: For NMC batteries, limiting daily charging to around 80 percent can help preserve long-term battery health.
- How Charging Habits Really Matter: Heat, rapid charging, and frequent full cycles all play a role, but most drivers won’t see major issues in everyday use.
What really stands out to me is how much of the concern around EV batteries is driven by misunderstanding. We’ve all experienced phone batteries degrading quickly, so it’s easy to assume the same thing will happen with a car. But the reality is very different. EVs have far more advanced battery management systems, and the data shows degradation is much lower than people expect.
There’s also a useful mindset shift here. It’s not about obsessing over perfect charging behaviour. It’s about understanding the basics and then getting on with your life. Whether that’s charging overnight, using rapid chargers when needed, or simply knowing your battery type and adjusting slightly.
If you’ve been worried about battery life or know someone who is still on the fence about EVs because of it, this episode is worth sharing. It cuts through the noise and gives you a clear, practical way to think about it.
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence.
Episode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk
(C) 2019-2026 Gary Comerford
Support me:
Patreon Link: http://www.patreon.com/evmusings
Ko-fi Link: http://www.ko-fi.com/evmusings
The Books:
'So, you've gone electric?' on Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q5JVF1X
'So, you've gone renewable?’ on Amazon : https://amzn.to/3LXvIck
Social Media:
EVMusings: Twitter https://twitter.com/MusingsEv
Instagram: @EVmusings
Octopus Energy referral code (Click this link to get started) https://share.octopus.energy/neat-star-460
Upgrade to smarter EV driving with a free week's trial of Zapmap Premium, find out more here https://evmusings.com/zapmap-premium
Mentioned in this episode:
Zapmap
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence. Zapmap is free to download and use, with subscription plans for enhanced features such as using Zapmap in-car on CarPlay or Android Auto, and discounted charging across thousands of charge points.

Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or find out more at www.zapmap.com.
Zapmap EV Guide