Everything Electric Podcast

In this special, and slightly sillier episode of the Everything Electric podcast, Imogen Bhogal turns the tables on our founder, Robert Llewellyn. As Robert celebrates his 70th birthday, the pair look back on an extraordinary six-decade career spanning bespoke shoemaking, fringe comedy, cult sci-fi fame, and becoming one of the world's leading voices for electric vehicles and clean energy. They chat about Robert's time on Red Dwarf and the show's enduring legacy as one of the BBC's most-watched programmes (outperforming Top Gear, dare we say it?). There are also fond memories of Scrapheap Challenge, the bizarre Mojave Desert story involving a children's deckchair and a 3,500-foot flight, the hidden psychology behind the Carpool series, and of course, Robert's slightly alarming habit of writing far too many books. Enjoy! Ghost Camera is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghost-Camera-Robert-Llewellyn/dp/1789651816 Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/edkwTFblDMA 00:00 – Introduction: A different kind of podcast 01:40 – Robert's 70th Birthday & The "Umarell" nickname 07:05 – The Geodesic Dome & School Expulsion 10:32 – Life as a Bespoke Shoemaker 13:00 – "The Joeys" and discovering the joy of comedy 18:50 – Becoming Kryten: The Red Dwarf years 24:10 – Red Dwarf vs. Blackadder & The BBC 28:30 – Scrapheap Challenge: 5mm aggregate and flying junk 37:20 – The birth of Carpool and "Suicide Cameras" 42:20 – Pitching Fully Charged to a confused BBC 46:10 – Ghost Camera: Writing, Optimism, and AI 54:00 – Conclusion: Humour as the "spoonful of sugar" Why not come and join us at our next Everything Electric expo: www.everythingelectric.show Check out our sister channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/EverythingElectricShow Support our StopBurningStuff campaign: https://www.patreon.com/STOPBurningStuff Become an Everything Electric Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fullychargedshow Become a YouTube member: use JOIN button above Buy the Fully Charged Guide to Electric Vehicles & Clean Energy : https://buff.ly/2GybGt0 Subscribe for episode alerts and the Everything Electric newsletter: https://fullycharged.show/zap-sign-up/ Visit: https://FullyCharged.Show Find us on X: https://x.com/Everyth1ngElec Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/officialeverythingelectric To partner, exhibit or sponsor at our award-winning expos email: [email protected] EE WEST (Cheltenham) - 12th & 13th June 2026 EE GREATER LONDON (Twickenham) - 11th & 12th Sept 2026 EE SYDNEY - Sydney Olympic Park - 18th - 20th Sept 2026

Recorded live at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, Elliot Richards sits down with Dr. Zhu Lingbo "LB", CTO of CATL's International Business Unit, for a conversation about the battery technologies that are reshaping the automotive industry. From 3-minute charging and 1,500 km batteries to the reality of solid-state development, this episode delves into the breakthroughs, bottlenecks, and global power struggle defining the future of EVs. LB Zhu explains how CATL's latest Qilin and Shenxing battery platforms are pushing energy density, charging speed, and weight reduction further than ever before, and why the company believes lighter batteries may matter just as much as bigger ones. In this episode: CATL's 3 min 44 sec charging breakthrough 350 Wh/kg "Condensed State" batteries Why EV weight is becoming a major battleground The real timeline for solid-state batteries CATL's expansion into Germany and Europe The future of battery recycling and circular supply chains China vs Europe in the global battery race 0:00 CATL's Vision for the Future of EVs 2:18 Qilin vs Shenxing: CATL's New Battery Breakthroughs 5:41 3-Minute Charging: How Fast Can EVs Really Get? 8:02 Sodium-Ion Batteries & the Next Chemistry Shift 10:27 Why EV Weight Is the Industry's Next Big Battle 14:20 Why 500 Wh/kg Batteries Aren't Ready for Cars 16:15 The Truth About Solid-State Batteries 19:06 Europe's EV Slowdown & Global Electrification Trends 23:18 Inside CATL's Expansion Into Germany 27:25 Battery Recycling & the Circular Economy Future 31:48 What EVs Will Look Like in 2036 Why not come and join us at our next Everything Electric expo: www.everythingelectric.show Check out our sister channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/EverythingElectricShow Support our StopBurningStuff campaign: https://www.patreon.com/STOPBurningStuff Become an Everything Electric Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fullychargedshow Become a YouTube member: use JOIN button above Buy the Fully Charged Guide to Electric Vehicles & Clean Energy : https://buff.ly/2GybGt0 Subscribe for episode alerts and the Everything Electric newsletter: https://fullycharged.show/zap-sign-up/ Visit: https://FullyCharged.Show Find us on X: https://x.com/Everyth1ngElec Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/officialeverythingelectric To partner, exhibit or sponsor at our award-winning expos email: [email protected] EE WEST (Cheltenham) - 12th & 13th June 2026 EE GREATER LONDON (Twickenham) - 11th & 12th Sept 2026 EE SYDNEY - Sydney Olympic Park - 18th - 20th Sept 2026 #fullychargedshow #everythingelectricshow #homeenergy #cleanenergy #battery #electriccars #electric-vehicles-uk #CATL #EVBattery #ElectricVehicles #SolidStateBattery #FastCharging #EVTechnology #BatteryTechnology #ElectricCars #Shenxing #QilinBattery #EverythingElectric #EVNews #ChinaEV #BatteryInnovation #FutureOfTransport #Electrification #SodiumIon #BatteryRecycling #EnergyStorage #BeijingAutoShow

EVents season kicks off in earnest, with the biggest car show ever held on planet earth. Where else, but in Beijing? But is its scale covering some cracks in the car market more generally and China specifically, Dan Caesar & Elliot Richards think it might be. From inside the cockpit of a CATL battery powered vertical take off and landing craft they predict take off for some, crash landings for others. Want to see and test drive an array of battery EVs, but can't make it to the major autoshows overseas? Then come join us at our next Everything Electric expo: https://everythingelectric.show THIS WEEK! - EE NORTH (Harrogate) - 8th & 9th May 2026 EE WEST (Cheltenham) - 12th & 13th June 2026 EE GREATER LONDON (Twickenham) - 11th & 12th Sept 2026 EE SYDNEY - Sydney Olympic Park - 18th - 20th Sept 2026 To partner, exhibit or sponsor at our award-winning expos email: [email protected] Check out our sister channel Everything Electric TECH: https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingElectricShow Support our StopBurningStuff campaign: https://www.patreon.com/STOPBurningStuff Become an Everything Electric Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fullychargedshow Become a YouTube member: use JOIN button above Buy the Fully Charged Guide to Electric Vehicles & Clean Energy : https://buff.ly/2GybGt0 Subscribe for episode alerts and the Everything Electric newsletter: https://fullycharged.show/zap-sign-up/ Visit: https://FullyCharged.Show Find us on X: https://x.com/Everyth1ngElec Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/officialeverythingelectric #fullychargedshow #everythingelectricshow #homeenergy #cleanenergy #battery #electriccars #electric-vehicles-uk

Welcome to a special live episode of the Everything Electric podcast, recorded right in the heart of Oxford Street thanks to @renaultgroup . This is a rare, unfiltered conversation with three of the most influential voices in clean energy and human behaviour: Greg Jackson (CEO, Octopus Energy) Rory Sutherland (Behavioural Science, Ogilvy) Robert Llewellyn (Fully Charged) We're living through a strange moment. Clean energy is advancing faster than ever… yet the global system still clings to fossil fuels, geopolitical instability, and outdated market rules. So what's really going on? In this episode, we explore: Why fossil fuels are fundamentally inefficient (and losing ground) The surprising psychology behind EV adoption (spoiler: it's not about saving the planet) How the UK's electricity pricing system is distorting costs The idea of an "energy pension" and how solar could deliver ~11% returns Why countries like China are racing ahead while others hesitate Standout moments: "Oil and gas are like an abusive partner… it's never going to be different." The "Château Pétrus" analogy that perfectly explains energy pricing Why petrol stations might soon look… completely outdated "You just plug it in like a phone. Shut up." This conversation is about technology, economics, human behaviour, and what the future will actually feel like. Enjoy! 00:00:00:00 Welcome and a little caveat! 00:01:10 Ad Break 00:01:32 Set the scene 00:05:20 Greg Jackson, Rory Sutherland & Robert Llewellyn 00:07:00 Why? 00:09:41 Robert Llewellyn on Efficiency and Internal Combustion Engines 00:11:18 Rory Sutherland on EV Hostility 00:16:14 The Energy Crisis and Fossil Fuel Industry "Audacity" - Greg Jackson 00:20:53 Oil and Gas - an "Abusive Partner"?! 00:22:56 Market Reform and the Future of BP and Shell 00:28:10 Harm Reduction vs Perfectionism 00:30:45 The Norwegian Paradox and Imported Emissions 00:33:11 Marginal Pricing: The "Pint of Beer" Analogy 00:34:31 Overcoming the Standard of Perfection in New Tech 00:37:46 Greg Jackson's Three Magic Wishes for Energy Reform 00:40:14 AI Data Centres and Localised Pricing 00:43:46 The Perception and Politics of Electric Vehicles 00:45:52 Behavioural Science: Social Copying and the Sigmoid Curve 00:48:21 The IKEA Effect: Loyalty through Sunk Effort 00:50:11 Induction Hobs and the Benefits of Electrification 00:51:03 Reframing Clean Tech as an "Energy Pension" 00:53:08 Preppers and "Freedom Cars" in Texas 00:54:39 The Success of Global EV Test Drives 00:56:53 Micro-Mobility and the Quiet Streets of China 01:00:08 Displacing Global Fossil Fuel Consumption 01:03:03 Symbolic Action vs. Meaningful Energy Change 01:04:45 Closing Remarks and Audience Farewell Why not come and join us at our next Everything Electric expo: www.everythingelectric.show Check out our sister channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/EverythingElectricShow Support our StopBurningStuff campaign: https://www.patreon.com/STOPBurningStuff Become an Everything Electric Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fullychargedshow Become a YouTube member: use JOIN button above Buy the Fully Charged Guide to Electric Vehicles & Clean Energy : https://buff.ly/2GybGt0 Subscribe for episode alerts and the Everything Electric newsletter: https://fullycharged.show/zap-sign-up/ Visit: https://FullyCharged.Show Find us on X: https://x.com/Everyth1ngElec Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/officialeverythingelectric To partner, exhibit or sponsor at our award-winning expos email: [email protected] EE NORTH (Harrogate) - 8th & 9th May 2026 EE WEST (Cheltenham) - 12th & 13th June 2026 EE GREATER LONDON (Twickenham) - 11th & 12th Sept 2026 EE SYDNEY - Sydney Olympic Park - 18th - 20th Sept 2026 #fullychargedshow #everythingelectricshow #homeenergy #cleanenergy #battery #electriccars #electricvehiclesuk #CleanEnergy #EnergyTransition #RenewableEnergy #FutureOfEnergy #ElectricVehicles #EVs #HeatPumps #SolarEnergy #ElectricityPrices #EnergyCrisis #UKEnergy #EnergyMarket #OctopusEnergy #GregJackson #RorySutherland #RobertLlewellyn #EverythingElectric #FullyCharged #ClimateTech #NetZero #Decarbonisation #Sustainability #GreenEnergy

In this episode of the Everything Electric Podcast, Robert Llewellyn sits down with Professor Jan Rosenow, Professor of Energy and Climate Policy at Oxford University, to reveal why electricity currently only tells 20% of the global energy story. They delve into tackling the "hidden 80%", the mobility and heating sectors still dominated by fossil fuels; and explore why our current system is "astonishingly inefficient," wasting two-thirds of all energy inputs as heat. Jan explains how shifting to electrification at scale could cut total global energy demand in half and tackles the biggest myths and milestones of the transition: The Grid Threat: Why data centers pose a more significant regional challenge to the grid than 100 million electric vehicles. Critical Materials: Is the world really running out of lithium, or are we entering an era of "urban mining" where 95-97% of battery materials can be recycled? The China Factor: A look at the "mind-blowing" scale of solar adoption in China and the declining utilization of their coal plants. Beyond Climate: Why electrification is now a primary lever for energy security and economic resilience in a volatile world. From the efficiency of heat pumps to the emergence of industrial heat batteries , this episode connects the dots on what the next phase of the energy transition really looks like. 00:00 A little error... 03:22 Fragile Fuel Systems and Global Crises 05:53 The Myth of North Sea Energy Security 07:44 The Colossal Scale of Global Oil Consumption 08:44 The 20/80 Rule: Why Electricity Isn't Everything 10:41 Efficiency: Why Electrification Halves Energy Use 12:47 China's Solar Revolution and Coal Reality 15:52 The Mindset of the New Generation of Engineers 18:51 Market Tipping Points: Cheaper, Faster, Lighter 22:26 Data Centers vs. EV Grid Impact 28:04 Raw Materials, Lithium Mining, and Circular Economies 34:02 SMRs, Fusion, and Carbon Capture: The Reality Check 41:41 Energiewende and Global Energy Access 48:14 The Next Big Thing: Industrial Heat Batteries 52:40 Domestic Advice: Batteries vs. Solar Why not come and join us at our next Everything Electric expo: www.everythingelectric.show Check out our sister channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/EverythingElectricShow Support our StopBurningStuff campaign: https://www.patreon.com/STOPBurningStuff Become an Everything Electric Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fullychargedshow Become a YouTube member: use JOIN button above Buy the Fully Charged Guide to Electric Vehicles & Clean Energy : https://buff.ly/2GybGt0 Subscribe for episode alerts and the Everything Electric newsletter: https://fullycharged.show/zap-sign-up/ Visit: https://FullyCharged.Show Find us on X: https://x.com/Everyth1ngElec Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/officialeverythingelectric To partner, exhibit or sponsor at our award-winning expos email: [email protected] EE NORTH (Harrogate) - 8th & 9th May 2026 EE WEST (Cheltenham) - 12th & 13th June 2026 EE GREATER LONDON (Twickenham) - 11th & 12th Sept 2026 EE SYDNEY - Sydney Olympic Park - 18th - 20th Sept 2026 Tags: #EnergyTransition #Electrification #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #NetZero #ClimateSolutions #EnergyEfficiency #ElectricVehicles #EVs #HeatPumps #Decarbonization #Sustainability #FutureOfEnergy #CleanTech #GreenTechnology #EnergySecurity #BatteryRecycling #CircularEconomy #Lithium #UrbanMining #ChinaEnergy #GlobalEnergy #ClimateAction #LowCarbon #EverythingElectric #JanRosenow