EV Café Takeaway

<div>This week Paul and John welcome Lyndsey Hetherington, EV Charging Specialist at Drax Electric Vehicles.<br> <br> Lyndsey shares her unique journey from starting out in van and truck marketing to becoming a key player in helping fleets transition to zero-emission transport. She reflects on her formative years at Elmtronics, the challenges of building trust in a new industry, and how she balances career ambitions with the joys and chaos of family life.  <br> <br> Discover:  </div> <ul> <li>The North East’s pioneering role as the home of EVs in the UK.  </li> <li>How real relationships, trust, and open advice can drive fleet electrification.  </li> <li>Insights into Drax’s renewable energy mission and the truth behind the headlines.  </li> <li>Lyndsey’s personal journey of growth and embracing change.  </li> <li>Why her magic wand wish is simply for a world filled with positive vibes and less negativity around EVs!</li> </ul> <div> <br> Lyndsey Hetherington (LinkedIn)<br> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndseyhetherington/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndseyhetherington/</a><br> <br> Drax Electric Vehicles (LinkedIn)<br> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/drax-electric-vehicles/?originalSubdomain=uk">https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/drax-electric-vehicles/?originalSubdomain=uk</a> </div>

<div>This week, the EV Café team goes live at Fleet Mobility Live with a very special guest: Dale Eynon, former Head of Fleet at the Environment Agency and now a semi-retired consultant, passionate environmentalist, and mentor to the next generation of fleet leaders.  <br> <br> With over 20 years’ experience managing 10,000+ diverse assets—from cars, vans and HGVs to marine vessels and heavy plant—Dale shares his journey from incident management into fleet, and the steep learning curve that followed. He reflects on:  <br> <br> </div> <ul> <li>The evolution of electric fleets – from early Nissan Leafs and Mitsubishi i-MiEvs to today’s 500-mile EVs  </li> <li>Winning hearts and minds to accelerate EV adoption and break down early myths  </li> <li>The van and 4x4 challenge – why rural operations, towing, and depot-free fleets remain one of the final frontiers for electrification  </li> <li>The power of BIK incentives and TCO modelling in driving fleet transitions  </li> <li>Culture, people, and resilience – key lessons from leading through change  </li> </ul> <div>Dale also opens up about his “semi-early retirement”, his love of low-carbon travel, and his commitment to supporting the next generation of fleet professionals through the AFP and industry mentorship.  <br> <br> If you want insight from someone who’s seen it all in the shift to zero emissions—and still believes the best is yet to come—this episode is for you.  <br> <br> <strong>Dale Eynon (LinkedIn)</strong><br> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-eynon-252a644">https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-eynon-252a644</a> </div>

<div>This week, Paul and Sara (a.k.a. The Sazmanator) sit down with Rebecca Denyer, co-founder of Sebring Works, the innovative British company hand-building retro-inspired electric sports cars!<br> <br> Rebecca shares the remarkable journey from a classic car enthusiast and accountant to an EV pioneer, creating stunning 1950s and 60s-style electric cars that combine nostalgia, performance, and sustainability. Discover how Sebring Works:  <br> <br> </div> <ul> <li>Builds handcrafted, zero-emission sports cars on their own EV skateboard platform  </li> <li>Balances classic car charm with modern reliability and 240+ miles of real-world range  </li> <li>Champions collaboration in the low-volume automotive sector  </li> <li>Explores sustainable manufacturing, including plant-fibre car bodies grown locally  </li> <li>Brings joy to drivers with what they now call the “Sebring Smile”  </li> </ul> <div> <br> This episode is all about innovation, resilience, and the power of pursuing your passion responsibly—while leaving a legacy for the next generation.  If you’ve ever dreamed of a classic car without the oil leaks, breakdowns, or guilt, this one will make you smile.  <br> <br> <strong>Rebecca Denyer (LinkedIn)</strong><br> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-denyer/?originalSubdomain=uk">https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-denyer/?originalSubdomain=uk</a><br> <br> <strong>Sebring Works</strong><br> <a href="https://www.sebring-design.com/">https://www.sebring-design.com</a> </div>

<div>In another live-recorded episode, Paul and John sit down with Sarah Gray, Head of Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy &amp; Development at Dawsongroup Vans.  <br> <br> We talk about:<br> <br> - Falling into the automotive world and never looking back  <br> - Overcoming redundancy and imposter syndrome with the help of a business coach  <br> - Supporting fleets on their transition to electric vans  <br> - The real challenges of productivity and charging infrastructure for commercial EVs  <br> - Dawson Group’s bold investment in renewable energy, solar canopies, and large-scale charging solutions  <br> - The importance of confidence-building, collaboration, and thinking outside the box  <br> <br> Sarah’s passion for helping fleets decarbonise, coupled with her infectious energy, makes this a must-listen for anyone navigating the road to zero-emission transport. And yes, the episode wraps with the EV Café magic wand tradition (or is it a 2 by 4?)<br> <br> ### Sarah Gray (LinkedIn)<br> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-gray-aa62a92/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-gray-aa62a92/</a><br> <br> ### Dawnsongroup Vans<br> <a href="https://www.dawsongroupvans.co.uk">https://www.dawsongroupvans.co.uk</a> </div>

<div>From lasers bound for Mars to leading the charge in EV infrastructure, Zaptec’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. In this week’s episode, Paul and Sarah sit down with Michael Braybrook to explore how a company that once supported NASA pivoted to become one of the few profitable EV hardware manufacturers in the world.  <br> <br> <strong>Michael shares:  </strong> </div> <ul> <li>The fascinating origin story of Zaptec, from space technology to smart EV charging.  </li> <li>Insights on V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) and how it can unlock free driving and a smarter energy ecosystem.  </li> <li>The launch of the Zaptec Go 2, a future-proof, beautifully designed home charger that’s V2G-ready, solar-integrated, and built for long-term reliability.  </li> <li>His leadership philosophy, rooted in empathy, resilience, and creative problem-solving, and how he’s building a passionate UK team to accelerate the zero-emission future.  </li> </ul> <div>If you’ve ever wondered how EV charging fits into a cleaner, more cost-effective energy system—or how a company can make sustainability both practical and profitable—this episode is packed with value.  <br> <br> <strong>Michael Braybrook (LinkedIn)</strong><br> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/braybrook/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/braybrook/</a><br> <br> <strong>Zaptec UK</strong><br> <a href="https://www.zaptec.com/">https://www.zaptec.com</a> </div>