In-Between Charges

Mike Hawkes & Kevin Spangenberg
  • 5.0 (4)
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This is In-Between Charges, the perfect podcast to listen to while your EV charges. The hosts, Mike Hawkes and Kevin Spangenberg from Monta, bring you all the information about what happens in between charges, behind your charge points and behind the scenes of the EV ecosystem. Hear from leaders and experts in the EV and transportation industry who will discuss the hottest topics around EV’s and EV charging.

  1. Why Some DC Sites Print Money (and Others Bleed Cash)

    11/19/2025

    Why Some DC Sites Print Money (and Others Bleed Cash)

    Some DC fast charging sites print money. Others quietly ruin portfolio-wide ROI. In this episode of In-Between Charges, Kevin and Mike sit down with Rohan Puri, CEO & Co-Founder of Stable Auto, to unpack why. Stable Auto works with many of the largest American CPOs and investors to predict utilization, pick winning locations, and set smarter prices for DC fast charging networks. Rohan shares how he went from building robotic charging arms for autonomous fleets to running a software company that underwrites the profitability of EV charging assets. Together, they dig into what actually drives DCFC performance: traffic patterns, EV penetration, trip distances, amenities, competition, hardware choices, and even how many ports is the right amount for a site. They talk about why “put it near a highway and a gas station” is often wrong, why co-locating with competitors can increase your utilization, how to think in IRR and margin instead of just kWh per port per day, and where dynamic pricing and energy arbitrage could unlock new revenue streams. If you’re a CPO, retailer, investor, or just trying to understand why some sites thrive while others bleed cash, this episode goes straight to the core of DC fast charging economics.

    38 min
  2. Nudge theory arrives for e-mobility

    10/15/2025

    Nudge theory arrives for e-mobility

    Getting from A to B in an EV isn’t as simple as swapping gas for kWh. It is a fundamentally different experience. The companies - CPOs and eMSPs - that serve EV drivers have to navigate a challenging maze to profitability.  Gideon van Dijk from chargetrip joins Mike and Kevin to unpack what CPOs must own - digital, physical, and everything in between - to put themselves in a position to succeed in a world of electrified transport.

    44 min
  3. When Freight Tech had to Become a CPO

    09/10/2025

    When Freight Tech had to Become a CPO

    Founded in 2016, Einride is a freight tech company from Sweden, providing end-to-end technology solutions for electric and autonomous shipping. Starting with trucks and tech, it quickly realized the charging infrastructure in its home market was not ready to meet their unique needs. So they became a CPO as well. They are building Scandinavian-design charging stations throughout the Nordics, powering up their own fleet as well as other heavy duty providers. In this episode, Mike and Kev chat with Anne-Lise Deraedt, who heads up Einride's charging efforts. She details the Einride charging journey, why design is so important to their sites, and what's in store as they expand beyond the Nordics.  Plug in and enjoy!

    26 min
  4. Forging Winners in a Market Slowdown with Rami Syväri from beY0nd

    06/04/2025

    Forging Winners in a Market Slowdown with Rami Syväri from beY0nd

    In this episode of In-Between Charges, Kevin and Mike sit down with Rami Syväri, advisor and founder at beY0nd, to unpack the evolving dynamics of performance, strategy, and resilience in the EV charging industry. With a rich background spanning Fortum, Swisscharge, and now advising CPOs across Europe, Rami brings a front-row perspective to what “good” really looks like in a CPO’s operation, and where the industry still has work to do. Together, they dive deep into the importance of transparency, the power of benchmarking, and how operators can meaningfully compare themselves to peers without compromising sensitive data. Rami shares insights on building scalable, future-proof charging businesses, the operational maturity journey of CPOs, and why now, amidst market “hiccups,” is the time when tomorrow’s winners are forged. From tech stack choices to the business case for ultra-slow charging, and from strategic pivots to trust-building through anonymized data models, this episode is a masterclass in navigating the high-stakes, fast-changing EV ecosystem. Key Topics: The DNA of CPO success and benchmarking KPIs that matterWhy ultra-slow charging might just be the next big thingThe "ketchup bottle effect" of delayed EV adoption and its implicationsPlatform vs. in-house software: when to build, when to partnerHow to prepare now for the next wave of growth Tune in for a grounded, strategic look at where the EV industry is headed—and how to get there with confidence. Happy charging!

    42 min
  5. Fixing EV Charging in America: Building Better Networks with Chris Kaiser from PlugIn

    05/07/2025

    Fixing EV Charging in America: Building Better Networks with Chris Kaiser from PlugIn

    In this episode of In-Between Charges, Kevin and Mike welcome Chris Kaiser, founder of PlugIn and longtime clean energy advocate. Chris shares his journey from energy-efficient lighting to launching his own EV charging network, which is built on reliability, a great driver experience, and, now, the Monta platform. His story offers a candid look at what it takes to build a charging business in the U.S. from the ground up. They dive into why many early charging efforts failed, the dominance of Tesla and ChargePoint, and why Chris believes ownership and accountability are key to long-term success. He explains how metrics like PlugShare scores and kWh per day guide his team’s approach, and how pairing strong software with trusted hardware is helping Plug In grow. The conversation also covers the uncertain policy landscape, including tax credits and NEVI funding, and why Chris remains optimistic. His belief is simple: EVs are just better—and that’s what will drive adoption forward. If you care about the future of charging in the U.S., this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Happy charging!

    49 min
  6. Smart Solutions for Fleet Electrification and Cost Efficiency with Heiko Bayer from The Mobility House

    04/02/2025

    Smart Solutions for Fleet Electrification and Cost Efficiency with Heiko Bayer from The Mobility House

    In this episode of In-Between Charges, hosts Kevin Spangenberg and Mike Hawkes talk with Heiko Bayer, Managing Director at The Mobility House. Heiko shares how the company is helping fleets transition to electric a smarter approach to fleet management, and energy market integrations. He explains how The Mobility House reduces their client’s costs, increases their reliability, and simplifies the electrification for businesses across Europe, North America and Asia. The conversation explores trends shaping the EV industry, one continent versus the next. In Europe, corporate and logistics fleets are electrifying fast, while in the U.S., school bus and transit fleets are leading the space, tapping into bidirectional charging already. Heiko explains why The Mobility House takes on an agnostic approach - not locking people in, but rather unlocking the best offer and chances for operational efficiency with unnecessary costs. As EV adoption grows, the role of energy management is becoming more important. Heiko discusses how integrating smart charging, battery storage, and renewable energy can make fleet electrification more affordable. Whether you're an industry professional or just interested in EVs, this episode offers key insights into the future of mobility. Happy charging!

    41 min
  7. EV Charging’s Big Bet: Automakers, Policy Uncertainty, and the Push for Profitability with Ryan Fisher from BloombergNEF (he’s back!)

    03/05/2025

    EV Charging’s Big Bet: Automakers, Policy Uncertainty, and the Push for Profitability with Ryan Fisher from BloombergNEF (he’s back!)

    In this episode of In-Between Charges, we welcome back Ryan Fisher, Head of Charging Infrastructure at BloombergNEF, for an insightful discussion on the evolving EV charging landscape. With automakers increasingly stepping into the charging business, we explore how their strategies are shifting—balancing investment in infrastructure with the need for profitability. Ryan shares his take on why major players like IONNA and Ionity are forming joint ventures, how automakers are leveraging charging networks to enhance brand loyalty, and whether the business model can ever be as lucrative as selling vehicles. Beyond industry strategies, we also dive into the growing impact of policy changes on the EV ecosystem. From shifting fuel economy standards in the U.S. to evolving CO₂ regulations in Europe, Ryan explains how government intervention is shaping investment decisions. He also unpacks the recent volatility in EV adoption forecasts, the implications of paused NEVI funding, and why some markets are seeing surging charging costs while others remain competitive. With policy uncertainty looming, is the industry at an inflection point? Finally, we tackle the economic realities of charging infrastructure—where margins remain tight despite growing demand. Ryan sheds light on the challenges facing hardware manufacturers, the potential role of carbon credits in sustaining networks, and whether automakers will remain invested in charging long-term or eventually offload their networks. With insights from BloombergNEF’s latest research and real-world case studies, this episode is a must-listen for anyone following the future of EV charging, policy, and electrification. Happy charging!

    42 min
  8. The role of community in driving clean energy forward, with Gavin Morse from Egg

    02/04/2025

    The role of community in driving clean energy forward, with Gavin Morse from Egg

    In this episode, we chat with Gavin Morse, CMO of Egg, about how community-driven initiatives are making clean energy more accessible, reducing strain on the grid, and creating new opportunities for consumers. Here’s what we cover: How the UK became Europe’s top EV market and what’s next.The impact of local initiativesMaking clean energy affordable: practical solutions for EV charging, solar, and home batteries.How Egg Energy measures the impact of its community initiatives, balancing business outcomes with contributions to the broader energy transition.Exploring other community-focused strategies Egg Energy is using to engage local groups and drive wider adoption of clean energy solutions.Building a brand in an industry where customer loyalty to utility companies is rare, and how Egg Energy fosters trust with its customers.If you’re looking for practical solutions to make clean energy more accessible, or want to understand how communities are driving the change needed for a sustainable future, don’t miss this episode.  Tune in for a fresh perspective on how communities are shaping the future of energy.

    35 min
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About

This is In-Between Charges, the perfect podcast to listen to while your EV charges. The hosts, Mike Hawkes and Kevin Spangenberg from Monta, bring you all the information about what happens in between charges, behind your charge points and behind the scenes of the EV ecosystem. Hear from leaders and experts in the EV and transportation industry who will discuss the hottest topics around EV’s and EV charging.

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Hawkes & Kevin Spangenberg
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 In-Between Charges
  • Show Website
    In-Between Charges