Everything Electric Podcast

Episode: Clean Energy in a Divided World: The Global Power Struggle!

Date: October 13, 2025

Host: Robert Llewellyn
Guests:

• AJ Alawalia (Head of Supply Chain, Renewable UK)
• James Court (Public Policy Director, Octopus Electric Vehicles)
• Tim Dexter (Vehicle Policy Manager, Transport & Environment)
• Tanya Sinclair (Electric Vehicles UK)

Episode Overview

This live-recorded episode from the Everything Electric show in Farnborough dives into how global politics, tariffs, and international tensions are dramatically shaping the clean energy transition. The panel brings UK and international perspectives on the state of renewables, electric vehicles (EVs), supply chains, and the real risks of geopolitical headwinds facing a sustainable future. The guests candidly dissect positive advances, persistent barriers, misinformation, and what’s next for decarbonisation—serving up both hard truths and optimism for listeners navigating a fast-changing clean tech landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Global Tipping Point for Renewables

• Robert Llewellyn opens by highlighting recent IEA data: “Renewables produced more energy around the world than coal for the first time, which is a kind of fairly important tipping point.” (01:09)
• Robert injects wit regarding media skepticism: “We all thought solar panels work really well when it’s pitch black at night because we’re complete morons. Sorry, I’ll move on.” (01:45)

2. Clean Energy Supply Chains: Cost Trends & Geopolitics

• AJ Alawalia reflects on fluctuating costs in renewables:
  “Since conflict in Ukraine and other supply chains and commodity prices and cost of energy increasing as well… now what we’re seeing is the cost of some of these installations and these assets increasing now.” (03:30)
• The discussion covers how the UK could benefit from local supply chains and job creation, with AJ emphasizing the need for government support.

3. The Rise of Electric Vehicles: From Ambition to Reality

• James Court spotlights the surge in EV sales:
  “It’s 36 months in a row that electric vehicle sales have gone up. We’re nearly now one in four cars, new cars sold in the UK electric... Within the next couple of months we could see the EVs overtake petrol in car sales, which is huge.” (04:57)
• James observes a rapid shift in affordability and competitiveness: BYD and other new players are selling EVs cheaper than petrol vehicles—“that is going to become the norm in two years’ time.” (06:11)
• Robert humorously ponders the future: “Really wealthy people might buy petrol cars in 20 years' time. They’ll be incredibly expensive, they’ll be really difficult to refuel… It’s the exact opposite of the beginning discussion around electric vehicles.” (07:52)
  • James: “You will look a bit kooky.” (09:03)
• Global context: Asian examples lead the way, with China’s all-electric urban fleets and Vietnam jumping from near-zero to almost 50% EV market share in just a few years. (09:38–11:07)

4. Falling Behind: Is Europe Losing Its Edge?

• Tim Dexter provides sobering context:
  “Unless we make sure that we’ve got something that’s competitive across the UK, within Europe, then that’s all going to disappear… There’s a real risk that we start to fall behind, not just in terms of manufacturing, but also in terms of consumer markets.” (09:38–11:24)

5. Misinformation, Political Headwinds, and Industry Pushback

• Tanya Sinclair tackles the challenge of misinformation:
  “Due to, I’d say, misinformation and disinformation out there is a kind of backsliding of knowledge… amongst consumers generally, but also amongst politicians, councillors [and] other people that are in positions of influence to shape our policy.” (12:57)
• Tanya and others highlight the risk of poor communication driving public hesitation on EVs, demonstrating the urgent need for better information and community advocacy:
  “We need to really explain… why it’s benefiting them. Not just them on a personal level, but why it will help the country as well.” (23:32, AJ)

6. The Economics of Fuel & Electricity Prices

• Robert and the panel interrogate a persistent myth:
  “Why are our wholesale electricity prices dictated by gas?... That is definitely what made electricity prices rise after the Ukraine invasion.” (18:06)
• AJ clarifies:
  “The cost of your electricity isn’t increasing because of renewable energy. It’s predominantly based on the cost or the volatile costs of gas.” (18:28)

7. Barriers to Mass Adoption: Access & Equity

• James Court raises a critical point about public charging:
  “For the 40% of people that don’t have a driveway, that is always going to be there… It’s an unfair thing to make people move into if you’re not doing everything you can to make it as cheap as possible.” (16:47–18:06)
• The team suggest reforms: flexible tariffs, tackling taxes on electricity, and policy levers to support the 40% without driveways.

8. Industry Reaction to Chinese EVs and Manufacturing’s Future

• Tanya Sinclair on European automaker shock:
  “It’s showing now that it’s not possible to keep up in terms of market share, price competitiveness, technology and specification comparison… The companies that are built to deliver EVs en masse for the global market are going to win this market out.” (24:48)
• Tim Dexter on the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate:
  “It’s the UK’s largest decarbonisation policy… But at the same time, that’s kind of being weakened… It may be the case that UK based manufacturers do need to feel a bit of heat for a couple of years.” (25:42)
• James Court laments lost opportunity:
  “The maddening thing is, is that the first mass produced electric vehicle was in the UK. We had the head start on this, we gave it away and we are struggling to get it back.” (26:44)

9. Grid, Investment, and Future Opportunities

• AJ highlights grid expansion and the pace of renewables:
  “Renewable generation has come online quicker than what we’ve been able to roll the grid out in time. Unfortunately, we’ve been a victim of our own success.” (30:35)
• Robert offers optimism—and humor—on negative pricing events:
  “I charged the batteries in my house, did all... charged two cars and got paid to do that... The fact that that was even remotely possible gives the impression that there is... a disruption happening.” (29:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Robert Llewellyn (on media skepticism, 01:45):
  “We all thought solar panels work really well when it’s pitch black at night because we’re complete morons.”
• James Court (on the inevitability of EVs, 07:26):
  “If you see the future of 10 or 15 years time and you’re desperately trying to cling on to what is going to be a dead industry—it doesn’t make any sense to me.”
• Tim Dexter (on complacency and risk, 11:07):
  “Vietnam didn’t sell a single, barely sold a single electric car in 2021. They’re reaching almost 50% of vehicle sales being electric at the moment.”
• Tanya Sinclair (on misinformation, 12:57):
  “What we’re actually having is… a kind of backsliding of knowledge... So part of the work that we’re doing is addressing that misinformation head on.”
• James Court (on energy independence and geopolitics, 15:40):
  “It is sort of... every time you fill up your car you are funding terrorism and it’s like, wow, wow.”
• AJ Alawalia (debunking myths, 18:28):
  “The cost of your electricity isn’t increasing because of renewable energy. It’s predominantly based on the cost or the volatile costs of gas.”
• James Court (on missed industrial opportunity, 26:44):
  “The first mass produced electric vehicle was in the UK. We had the head start on this, we gave it away and we are struggling to get it back.”
• Robert Llewellyn (on the role of individuals, 23:32):
  “If you’ve got solar panels and EV and you’re seeing your costs reduce, tell your neighbour who’s sort of curious about why you’re doing those things and explain why.”
• AJ Alawalia (on UK innovation, 27:39):
  “Lithium ion technologies were invented in the UK. Let’s not forget this country has its part in the industrial revolution. We can do these things.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:09] – IEA data and renewables-teasing BBC coverage
• [03:10] – AJ on renewable costs & supply chains post-Ukraine
• [04:57] – James on consistent rise of EV sales
• [07:52] – Robert’s reflections on China’s all-electric transport, the changing luxury of petrol cars
• [09:38] – Tim on Europe’s lagging urgency and global competition
• [12:57] – Tanya on the impact of disinformation and need for advocacy
• [15:40] – James on geopolitics, energy independence, and “funding terrorism”
• [18:28] – AJ explains electricity pricing, gas, and renewables
• [24:48] – Tanya on how Chinese brands outpace EU automakers
• [25:42] – Tim & James on UK manufacturing policy and the ZEV mandate
• [29:33] – Robert and AJ discuss negative electricity prices and grid implications

Conclusion

The episode paints a multidimensional, frank, and sometimes witty picture of the global clean energy transition. While progress is undeniable—record-breaking renewables, surging EV adoption, and breakthrough local manufacturing—panelists highlight the profound influence of politics, misinformation, and market forces that threaten momentum. The panel calls on advocates, policymakers, and industry alike to bolster facts, invest in domestic supply chains, and make clean energy and EVs both accessible and affordable for all. The UK, they argue, must double down on its innovative DNA to capture the future, not cede it.

For those short on time: This episode provides a grounded, engaging navigation of the intersection of energy, transport, geopolitics, and the everyday choices that will shape the next era of sustainability, with spirited debate and a dash of British humor throughout.