eTechvolution Podcast: eMobility and Automotive Innovation

Germany is launching a €3 Billion EV subsidy in 2026. On paper, it looks great, up to €4,000 for private families. But there is a hidden flaw: Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs) get the exact same payout as Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs).In this video, I explain why this "tech-neutral" approach could backfire. I break down how dealership commission structures and public charging prices (often over €0.60/kWh) create a "trap" that pushes private buyers back toward combustion engines, and what the industry must do to fix it.In this video:- The Flaw: Why equal subsidies distort the market.- The Dealer Trap: Why salesp...

Duration: 00:45:14

In this episode, I break down how the Dutch government’s seizure of Chinese-owned Nexperia exposed Europe’s deep dependence on foreign semiconductor manufacturing.

Learn about Nexperia, their scale, market share and connection with Wingtech Technology and Chinese State Fund.

Learn how a ten day chain of events between the U.S., Netherlands, and China disrupted automotive supply chains, triggered factory shutdown warnings, and reshaped Europe’s semiconductor strategy.

The analysis also explores what this means for the future, and why Chinese OEM expansion in global markets may slow n...

Duration: 00:21:12

Traton Charging Solutions is simplifying electric commercial transport.As an EMSP (Mobility Service Provider), it offers a range of capabilities, including contracting, invoicing, and utilization insights and has already identified more than 600 truck-ready sites across the EU.We discuss:⚡ How Traton Charging Solutions is solving the unique challenges of electric-truck charging🚛 Why trucks can’t share passenger-car charging stations🗺️ Route planning, booking & dynamic rerouting for logistics operators🔋 The role of Megawatt Charging and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) for future fleets💰 How total cost of ownership (TCO) becomes competitive — even at €0.30–0.40 per kWhWhether you’re in fleet management, charging-infrastructure planning, or simply curious about the n...

Duration: 00:15:07

Mercedes-AMG GT XX didn’t just break records, it redefined EV endurance.In this Part 2 deep dive, I break down the math behind the record:- 40,075 km in 7.5 days at Nardò, Italy (~circumference of Earth)- Energy consumed: 20,000–22,850 kWh — equal to 8–9 years of EU driving or 4–5 years in the US- ~3,177 laps, ~38 charging stops per day, charging from 10–80% in ~5.7 min at 850 kW- How weather, wind, and track conditions impacted performance (spoiler: barely at all)- Why axial flux motors, cylindrical cells, and direct oil cooling were the real heroesThis isn’t about headline speeds or one-time stunts. It’s about repeatable perfor...

Duration: 00:15:54

Everyone says China is leading because of money, factories, and engineers. But that’s only half the truth.The real reason China is dominating the global car industry is the consumer mindset. Chinese buyers demand constant innovation, embrace beta software, and see cars as lifestyle spaces, not just transport. This creates an “innovation / acceleration loop” where companies launch bold features, get real-world feedback fast, and improve at lightning speed.Meanwhile in Europe, stricter regulations, cautious consumers, and slower adoption keep automakers stuck in the past.In this video (recorded at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich), I break down:- Why Chines...

Duration: 00:10:53

Looking to future proof your EV charging strategy?In this exclusive interview, I sit down with Torben Fog, Co-Founder and CIO of Spirii, to unpack how their platform is reshaping eMobility across 22 countries.We cover everything from Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) innovation to smart fleet optimization and Spirii’s groundbreaking ability to reduce charging data traffic by up to 90% using their “Power Delta” tech.Whether you're a CPO, fleet operator, or just someone obsessed with EV tech, this episode dives deep into:✅ How V2G will scale commercially by 2026✅ Why reducing SIM/data traffic saves OPEX for CPOs✅ Scheduled charging, grid balanci...

Duration: 00:27:13

At IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse and Siemens CEO Roland Busch sat down with Gordon Repniski (Executive Editor, POLITICO Deutschland) to discuss the future of European competitiveness.From regulation and bureaucracy to the 2035 combustion engine ban, tariffs, and the growing challenge from China, this 23 minute panel offers a candid look at how Europe’s biggest industrial players see the global landscape.What you’ll learn in this video:- Why Europe risks falling behind the US and China on innovation speed- How bureaucracy and regulation can act as Europe’s biggest brake- BMW’s take on the 2035...

Duration: 00:23:04

Mercedes AMG GT XX has just redefined what’s possible for electric vehicles. In one of the most brutal endurance tests ever attempted, this hyper-EV covered 40,075 km in just 7.5 days, the equivalent of driving around the world.⚡ That’s not all: the energy consumed during this run equals 8 – 9 years of driving for the average European driver. Imagine compressing nearly a decade of usage into just one week.In this Part 1 video, I break down:- The record itself: 40,075 km in 7.5 days at Italy’s Nardò high-speed oval- Average speeds of 300 km/h and charging at 850 kW- How Mercedes AMG GT XX shatt...

Duration: 00:12:34

EVs aren’t green because of the battery. That’s the argument you’ve heard a thousand times. But the data tells a very different story.In this video, I break down the BMW iX3 Neue Klasse and show you how it beats its gasoline counterpart in just 17,500 km, about 1.5 years of driving in Europe. Using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), we’ll go from raw materials to recycling and see how clean an EV really is.What you’ll learn in this video:⚡ Why “EVs Aren’t Green” is a myth, and how BMW proves it with real data⚡ The 4 stages of vehi...

Duration: 00:13:57

In part two of my deep-dive with ElectricFelix (Felix Hamer), we uncover why China’s EV ecosystem has scaled so rapidly compared to Europe.⚡ Topics we cover:- The shocking reality of 10¢/kWh DC fast charging in China- Government policies and incentives shaping EV adoption- Why OEMs like BYD, Xpeng, Zeekr and Nio build their own charging networks- Tesla’s place in China’s market — and why its superchargers aren’t always the cheapest- What Europe can learn from China’s scale, strategy, and pricingFrom random parking lots in Shenzhen with 50+ chargers to nationwide charging competition, Felix shares his firsthand insig...

Duration: 00:33:09

From his very first ride on an electric motorbike in Amsterdam to standing in a random parking lot in Shenzhen surrounded by 50+ chargers, this is the journey of Felix Hamer, better known as Electric Felix.

In this episode, Felix shares:

⚡ How a single contest ride sparked his obsession with e-mobility

⚡ What fast charging looked like in Europe back in 2017

⚡ His first shocking experiences with China’s EV ecosystem

⚡ Why random Chinese parking lots have more chargers than entire European cities

⚡ What Europe can learn from China’s scale, price...

Duration: 00:27:40

2025 is turning into the year of EV records. Endurance, speed, sales, and range are all being pushed beyond imagination.Mercedes AMG GT XX just drove 40,075 km in 7.5 days, the equivalent of circling the Earth twice, averaging 221 km/h with daily runs over 5,300 km.BYD Yangwang U9 Track Edition became the world’s fastest EV at 472 km/h, powered by 4 motors delivering a combined 3,000 horsepower on a groundbreaking 1,200V platform.Xiaomi YU7 shocked the market with 200,000 pre-orders in 3 minutes and 289,000 in one hour, rivaling Tesla Model Y’s entire yearly sales in China.And now we’re seeing production EVs like t...

Duration: 00:05:19

This is Part 2 of my conversation with Sebastian Fleischhacker, an eMobility expert with deep experience in pricing and roaming, on the eTechvolution Podcast. ⚡In Part 1, we explored how hot climates and roofless charging stations silently degrade EV batteries. Now, in Part 2, we dive into the burning topic of EV charging prices, and why fixed rates are dead.🔑 Key topics we cover:- Why fixed EV charging prices no longer make sense for CPOs or drivers- How dynamic pricing works, and what it means for your charging bill- Lessons from airlines and telcos — applied to EV charging- Why CPOs who switch to dynam...

Duration: 00:51:33

What happens to your EV battery when you live in Spain versus Norway? Why can something as simple as a roof over a charger affect long-term battery health?

And how are cybersecurity scams like fake QR codes putting both EV drivers and charge point operators at risk?

In this episode of the eTechvolution Podcast, I sit down with Sebastian Fleischhacker, a former film director turned EV expert with over 220,000 electric kilometers driven and 40+ EVs tested.

Together, we explore:

Sebastian move from film industry to an EV expertEV battery health in hot vs...

Duration: 00:34:25

In this exclusive video, Volvo's Lead Audio Engineer, Jonatan Ewald, walks us through the most immersive in-car sound system I've ever experienced. With 25 Bowers & Wilkins speakers, Dolby Atmos, and even headrest speakers, this setup transforms the car into a cinema on wheels.

Discover why this car literally sounds better than most cinemas!

What we explore:

The engineering behind 25-speaker spatial audioUnique headrest speaker placement and why it mattersSound modes: Concert Hall and Abbey Road Studio recreationsLive demos with Beatles' "Hey Jude," Billie Eilish, and movie soundtracksSmart audio zones for different driving scenarios

Duration: 00:16:48

Why do 1 in 5 EV charging sessions fail? How Plug & Charge is achieving 98-99% success rates when the industry standard is only 80%?

Join me for an exclusive conversation with Christian Hahn, CEO of Hubject, the company operating the world's largest EV charging roaming platform. With over 1 million charge points connected globally and 4 million vehicles using their Plug & Charge technology, Hubject is quietly revolutionizing how we think about electric vehicle charging.

In this deep-dive interview, Christian shares:

The untold story of Hubject's journey from 2012 to todayWhy the EV charging industry is so fragmented and how to...

Duration: 00:23:17

What if 400,000 lampposts in the Netherlands could unlock Europe's EV charging future?

In this episode of etechvolution, I speak with Heimen Visser, CEO of CityCharge, the company transforming everyday street lamps into dual socket 22 kW AC chargers.

We explore:

How this low impact solution could enable urban EV scalingThe challenges of retrofitting vs new installationWhat's coming in CityCharge v3: V2G, dynamic load control & payment terminals

🎧 Tune in to learn why this model could reshape public EV charging across cities like Berlin, Paris, and London.

Duration: 00:12:56

Join me for an exclusive conversation with Wulf Schlachter, co-founder and former CTO of IONITY, Europe's largest premium charging network. With over 15 years in emobility, Wulf shares game changing insights about where the industry is really heading.🎯 Key Revelations:- Why charging infrastructure isn't the bottleneck everyone thinks it is- The surprising truth about Megawatt Charging Systems (MCS) - only 3% of truck charging!- Why Vehicle-to-Grid won't arrive until 2026-2027 (and the tax problems nobody talks about)- The real reason EV adoption stagnated after the subsidy cuts- Commercial fleets will drive 50% of EV growth by 2030🚛 Commercial Vehicle Insights:- Why...

Duration: 00:29:20

In this interview, I discussed with Marco Möller, Co-founder & Managing Director of Pionix, to explore how their open source software ecosystem is solving the most painful EV charging problems, especially uptime and firmware fragmentation.PIONIX’s mission in one line:To help charger manufacturers stop reinventing the wheel and focus on innovation, while PIONIX handles the code complexity no one wants to touch.In this video, you will get to know about how open source framework is supporting the charger manufacturers and CPOs, and also discuss the products and platforms e.g. EVerest, PIONIX Cloud, PIONIX BaseCamp and PIO...

Duration: 00:13:18

In this exclusive interview, a Senior Technical Leader, Robert Eriksson, from Volvo Cars walks us through the propulsion system of the all new Volvo ES90. We discuss the shift to 800V architecture, in house developed eDrive units, and how Volvo is preparing for future technologies like bidirectional charging and exploring charging with AC Wallbox without the need for On Board Charger and skipping the inverters to drive e-Motors directly. This is not a marketing pitch. It's a genuine, in- depth conversation about the engineering behind Volvo’s latest electric flagship.What you’ll learn in this video:- What’s chan...

Duration: 00:11:52