The EV charging industry is entering a market-rate moment. Incentives are fading in many markets, growth has slowed from the early-2020s surge, and operators are under real pressure to prove their business models. In this start-of-year episode of In-Between Charges, Kevin Spangenberg and Mike Hawks reflect on what 2025 revealed about the state of EV charging, from shifting government targets and cooling investor sentiment to the growing importance of site quality, reliability, and utilization.

They unpack what the much-talked-about “shift to profitability” actually means in practice, where operators are getting it right, and why some networks are starting to pull ahead while others struggle. The conversation also turns practical: Mike and Kevin put on their investor hats and answer a simple but important question: if you had $10m to invest in EV charging today, where would you put it? A candid discussion about what really matters as the EV industry turns the page on a rocky year and looks forward to 2026.

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.

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.

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!

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 matter
• Why ultra-slow charging might just be the next big thing
• The "ketchup bottle effect" of delayed EV adoption and its implications
• Platform vs. in-house software: when to build, when to partner
• How 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!

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!

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!

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!