^{E01 with Ben Boutcher-West: What's Next For EV Infrastructure in the UK}

The inaugural episode of Auto Futurecast, in association with Tomorrow's Journey, Asset Finance Connect and sponsored by Solifi, delivered an in-depth and thought-provoking conversation between Chris Kirby, CEO of Tomorrow’s Journey, and Ben Boutcher-West, Chief Technology Officer at Connected Kerb. Together, they unravelled the complexities of the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure landscape, discussing the strides being taken to make EV adoption accessible to all, the challenges of scalability, and the evolving role of technology and financing in this transformation.

The conversation began with Ben outlining his professional trajectory, from his days in Jaguar Land Rover and Bosch to his current role at Connected Kerb, where he oversees the digitalisation and scalability of EV charging infrastructure. With Connected Kerb’s focus on providing affordable and reliable curbside charging solutions for individuals without private driveways, Ben shed light on the unique challenges this market faces and how the company is innovating to close the accessibility gap.

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During the conversation, Chris and Ben highlighted several noteworthy insights:

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1. Bridging the “Driveway Divide”

Connected Kerb is tackling the disparity between those with home-charging facilities and those dependent on public charging. They aim to provide affordable, accessible, and reliable charging solutions for urban and suburban areas with a focus on 7-22kW chargers to serve longer dwell times.

2. Sustainability Meets Convenience

Slow, overnight charging and energy price transparency were discussed as ways to make EV ownership more environmentally and economically viable. They touched on how smart charging solutions can align charging times with greener energy availability and lower costs, benefitting both users and the grid.

3. Funding Innovation

Ben revealed details surrounding Connected Kerb’s latest £120 million fundraising success, achieved through partnerships with Aviva and the UK’s National Infrastructure Bank. This capital injection will enable Connected Kerb to deploy over 40,000 additional charge points, pushing the UK closer to its net-zero goals by 2030.

4. Navigating Complex Regulations

A substantial portion of the conversation unpacked the UK’s EV regulatory landscape. Ben shared Connected Kerb’s proactive efforts to align with new government requirements, such as contactless payment mandates, and how these changes impact local authorities and their EV infrastructure strategies.

5. The Role of AI in EV Infrastructure

Ben lightened the increasingly competitive industry with optimism for the future of automation, pointing out that AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), is quietly revolutionising fault

management and operational efficiency while building the foundation for smarter charging platforms.

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Towards the end, both Chris and Ben expressed their optimism about the broader EV ecosystem despite challenges like public misconceptions, media narratives, and supply chain demands. They encouraged listeners to think long-term when it comes to both consumer habits and infrastructure planning, with confidence that the industry is steadily moving in the right direction.

This inaugural episode is essential for professionals in the EV and mobility spaces, as well as anyone interested in understanding the future of EV infrastructure and how technology is shaping that path. Listen to the full episode to uncover more in-depth insights and expert commentary.