The AA launches new podcast The Road Ahead

• The Road Ahead with The AA is a new podcast bringing together experts and industry voices to discuss the big issues affecting drivers

• First episode tackles electric vehicles, including used EV prices, charging, range, battery life and what drivers should consider before making the switch

• “The Road Ahead gives us the chance to have a proper conversation about the issues drivers are talking about and the questions they want answered” – Jack Cousens, host of The Road Ahead

The AA has launched a new podcast bringing together experts and industry voices to discuss the big issues affecting drivers and the future of motoring.

The Road Ahead with The AA is hosted by Jack Cousens, AA Head of Roads Policy, with each episode taking a deeper look at a different motoring topic and the questions drivers want answered.

From road safety and the cost of driving to new technology and the changing way we travel, the podcast will draw on expertise from across The AA alongside guests from the wider motoring industry.

The Road Ahead podcast starts with electric vehicles

The opening episode focuses on electric vehicles, with Jack joined by Jamie Muir from AA Cars and Charlie Cook, Founder and CEO of Rightcharge.¹

The trio discuss some of the biggest questions facing drivers who are considering making the switch to electric, including how far modern EVs can travel, the availability and cost of charging and whether owning an EV is practical for drivers without access to a driveway or dedicated off-street parking.

Are used electric cars becoming cheaper?

Affordability is also put under the spotlight. Jamie discusses how the used EV market is changing, explaining that while electric cars have traditionally been more expensive than their petrol and diesel equivalents, some used EVs are now becoming cheaper.

EV charging, range and battery life explained

The episode also looks at concerns around the lifespan of EV batteries. Jamie and Charlie discuss what experience from electric cars already on the road tells us about battery degradation, while sharing their own experiences of driving and living with EVs.

Charlie explains the difference between charging at home and relying on the public charging network, as well as how drivers can investigate the charging options available where they live and on the journeys they regularly make.

The conversation also looks ahead to the future of electric motoring and what could help more drivers make the switch.

Jack Cousens, host of The Road Ahead, said: “The Road Ahead gives us the chance to have a proper conversation about the issues drivers are talking about and the questions they want answered.

“For our first episode we’ve looked at electric vehicles, bringing together different perspectives to talk about what it’s really like to buy, charge and live with an EV.

“There are still plenty of questions about electric cars, and we want to give drivers useful information that can help them decide what works for them.

“We want The Road Ahead to cover a wide range of issues affecting drivers, and in our next episode we’ll turn our attention to young driver safety.”

Charlie Cook, Founder and CEO of Rightcharge, said: “It was great to join The AA for the first episode of The Road Ahead and have a proper conversation about some of the questions drivers have about electric cars.

“There’s a lot changing in the EV world, so having the opportunity to explore those issues in more detail and help drivers understand what the switch could mean for them is really valuable.”

Jamie Muir, AA Cars, said: “The used EV market has changed significantly, with more choice for buyers and some electric cars now becoming cheaper than their petrol and diesel equivalents.

“The podcast was a great opportunity to look at what’s happening in the market and what drivers should consider when choosing their next car.”

How to watch and listen to The Road Ahead with The AA

Episode one of The Road Ahead with The AA is available now.

Watch the video on The AA’s YouTube channel

Listen to the audio podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms

Episode two will focus on young driver safety, exploring the challenges facing young and newly qualified drivers and what could be done to make the roads safer.

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¹ Rightcharge makes EV charging payments at home and on the road simple for businesses.

Selected highlights from the episode include:

• 02:40 – EV sceptic to convert: Jamie Muir explains how, despite being a self-confessed petrolhead who was initially sceptical about electric vehicles, driving one changed his view: “Immediately it was that light bulb moment of, okay, these are actually quite cool, quite fun.”
• 05:44 – Used EVs becoming cheaper: Jamie discusses the changing used EV market: “For many years, even used EVs have been price prohibitive. They've just been more expensive than a petrol diesel equivalent. Now we're seeing some of them actually a bit cheaper than petrol and diesel equivalents.”
• 08:10 – The cost of charging at home: Charlie Cook explains why home charging can transform the economics of running an EV, saying the unit rate can sometimes be “10 times lower than the unit rate you could pay on the road.”
• 17:18 – How long do EV batteries last? Charlie tackles the perception that an EV battery will deteriorate like a mobile phone battery, explaining: “The actual learnings from 10 years of EVs being on the road is they are far more resilient.”
• 25:08 – Why drivers should try an EV: Charlie reflects on his own experience of switching: “Once you've driven an EV for a while, it's kind of addictive. Like you don't want to go back and drive a petrol diesel again.”