Andrew: Stanley, thanks again for sitting down with us to speak all things electric. Do you mind giving our readers a quick breakdown of who you are?

Stanley: I’m originally from Yorkshire, very much a country boy who has an education sponsored by my family. I went to university in Nottingham and worked in the hospitality and entertainment sector. I started off being a DJ and as my age progressed, I couldn’t really continue on with that. Got into the golf industry and after that became a hotelier.

After that, I decided to move the alps. Went into semi-retirement, but that didn’t really suit me well as I simply got bored and needed something to do. So I decided to get into this brand new and exciting world of electric vehicles.

Andrew: And where are you exactly? Tell us about the part of the French Alps you are in.

Stanley: Just outside Morzine called Portes du Soleil. It’s a very picturesque town and one of the biggest primary ski resorts and skiing area in France.

Andrew: How did you first get involved in the electric vehicle scene?

Stanley: Once I moved to the Alps and sold the hotel we previously had, I got into this semi-retirement setup. That gave me the time and opportunity to sit back and really think: “what is it really that I want to get involved with?”. I don’t really know how it came about how I landed on the electric vehicle topic, but I’ve been following the industry and its progression while I was still in the UK. I always had the perception that France was 10-15 year behind the UK in terms of  commercialization and advancement.

Therefore, I started investigating and learning more about electric vehicles. How they work, who are making them and so on. That’s how I ended up in charging. That’s when it became apparent for me that there isn’t really an infrastructure when it comes to charging all of these cars.

Andrew:  Great, and just like that, you decided on the niche you wanted to get into?

Stanley: Right, compared to the combustion engine, there is simply no infrastructure for electric vehicles. One glance at my town here in Morzine, none of them have an electric charger, but every single one of them is going to need one. Since it is a high-growth industry and a rapidly changing one when it comes to technology that really interested me.

It’s great to see how the manufacturers are stepping up in their output of EVs and how governments are providing incentives. However, it needs to come from really wanting to help improve the environment. That is really where my heart lies. Yes, I would like to be successful and wealthy, but I want to make a difference.

Andrew: I can imagine this motivation comes from wanting to have an impact in your surroundings. How is the Morzine area when it comes to education regarding EVs?

Stanley: I have to make that difference! I can be that change giver which educates people in this mountain region that is obviously, visibly and absolutely being affected by global warming. Like in a lot of topics, the bigger cities such as Paris or a Lyon are going to be at the forefront of information and technology. If you for example go to Geneva, you will see that everyone is more open to Smart Mobility. It’s not that people in rural areas are averse to change, but they sometimes don’t know how to change.  

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Andrew: What has been the biggest challenges so far, when it comes to establishing a business in such a setting?

Stanley: With any new emerging industry, the market and the procedures are not set. So I am still navigating through that. Slowly but surely, the bigger companies are beginning to introduce processes that would help small business like EV-Pow to help facilitate the market.

The market doesn’t necessarily know that the industry has arrived. They know there is something brewing, but the components in educating people about options, financial benefits, charging solutions and more are not entirely there. Don’t forget that purchasing a car is a 5-10 year cycle, that means that a customer needs a lot of information to make that decision. Which is frankly lacking from all of us in the industry.

Andrew: Apart from the lack of education, did you experience any other challenges working form the Morzine area?

Stanley: Yes! The other complication I have come across is this genius idea that was called “Brexit”! I am British and I provide a lot of service for British property owners in the area, who might not call the Alps home. I speak to a lot of British suppliers too, but as soon as you put the Brexit complication there, you pretty much nullify the trade between the UK and Europe.

Andrew: That’s a great insight. That is something that people assume is happening, but people are not fully aware of examples. What kind of changes have you had to make?

Stanley: I started reaching out to suppliers within the mainland. I’m speaking to Easee out of
Norway, they make some good chargers. There is also Etrel out of Slovenia. And to be honest, I also started reaching out to some Chinese suppliers who are producing some good technology at the moment and once EV-Pow has reached a certain level, it would make sense to partner up with them long-term. I just have to make sure that I am covered while we try to figure out how to move forward with the trade situation.

Andrew: What is your vision for Morzine?

Stanley: There are a lot of resorts and chalets that transport their guests from the airport to their accommodations. However, they are all still using fossil fueled vehicles. My dream would be for this eco-system to go fully electric.

Andrew: With all of the amazing vehicles coming out left and right, which one would be your dream electric car?

Stanley: I would love to get my hands on the new Porsche Taycan Gran Turismo! It’s a super slick and attractive sports car. Would definitely go for that instead of a hybrid Panamera! I love the commitment Porsche is making in the electric field. If you think about it, they are a brand that is very much known for their sports cars. But their progress and credibility in this new industry has been really great to watch.

Andrew: Is there anything you’d like to share with other founders when it comes to a part of your routine that helps you get moving forward on a normal day?

Stanley: I spend about an hour in the morning to meditate and visualize my goals and the steps I need to take in order to achieve them. I declare my ambitions, goals, affirmations. I then visualize myself with the electric car, the business’ success and bringing all of these people together to join the EV wave.

Andrew: Lastly, what do your friends and family think when you tell them you have found your purpose in making a positive impact on climate change by helping convince people to switch to EVs? Be honest now!

Stanley: I remember going for a walk with my parents the last time I visited Yorkshire. Around 16 months ago. I gave my dad a passionate speech about me getting into the EV industry and how I will try to help the stop of global warming in the Alps.

My dad has always been pessimistic when I tell him what I am up to, but for one of the first times in my life, my dad turned around and said “That’s a good idea that, lad”.

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