The growth of the Electric Vehicles (EV) and Future Mobility landscape has been significant for the past couple of years, driven by market expansion, purchase incentives, availability of options, and strict governmental policies towards the banning of ICE vehicle sales. Across hardware, software and services we have supported a myriad of VC backed start-ups to scale, as well as larger organisations developing their future mobility offerings.
This continued expansion of the EV industry, not just road vehicles, has already and is further expected to create a massive demand to hire top leadership talent across an array of EV technologies and infrastructures. As experts in this industry, we at Hyperion Search have been working with clients in the following subsectors:
Our EV and Future Mobility team is headed by Stephen Robinson, Director
Stephen leads Hyperion Search’s EV & Future Mobility practice, spanning Battery Manufacturing, Electric Vehicle Manufacturing, EV Charging Infrastructure (OEM, Installation, CPO, Maintenance, eMSP and SaaS), Fleet Electrification, MaaS, Hydrogen and the wider CASE ecosystem. He specializes in C-Suite and Senior Leadership across Commercial, Operational & Technical disciplines, whilst supporting scale-ups with international expansion and building out departmental teams.
Stephen has over a decade of experience hiring across the global energy and mobility sectors, including 8 years’ experience recruiting into the EV sector. Over the years he has developed a rich network and is recognised as one of the top search consultants in the industry. Stephen is passionate about helping people and companies to grow. As an electric vehicle driver himself, he is driven to help accelerate the mobility transition.
Stephen is a very professional recruiter, always enthusiastic and present. He followed and helped me during all the recruiting process with clear information, and advice. Talking with him, you can feel he loves his job and his natural empathy with people is something that allows him to go further the standard recruiting process. He's an expert about the e-mobility market and really updated; we had more than a talk about that, and for the first time in my professional life I've been recruited by a person who really was able to deep analyze and evaluate my competencies.
Always present with updates at every recruiting step, I can say he really is the right person in the right place.
Alessandro Cicerchia
Sales Country Manager Italy at Alfen
David and the team at Hyperion have just completed an assignment for us, from which we would 100% recommend their services. We commissioned the work with them because our previous attempt to use a conventional agency in our sector (automotive) had been useless. They quickly understood the needs of the assignment and delivered above expectations, giving us a good choice of high quality and well matched candidates to select from. Thank you
Amanda Lyne
Managing Director at ULEMCo Ltd
Steve and the team at Hyperion are reliable and operate with integrity. Steve a pleasure to work with and is a great communicator, regularly updating both candidates and clients. Of most value, he knows the industry and people within it very well and takes time to match roles with individuals, taking care that the match works for both parties, which gives everyone involved the best chance of long term success.
Geoff Dawson
Head of Product & Innovation at Drax
Stephen and the Hyperion team are great. We needed some support to help find our first Head of Business Development at Trojan. Stephen helped identify some fantastic candidates for the role and in the end we were delighted with our final hire. Very professional team and service and clearly extremely well connected in the EV charging sector.
Ian Mackenzie
CEO and Founder at Trojan Energy
Steve is a top professional - I would highly recommend working with him. It’s a 10 from me
Russell Olive
Business Development Director at Vaylens
Testimonials
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26 February 2026
Future Mobility News & Views: February 2026 Edition
By
Welcome back to the latest edition of Future Mobility News & Views.
Before diving in, a quick personal milestone to share. Yesterday marked seven years since I joined Hyperion Search to lead our EV & Future Mobility practice. It’s been a journey shaped entirely by the people in this sector - the leaders, founders, operators, investors, teams and colleagues (past & present) for which I’ve had the privilege to get to know and work alongside all these years. The Doers. The ones who show up, push things forward, and deliver genuine impact. Thank You.
I’m hugely grateful for the trust, the conversations, and the chance to play my small part in helping the right people find the right missions, and in turn, helping so many ambitious organisations realise their scale objectives. And even with a decade in #emobility under my belt, it’s clear we’ve still got a long way to go - in fact, we haven’t even scratched the surface.
But what a moment to hit that milestone 👇🏼
EV sales in Europe grew 30% last year, overtaking petrol for the first time. December alone saw a 51% year‑on‑year growth, with the likes of Denmark and the Netherlands pushing past 60–70% BEV share. Even with Tesla sales down significantly as Elon dabbles with robots and robotaxis (a shame in my opinion - see my post here, the momentum didn’t slow - BYD tripled its growth, and others stepped straight into the space.
All of this happened despite policy somewhat softening around ICE phase‑outs. Better tech and better economics continue to win. And it's no longer just cars. Commercial fleets, vans, trucks are buses already showing the same early curve.
The transition isn’t coming. It’s here.
It’s also been a busy start to the year for the team. From E‑World in Essen, to this week’s Energy Storage Summit in London, and my own visit to Powered Up London last month. A few standout themes from that event:
- The sector is shifting from “Land Grab" to "Longevity". Yes, there will always be the few new market entrants who try to capitalise on the low hanging fruits and quick wins but they won't last. We'll end up with fewer, better quality, better funded and more reliable operators - and that's a good thing.
- Execution is becoming the differentiator. And investors recognise this. Shiny pitch decks and ambitious growth plans won't cut it if your commercial models and leadership teams aren't credible.
- Talent remains a critical bottleneck - especially in commercial, product, and delivery roles.
- And perhaps most importantly - the EV transition is no longer a niche movement and sub-standard EV charging is no longer acceptable.
With that, let’s take a look at what’s been happening across the sector…
Industry News Round-up 🚗⚡
🔋 Battery
Donut Lab releases first data on its controversial solid‑state battery: There has been a lot of noise around this and it was very much a topic of discussion that came up on 1-2 panels at Powered Up in London last month. Whilst early results show promising energy density and cycle life, questions remain around manufacturability and cost. Time will tell!
Connected Energy to establish second‑life EV battery testing at its grid‑scale storage site: Connected Energy who we have had the pleasure to support over the years will begin testing repurposed EV batteries at its large‑scale energy storage facility. This is a move that strengthens the business case for circularity, extends asset life, and supports grid flexibility at a time when storage demand is accelerating.
🚛 eHGV
UK boosts purchase grants for electric HGVs: The UK government has injected an additional £18 million into its existing Plug-in Van and Truck Grant which comes as a major boost and a huge step in accelerating the fleet transition.
Electric truck sales rise in 2025 but volumes remain small: Electric truck sales grew meaningfully last year, though they still represent a tiny share of the overall market. But this is exactly what early‑curve adoption looks like - slow, then sudden. Infrastructure, grants, and maturing vehicle platforms are now lining up and the inflection point is getting closer.
UK Electric Freightway launches with first public eHGV hubs: The UK’s new Electric Freightway initiative opened its first public eHGV charging hubs in January, providing dedicated high‑power infrastructure for operators and removing one of the biggest barriers to early adoption. This is the kind of backbone investment the sector has been waiting for.
A new electric truck charging hub is being built at Magna Park, Lutterworth: With operations due to begin in September 2026, Guardian Smart Infrastructure Management and Keoma Hubs are partnering to deliver the site, which is positioned as a major enabler for large‑scale eHGV adoption.
Fleete secures planning consent for a 26-bay electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) charging hub in the UK: The hub will support the accelerating shift to electric HGVs across one of the country’s densest concentrations of warehouses and distribution centres.
Public EV Charging ⚡
TfL awards TotalEnergies a new contract to deploy up to 43 rapid EV chargers across London: This will no doubt strengthen the capital’s public fast‑charging network for high‑mileage commercial users.
Fleet 🚚🚚🚚
Octopus Energy launches Octopus Fleet: The consolidated platform will support businesses with access to public charging, home‑charging reimbursement, fleet payment tools, and on‑site energy solutions such as chargers, solar, and battery storage. It’s positioned as a one‑stop shop for organisations at any stage of their electrification journey.
🤖 Autonomous Vehicles
Uber commits $100m to robotaxi charging infrastructure: This comes as a clear signal that AV deployment is shifting from pilots to commercialisation.
Wayve has secured $1.2–1.5 billion in new investment: Lifting its valuation to around $8.6 billion and accelerating its shift from R&D to commercial deployment, the company plans to launch robotaxi trials in London in 2026.
📈 BEV Uptake
UK EV registrations edge up in January - but market share dips: Promising news with BEV registrations to kickstart the year but a reminder that growth won’t be linear, and policy clarity still matters.
🏛️ Politics & Policy
EU urged to avoid a funding gap as heavy‑duty charging accelerates: A joint industry letter warns that infrastructure momentum could stall without coordinated support.
UK increases home and workplace charge‑point grants: The government is lifting EV charger grants from £350 to £500 per socket from 1 April 2026, a move designed to make home, workplace and fleet charging far more affordable.
Industry Insights 🔍
🫱🏼🫲🏼Consolidation: Not a slowdown - a maturation
Pretty much this time last year, I joined a brilliant webinar from LCP Delta where John Murray and industry leaders explored whether the European EV charging market was entering a consolidation era. The conclusion then was “not yet, but very soon.”
Well… it’s here.
Within just ten days, we saw four major deals:
- PLUG Charging acquiring Wattif EV's UK & Ireland estate
- Be.EV acquiring Mer UK's public EV Charging network
- Connected Kerb taking over Trojan Energy
- ubitricity acquiring FM Conway Ltd's SureCharge network
This isn’t the sector shrinking. This is the sector growing up.
Chris Jackson put it perfectly in his recent LinkedIn post:
"The land grab phase is done. The market is sorting itself into operators with the capital and commercial model to scale and those that can't get there alone...the direction is clear. Fewer, larger, better-funded networks. That means better reliability, more consistent pricing and operators with the balance sheets to maintain and grow infrastructure for the long term."
Fragmentation has been holding back utilisation, financing, and customer experience. Consolidation is the only way to build networks that are truly scalable, reliable, and investable.
I expect to see more of this through Q2 and beyond.
eHGV Momentum 🚚⚡
The eHGV landscape is gathering real pace. The market map Niall Riddell M.A.F.P and I published earlier this month has already sparked some brilliant conversations - and we’re working on future iterations to reflect the speed of change. If you haven't connected with us already, or we haven't included your organisation in our map, please DM me. I'd love to talk to you if you are building solutions to enable heavy duty electrification at scale.
And on the topic of eHGV's, If you haven’t yet read the excellent SET Ventures report on heavy‑goods electrification (developed by Austin Wood, who I placed), it’s well worth your time. It’s one of the clearest analyses of the commercial, technical, and policy levers shaping this space. You can access it here.
Deals, Funding & Investment 💰
It has been a strong couple of months for capital flows across batteries, charging, and fleet electrification. Here are my top picks:
- TWAICE raised €24m to accelerate battery analytics.
- Renault Group acquired Flexis in full.
- Fastned issued new bonds and secured a multi‑million‑euro financing framework for expansion.
- European Investment Bank (EIB) backed Eleport to develop 250 new HPC parks.
- TUAL | Pro-Charging raised £1.5m to scale high‑power charging and UK deployment.
Capital is still there but it’s flowing more diligently and to the right places - proven operators, scalable models, and infrastructure‑critical technologies.
Talent Insights 👥
I recently shared some thoughts on the value of a true search partner - especially in a market where hiring is becoming more deliberate, more strategic, and more risk‑aware. Read it here
A few key points worth reiterating:
- Great hiring isn’t about speed - it’s about precision.
- The best candidates aren’t “on the market” - they’re in the sector, doing the work. Great work.
- And the organisations that win are those that treat talent as a competitive advantage, not a cost line.
As consolidation across the EV sector accelerates and capital becomes more selective, the bar for leadership and execution will only rise. Don't let a poor hiring strategy limit your ability to attract the best leaders.
Key People Moves (January / February) 👥
Already this year, there have been some high profile people moves across the sector, here's my top picks:
Mo Ismail joins Optimo Energy as Director of Sales Europe
Paul Ayres joins Paythru as Chief Commercial Officer
Martin Roemheld joins EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG as Chief Executive Officer Mobility+
Luke Dowell joins TUAL | Pro-Charging as CTO
Stuart Tolley joins Fuuse as Sales Director
We cover this more broadly each quarter in our Market & Talent Review which will be published towards the end of Q1. You can take a look at our previous release here
Podcast Recommendations 🎧
A few standout listens this month:
- Leaders in Cleantech - Johannes Leon Kirnberger, Delta Charge
- The Charge Point Podcast by FLEXECHARGE - Episode 43 - Scaling Fast Charging with Batteries: Enico’s Take on Co-Located BESS
What else should I be listening to?
Looking Ahead
As we head towards Q2, a few themes feel inevitable...
- More consolidation is going to happen - especially across the CPO and software landscape.
- There will be a sharper focus on profitability and utilisation, not just growth.
- This will mean a more careful, critical approach to hiring - hiring volumes will be impacted but there will still be solid demand for the right people in the right roles - at business critical levels.
- Acceleration in eHGV will continue, driven by grants, infrastructure, and growing operator confidence.
- We'll see continued BEV growth, even if the monthly numbers fluctuate, OEM's who aren't prioritising BEV's run the risk of extinction if they don't pull their fingers out.
The direction of travel is clear. The challenge now is execution - and that’s where the sector’s 'Doers' will continue to shine.
If you enjoyed reading this, hopefully you'll stay tuned for future editions and if you are reading this knowing you have some key, strategic and senior level hiring needs currently or for which you are soon going to be hiring for, let's connect as I'd love to introduce myself.
See you next time.
Steve
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09 February 2026
European eHGV Market Landscape
By
Over the past few weeks, Niall Riddell, (CEO and Co-founder of Paua) and I have been comparing notes on the sheer pace of activity across the European eHGV landscape. It’s a sector that’s no longer “emerging” - it’s accelerating, diversifying, and becoming far more interconnected than many realise.
So, we decided to map it.
Together, we’ve created a comprehensive view of the companies pushing the heavy‑duty transition forward - charging operators and developers, hardware and software providers, ‘as‑a‑service’ models, vehicle manufacturers, operators, hauliers and more across the value chain.
What became clear very quickly is just how fluid this ecosystem is. Many organisations sit across multiple categories, and innovation is happening in parallel rather than in silos. This first edition captures a broad and representative snapshot, though we know there are more trailblazers out there redefining how zero‑emission freight will operate.
As such, future iterations will expand further, especially across operators, developers and the deeper layers of the value chain.
We’ll also be exploring the three fundamentals that ultimately determine whether scalable, zero‑emission logistics becomes reality: Talent, Capital and Collaboration.
At Hyperion, we’re deeply embedded in helping the companies driving the energy and mobility transition to scale - because let's face it, none of this happens without the right leadership talent and teams in place.
And equally, none of the companies featured will deliver zero‑emission freight alone. This transition depends on partnerships, interoperability, shared infrastructure and a willingness to collaborate across traditional boundaries. Collective progress will be the real catalyst for a fully decarbonised heavy‑duty sector.
And of course, none of this happens without committed capital. The continued growth of the organisations featured here is only possible thanks to Europe’s impact‑driven investors. Austin Wood and the team at SET Ventures are doing hugely important work on that front (check out their latest report on the topic of eHGV's).
We hope you find this market map useful. If you’re active in this space or feel you should be featured in future editions - I’d love to hear from you.
All the best,
Steve
View the European eHGV Market Map here
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19 December 2025
Future Mobility News & Views - Q4 2025 & Year-End Round Up
By
Soon we will close the curtain on what has been a total rollercoaster of a year for the EV sector. On one hand, the pace of innovation has been incredibly fast-paced but on the other, it has been a turbulent and, at times, frustratingly challenging period for many.
From the "wait and see" fatigue of policy uncertainties and geo-political power struggles to the very real physical hurdles of grid constraint bottlenecks and the cable theft crisis, the industry has been tested like never before. Coupled with a toughening investment climate, resilience hasn't just been a buzzword - it’s been a survival requirement for the leaders of our sector.
But despite the headwinds, we enter 2026 with a genuine sense of optimism. The EV transition is no longer a future concept or a niche ambition. The once nascent, EV bubble that many of the naysayers couldn't wait to burst, is now a complex, massive-scale industrial reality that continues to gain momentum. The foundations laid during this challenging and the on-going consolidation has and will only make the sector leaner, more focused, and ready for the next phase of growth. And as I always say, if it were easy, everyone would do it.
For us at Hyperion, this year marked a significant milestone - 12 months since we joined HC Group. It has been a whirlwind of growth across our core practices - EV, Energy Storage & Grid, Renewables, and Board. We’ve expanded our own team, walked the floors of major events across Europe and the US, and had the privilege of helping scale some of the most innovative teams in the sector. I know many of you have felt the market squeeze this year, but seeing the calibre of talent still dedicated to this transition gives me immense confidence as we look toward January.
Let’s take a look at the final quarter’s highlights across the industry.
Industry News Round-up 🚗⚡
EV Charging Infrastructure
- Fastned Hits 50 in Germany: A major milestone for the rapid-charging giant as it continues its aggressive European expansion. Read more
- Green Light for E-Truck Hubs: The EU Commission has approved plans for dedicated electric truck charging hubs along German motorways - a vital step for long-haul logistics. Read more
- Duracell Enters the Fray: The iconic battery brand launched its own UK-based charging network and this month went live with its first site in Bath Terrace Car Park in Cheltenham Read more
Automotive OEM 🚗
- Global Growth vs. US Stall: Global EV sales are up this year but the US market is seeing a temporary plateau due to shifting policy landscapes. Read more
- Ford Refocuses: Ford has discontinued several EV models in the US to pivot toward more profitable segments and hybrid options. Read more
- BYD’s Dominance: BYD recorded its best sales month of the year in December, cementing its position as a global leader. Not least, out of the 20 top selling EV's globally, BYD had an astonishing 8 on the list Read more
- Norway’s 100% Moment: Norway set a stunning new record with near-100% EV registrations in November. The blueprint works - If Norway can do it, why can't we all? Read more
Politics & Policy 💼
- UK ZEV Review: The UK government brought forward its review of EV sales targets under the ZEV mandate to ensure the industry stays on track. Read more
- EU CO2 Targets: A slight weakening of CO2 targets from the EU Commission provided some breathing room, though the long-term trajectory remains firm. the direction of travel is clear! Read more
- Swedish Incentives: Green light for Sweden's new EV incentive scheme which is set to spark a resurgence in local demand. Read more
- Spain’s €1.3bn Boost: A massive "shock plan" for the sector, allocating €400m for direct EV subsidies and €300m for charging infrastructure via the Auto 2030 plan. Read more
Fleet & Logistics 🚚🚛⚡
- Royal Mail’s 8,000th EV: A huge milestone for one of the UK’s most visible fleets. Read more
- Van Market Paradox: BEV uptake is rising even as the broader UK van market faces a contraction. Read more
- HGV Trials: DPD and Voltempo are running new trials that prove electric HGVs are ready for the heavy lifting. Read more
Hydrogen 💦
- HyHaul Project Ends: The ambitious UK Government-backed HyHaul project is to close after failing to secure enough binding customer commitments for fuel cell HGVs. Read more
So is this the Reality Check?
- This article reflects on why hydrogen transport failures are becoming less surprising as the sector grapples with structural economic and infrastructure hurdles. Read more
Battery 🔋
- AESC Sunderland: The new Gigafactory in Sunderland is officially open, a massive win for UK manufacturing. Read more
- Verkor in Dunkirk: Verkor’s 16 GWh battery cell factory is now online in France. Congratulations to an early client of Hyperion on this incredible milestone. Read more
Shared Mobility 🚗🧑🤝🧑
- Zipcar UK Closure: A major blow for London's car-sharing market as Zipcar announces its withdrawal from the UK, citing external cost pressures and upcoming policy changes to EV congestion charge exemptions. Read more
Deals, Funding & Investment 💰
Despite it being a challenging year for many start-ups when it comes to securing vital funding, Q4 seemed like a turning point. Over the past few months, we saw a significant influx of capital which has helped drive forward the transition to electric. Here are my top picks:
- Octopus EV secured a massive £2bn in funding to further accelerate electric car adoption. Read more
- Traton landed a €500m EIB loan for R&D. Read more
- Fastned raised €39m in its third bond issue of the year, totaling over €110m in 2025. Read more
- IONNA invested over $250m in its California fast-charging network.Read more
- Other Funding Wins: Huge congrats to Einride ($100m raise), Cornish Lithium (£35m raise), EcoG (€16m raise), Pionix (€8m+ raise), Fuuse (£6m raise), and EO Charging (£25m recapitalisation) for their successful closes.
- Other interesting development included Jolt's acquisition of Volta’s 3,000-unit US network from Shell Read more and;
- The UK Govt. setting aside £10m for off-grid charging. Read more
Start-ups in the Spotlight 🔦
Whilst the end of year investment surge really got my juices flowing, huge progress has been made by several start-ups who are taking innovation to the next level and helping tackle some of the biggest barriers holding back the mobility and energy transition. These are the start-ups I’m watching closely as we enter 2026:
- Bnewable Pioneers in "battery-as-a-service" and behind-the-meter storage. The team are doing a wonderful job helping C&I and fleet customers to unlock and execute on their electrification strategies. With co-located batteries, EV fleet operations are able to run smoothly whilst being able to better manage and optimise their energy and generate additional revenues.
- FLEXECHARGE: Smart load management that actually solves grid constraints. I've got to know many of the team over the past year and what they're doing to support commercial EV charging operators with better load, energy and grid management is truly exciting.
- Kwetta: Delivers ultra-fast charging with "grid-first" technology. Following their European expansion earlier this year, I was lucky to meet with some of the key team members in Germany and Netherlands and look forward to what is to come for the team next year.
- Erinion: Scania’s venture focused on turnkey depot charging for heavy-duty trucks. A fantastic team who I have been fortunate enough to support as they continue to expand internationally. Lots more to come from them!
- Relode: Building "Power Parks" to solve gigawatt-scale grid connection issues. With a 15GW network of Power Parks planned UK-wide, Mikey and the team are stepping up to meet the huge increase in electricity demand forecast between now and 2050 and I'm excited for what 2026 brings.
- Aegis Energy: are another really exciting business. They're building a network of 50 clean multi-energy hubs to accelerate the decarbonisation of commercial vehicles.
- Decade Energy: Backed by our friends at Contrarian Ventures, is an energy infrastructure developer and software solution provider helping real estate owners, road transport operators, and retailers electrify their sites. Certainly one to watch!
- VOLTEMPO: are delivering Megawatt-scale charging solutions for the HGV sector and with a series of recent leadership changes, they're well-positioned for further growth next year.
- TOGL Energy: Launched earlier this month, TOGL are helping fleet operators to bring down EHGV TCO by using parked, plugged-in vehicles as flexible energy resources. Essentially, they're helping optimise depot and fleet charging so fleets are less exposed to peak prices whilst able to unlock new revenue streams and cut charging costs for EV and EHGV operations.
Who have I missed off? What start-ups have caught your attention this year? And who should I be keeping an eye on?
Industry Insights 🔍
The Rise of Co-located Storage 🔋🔌
Heavy Duty Fleet electrification has undoubtedly been one of the biggest growth areas this quarter, well, this year in fact. We are also seeing an increasing ramp up in the rise of AI as it continues to be leveraged to unlock flexibility and help optimise depot and fleet charging whilst many CPO's are applying AI tools to maintain maximum charger uptime and charger success.
We are also seeing a massive surge in demand for co-located battery storage (BESS) with EV charging. As the grid struggles to keep up with peak demand, BESS offers a long-term solution for grid stability and cost management. As such, it's no surprise we've seen a huge talent demand at Hyperion and I've had the pleasure to collaborate on a number of key searches with my colleague David Beeston as a result.
In fact, smart energy firm GridBeyond touched on this in their whitepaper and you can read more on how Including BESS in EV charging delivers long-term value here.
Talent Insights 🧠
Speed is the New Currency in Talent 🚀
As we head into 2026, the demand for "builders and operators" is skyrocketing. We're entering a phase of maturity where execution is the recipe for success. As such, the companies winning the talent war are those with well-structured, streamlined interview processes and a decision making process that doesn't procrastinate.
Speaking from experience this past quarter, As a founder building your business or a hiring manager building out your function and team. First thing you should be doing before going to market to find your next hire is clearly defining your interview process. if your process drags on for weeks or involves redundant stakeholders who add little to no or worse, damaging value to how you sell your business, you will lose top talent to more agile competitors.
Momentum keeps candidates engaged. With the market currently being candidate-heavy, there is a unique window to access the strongest operators - but you must act with speed and avoid complex and unnecessary processes. No one needs a 6 rounds of interviews.
After 10 years in eMobility headhunting, I’ve seen that a clearly defined process is the difference between a successful scale-up and a stalled one. Consulting with a specialist firm like Hyperion - especially in a soft market allows you to access the best builders - the ones who aren't always active on job boards but also the ones who quickly lose interest if you don't have a streamlined hiring process to keep them engaged.
Podcast Recommendations 🎧
Inspired by my colleague David Beeston, here are a few podcast recommendations to keep you informed over the holidays:
- Leaders in Cleantech: Essential listening for anyone in the cleantech space and not just because our MD David Hunt hosts it - it genuinely is great. Listen here
- The Charge Point Podcast (FLEXECHARGE): Great technical and EV market insights from Christophe Lephilibert and the team - a must for anyone working in the EV sector. Listen here
- Electric Evolution by Liz Allan: Brilliant for anyone who is passionate about the journey to a more sustainable future covering a variety of topics from experts and industry professionals. I'm by no means an expert but I recently featured on this episode earlier this year to discuss my journey and the role I play in Driving Talent for Net Zero Listen to my episode here
Looking Ahead to 2026 🚀
This January marks my 10th year in eMobility headhunting and my 7th year with Hyperion and I couldn’t be more excited to continue supporting the leaders driving this transition. I hope you've enjoyed reading and I look forward to delivering future editions in the new year. For now, I'd like to take a moment to wish all my wonderful clients and candidates a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for placing your trust in me once again and I look forward to supporting you in the new year and beyond.
I’ll be returning on January 5th and look forward to attending the Powered Up event at the London Transport Museum on January 21st, 2026. It’s a fantastic event focused on finance, fleet and the future of clean mobility so if you're there, please drop me a message and let's meet. I’ll also be in London the following day (Jan 22nd) - if you’re around, I’d love to catch up.
To all my readers, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful break with your loved ones. Here's to a happy, healthy, and electric New Year for each of us.
All the best,
Steve
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17 September 2025
Driving the Conversation on EVs, AI, and the Future of Talent – Stephen Robinson on the Electric Evolution Podcast
By
We’re proud to share that our Director of Future Mobility, Stephen Robinson, recently joined Liz Allan on the Electric Evolution podcast for a wide-ranging and energising conversation about the future of transport, the evolving EV ecosystem, and the changing face of talent in the mobility sector.
🎧 Listen to the episode here
More Than Just Cars and Charging Points
Stephen and Liz cover a lot of ground in this episode - but the throughline is clear: electrification isn’t just a technology shift, it’s a people and mindset shift too.
From OEMs and gigafactories to AI, automation, and agile scaling, Stephen shares his insights on how the world of future mobility is evolving - and what this means for the businesses trying to keep pace.
“We’re no longer just talking about car companies. We’re talking about battery ecosystems, software stacks, autonomous tech, charging networks—and the talent challenges that sit across all of them.”
Key Themes from the Episode
🔋 The human side of the EV transition
Why the real bottleneck isn’t hardware - it’s hiring, culture, and leadership at scale.
🧠 AI, automation, and adaptation
What emerging technologies mean for jobs, and how to futureproof your team.
🚀 Startups, scaleups, and the war for talent
Lessons from working with VC- and PE-backed disruptors - and what established players can learn from them.
🌍 Diversity, equity, and inclusion in clean mobility
A crucial and evolving conversation - one we’re proud to support through our partnerships and internal practices.
Future Mobility Is Here—But It’s Still in Motion
As Stephen puts it, “We’re at the intersection of innovation and implementation. The next few years will define not just which technologies win, but which teams are best equipped to deliver them.”
At Hyperion Search, we’re helping build those teams - from early-stage innovators to global OEMs and infrastructure leaders. If you’re scaling in the EV, battery, or broader e-mobility space, we’d love to help you navigate the talent and leadership challenges ahead.
📩 Learn more about our Future Mobility practice → Contact us
👇 Tune In
🎧 Episode 158 – Electric Evolution: Liz Allan and Stephen Robinson
🔗 Connect with Stephen Robinson on LinkedIn
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#ev#talent
28 July 2025
The Momentum in EV Charging is Undeniable
By
A recent LinkedIn post from Jeroen van Tilburg got me thinking. Despite the past ~18 months or so headwinds, the momentum in EV charging is undeniable. We're witnessing a powerful surge of confidence and capital that's rapidly evolving the mobility transition.
You only have to look at the recent headlines...
Europe's EV Sales are through the roof with a whopping 23% rise in June, hitting 390,000 units. Germany saw its strongest month since 2023 with 47,000+ new EVs, whilst Denmark proudly declared 80% of new private cars were electric in H1. Even the UK jumped 39% in June, backed by a significant £650M incentive package announced earlier this week on top of a £63m support package for cross pavement public charging solutions, depot and public services fleet electrification as well as support for increased EV charging hub signage.
We've then got Europe's strong backing of battery production with a massive €852 million in fresh investment signalling strong strategic support for the entire EV ecosystem. And critically, the investment in charging infrastructure is scaling up to meet this demand with the likes of:
- GRIDSERVE securing £100m in fresh capital.
- Believ landing a significant £300m.
- A colossal £600m financing round for IONITY.
- And Osprey Charging Network securing £110m investment.
These figures aren't just big numbers, they represent a profound commitment from both public and private sectors to accelerate the transition to electric mobility.
We are witnessing a clear inflection point where the market is maturing, investor confidence is high, and the rollout of reliable, accessible charging is becoming a tangible reality.
But here's the reality check. Whilst investment *pours* in, consolidation is inevitable. The charging networks struggling with uptime/reliability issues, and/or weak leadership will fade out or their assets will be snapped up on the cheap.
Not saying they haven't been, but investors are more diligent than ever, and only the strongest operators with the strongest teams will thrive.
And that's where we come in. For over a decade, Hyperion have supported Europe's most established charging networks in hiring exceptional senior and leadership talent. As networks scale and internationalise, internal TA teams inevitably grow, but in those crucial early days, our network, experience and insights gathered through the many daily conversations we have enable us to find the very best people everyone is vying for – the ones actively delivering success, not just those misleading or over egging their achievements and applying to everything and anything they see.
If you need to secure top-tier talent who will drive your network's success, let's connect.
Stephen Robinson
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#ev#energytransition
09 October 2024
New 4 day week rules set to change in the UK. Are you ready?
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Flexibility is now one of, if not the most, important consideration for most professionals we speak to when looking for their next career challenge.
Therefore, the proposed rule changes around 4 day working weeks in the UK, as highlighted in this article, are very interesting indeed. In fact, they could be revolutionary for work as we know it!
Currently, employees in the UK have the right to request flexible working, but employers aren’t legally obliged to agree. However, that could be set to change with new planned laws which would mean all employers must offer employees the option of flexible 4 day working from day one of employment, except where it is “not reasonably feasible” (What this latter stipulation means, time will tell!)
It's a topic I've heard many people discussing recently and in most cases, positively.
The 4 day week has already been trialled and fully implemented in other countries, such as Belgium, Australia, Denmark etc and in 2023, a trial of over 60 companies in the UK, found approx. 90% of participating companies were positive post-trial and chose to keep the 4 day working arrangements permanently.
It's a topic close to home too. Here at Hyperion we offer the 4 day flexibility for some of our team members who have requested it, for example those with young children who might be navigating childcare availability and costs. Now in our case it's made easier given we're a Services business and ultimately quality output is the main measure for us. There's no “clock in, clock out” culture - ultimately, if your working pattern means you're delivering against your objectives and aligning with our values, then great!
Some of the positive impacts reported by those who have implemented the 4 day week include:
- Boosts in productivity - Many companies found that output improved after introducing 4 day weeks. With reduced hours, employees were more focused and efficient, so they could enjoy the benefits of the extra day off
- Improved engagement - Better work-life balance made people feel happier and more engaged during their working days. This can really boost team harmony and ultimately performance
- Reduced burnout - according to this BBC article, 71% of the 2023 UK trial reported reductions in levels of burnout
- Hiring benefits - With flexibility being a key driver for many job seekers, offering this arrangement can give companies an edge over competition when attracting top talent
Of course, it's not that easy for all industries and even in sectors where it is more practical, it will take some adjustment for many company leaders (it's been difficult enough to convince some leaders to allow working from home flexibility, never mind 4 day working!). As we know, typically people don't like change!
If you're a business leader faced with the prospect of these new rules, there are some important things to keep in mind:
- Not everyone will want this. Don't assume this needs to be a blanket rule. Some people like and work better in the routine and pace of a 5 day week and therefore may not adjust to a reduced week.
- Be smart with how this is implemented. It's no use having half your team off on the same day, if you have round-the-clock business. Think about how this can be staggered or on a rotation for your team members
- There should be no concessions when it comes to meeting objectives. This is an employee choice and accountability should come with this flexibility.
- Be careful not to inadvertently create an unhealthy intense, high-pressure work environment by compressing the same workload into four days. Be mindful your employees could end up overwhelmed and not perform at their best or in more severe cases this could impact physical and mental health.
- Less time for critical thinking and reflection. Some of the best business ideas spawn from “free time” where your team can reflect and focus on new solutions. This condensed workload may eliminate those windows of opportunity for creativity and strategizing.
- You may see top performers crash. In many businesses, productivity is already super high, with fast pace and constant deadlines (those running start-ups know exactly what I mean) so reducing workdays may seem like a benefit, but in fact it might add a new layer of pressure. Instead of taking the extra day to work on themselves, recharge the batteries, or be with their families, employees could instead end up logging into work to catch up on tasks they couldn’t complete during the 4 days, which ultimately defeats the point!
Ultimately, whether this concept works can come down to how it's implemented by the business leaders - particularly how you balance being accommodating of employee's expectations and the needs and expectations of the business. In any successful work model, whether its 4 days, 5 days, or whatever else, the focus should be on the quality of work and the wellbeing of employees. Don't treat them like cogs in a machine!
How do you anticipate the new 4 day working week rule changes affecting your business?
Hyperion supports cleantech and climatetech clients across Europe, to hire top senior and executive leadership talent. If you're looking for support in growing your business, contact me at david.beeston@hyperionsearch.com
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#mobility#energy
04 October 2024
How BESS can save the EU billions!
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Show me the money!
Those of a certain age will remember the famous Jerry Maguire line. I often think of this when discussing the merits of renewables and energy storage with clients. Often clients tell me that one of the core challenges is convincing financers or those outside the industry, on the merits of “going green”. Rolling out technology specs and a bunch of acronyms sometimes doesn't cut it. Sometimes you need to break it down to simple financial terms… Show me the money!
This excellent analysis by Ember highlights the HUGE monetary benefits we could see by ramping up our BESS deployments. Focused on the EU, but applicable globally, the impact BESS can have on not only reducing curtailment costs but also alleviating the reliance on expensive gas generation, is enormous.
Quite simply, who can argue against potentially €9 billion per year in reduced costs?!
Hyperion Search supports Energy Storage and Grid clients to recruit senior and executive leadership talent, who can help their companies to grow significantly. If you're a leader of a Energy Storage & Grid company looking to expand or transform your leadership team, contact me at david.beeston@hyperionsearch.com to discuss how we can support you.