Behind every electric vehicle (EV) on the road lies a story, not just of engineering and innovation, but of people driven by passion, persistence, and purpose. In a recent interview, engineers John Samuel and Pete James shared not only their technical insights but also the personal motivations and challenges that have shaped their careers in the EV industry.
Innovation as a Way of Life
For John Samuel, the journey began with a single word: innovation. “That’s what I enjoy,” he said simply. From his early days building racing cars to pioneering electric city vehicles and hybrid prototypes, Samuel’s career has been defined by a relentless pursuit of new ideas.
He recounted a memorable encounter with Jeremy Clarkson during a test of the LA 301 hybrid prototype. “Jeremy was totally negative about everything non-petrol,” Samuel laughed. “He said, ‘This is no good, it’s no faster than a Ford Anglia.’ So we tweaked the software, had a good lunch, and he tried it again. ‘This is better,’ he said. ‘I like it.’”
It’s a light-hearted story, but it underscores a deeper truth: public perception matters. And changing minds often requires more than just technical excellence, it takes persistence, adaptability, and a bit of showmanship.
The Joy of Making Things Move
Pete James, co-author and power electronics specialist, echoed Samuel’s passion for innovation. But for him, the magic lies in the physicality of engineering. “It’s a fantastic feeling when some electronics you’ve designed makes a two-tonne vehicle move,” he said.
James’ career has spanned motorsport, aerospace, and automotive design. He co-founded Lyra Electronics to specialise in power conversion systems, working on everything from traction drives to fuel cell applications. “I very much enjoyed electronics,” he said, “but what really motivated me was when the electronics do something physical in the world.”
A Cleaner Future, One Circuit at a Time
Beyond the thrill of innovation, both engineers are deeply committed to the environmental promise of EVs. “The end goal of clean transport is really exciting,” said James. “The automobile consumes such a lot globally, adding something that reduces that impact is meaningful.”
Samuel agreed, pointing to the broader implications of their work. “By 2050, there’s going to be 3 billion cars on the road,” he said. “As well as EV’s we’ve just got to have clean fuels… drop-in fuels where this vast fleet of existing vehicles can pull up at a pump and put in a clean fuel.”
The Roadblocks Ahead
Despite their optimism, both engineers acknowledged the challenges that remain—particularly around infrastructure and accessibility. “We’re getting to a saturation point in the British market,” Samuel warned. “A lot of people don’t have a driveway. You’ve got cables running across the pavement, and there aren’t enough lamppost chargers.”
James added that the convenience of petrol has set a high bar. “People expect to rock up at a filling station and have another 400 miles within a couple of minutes,” he said. “There needs to be a change in mindset.”
He suggested that supermarkets could play a key role in the transition. “If a normal weekly shop takes 45 minutes to an hour, and you could be full within that time, people would accept that.”
The Dream of Self-Charging Vehicles
When asked about the possibility of fully self-charging EVs, powered entirely by solar or wind, both engineers were cautious. “In the UK, in the height of summer, we get about one kilowatt of energy per square metre,” James explained. “Even with the best solar cells, you’d only get about 200 watts per square metre.”
In other words, a solar-powered car would need to sit in the sun for several days to fully charge. “And that’s only in summer,” he added. “In winter, it would be a fraction of that.”
Still, they see promise in combining renewables with smart infrastructure. “We need renewable energy, we need energy storage local to the renewables, and we need fast chargers to transfer that energy into our vehicles,” James said.
Looking to the Horizon
Both engineers are excited about the future of EV technology. “There are some interesting battery technologies coming out, sodium and solid-state,” said James. “And vehicle architectures are changing. There’s a big move to consolidate the 60 to 120 computers on board a vehicle today.”
They also see potential in nuclear fusion and geothermal energy. “Countries like Iceland could become the energy capitals of the world,” James suggested. “They’ve got fresh water, geothermal energy, they could make hydrogen and export it.”
Advice for the Next Generation
For those considering a career in EVs, Samuel offered this advice: “If you come up with ideas, don’t be afraid to pursue them. People will say you’re crazy. They always do.”
He hopes the book he co-authored with James will inspire others to join the field. “It gives a really broad view of how the industry has developed,” he said. “And it helps you pick an area you’re interested in and really go for it.”
Conclusion: More Than Machines
The electric vehicle revolution isn’t just about batteries, motors, or charging stations. It’s about people—engineers, dreamers, and innovators—who believe in a cleaner, smarter future. It’s about challenging assumptions, overcoming setbacks, and driving change one breakthrough at a time.
As Pete James put it: “It’s the innovation that really excites me. But it’s the end goal of clean transport that keeps me going.”
Explore the Full Story
If you're inspired by the journeys of John Samuel and Pete James and want to dive deeper into the technologies shaping the future of electric vehicles, their book Electric Vehicle Technologies: Renewable Energy for the road is a must-read. Available now from the IET Bookshop, this comprehensive guide offers technical insights, real-world applications, and a clear-eyed look at the challenges and opportunities in EV innovation.
Whether you're an engineer, student, policymaker, or simply curious about the future of transport, this book provides the knowledge and context to understand, and contribute to, the next wave of change.
Electric Vehicles: Renewables energy for the road available now in print and digital formats at the IET Bookshop: https://shop.theiet.org/electric-vehicle-technologies