#16 Gareth Ridge: Zenobē: Electrifying Buses & Second‑Life Batteries

You’ve seen Woolworths’ electric delivery trucks driving silently through the suburbs. But where do they charge — and how does that infrastructure actually work? In this episode of the EV Charging Podcast, we’re joined by Gareth Ridge, Country Manager at Zenobē Australia, to go inside one of Australia’s most innovative commercial EV charging projects: an off-site, multi-user charging hub in Mascot powering last-mile Woolworths delivery trucks. We break down: • ⚡ Why space and grid constraints are shaping EV fleet charging • 🏗️ How a 1MVA, 22-bay charging hub was built on an Ausgrid site • 💰 The commercial model behind fleet electrification (Total Cost of Ownership explained) • 🔋 What happens to EV batteries after 8–10 years (second-life storage use cases) • 🚚 Why light and medium trucks are electrifying faster than prime movers • 🔮 2026 predictions: megawatt charging, electric ferries, mining fleets & more This is a behind-the-scenes look at the infrastructure quietly driving Australia’s transport transition. If you’re interested in EVs, grid-scale batteries, commercial fleet electrification, or the future of energy — this episode is for you.