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Episode 173: Liz Allan and Elaine Meskhi - Making EV charging fair, accessible, and fit for the future.

Liz Allan speaks to Elaine Meskhi, a Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Consultant at Steer, for a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation about the future of EV charging.

Elaine brings over a decade of experience spanning energy systems, transport planning, and innovation projects, including early EV trials and grid impact studies. Together, Liz and Elaine explore why EV charging strategies must start with wider transport goals, how local authorities can better navigate energy constraints, and why collaboration between transport planners, energy networks, and charge point operators is essential.

A central theme of the episode is accessibility. Elaine explains why accessible charging is not just about wheelchair access, but about recognising a wide range of needs, including neurodivergence, hidden disabilities, temporary injuries, older drivers, and people who are not confident with technology. She shares powerful insights from real-world audits and a personal story of hosting an EV driver with a prosthetic limb through a home charging-sharing scheme, highlighting where the system works and where it still falls short.

Quote of the Episode:
“Accessibility isn’t about one group of people. It’s about recognising that at different points in our lives, all of us will have different needs, and the charging network has to work for that reality.” — Elaine Meskhi

Elaine Meskhi Bio:
Elaine Meskhi is a Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Consultant at Steer, where she works across EV infrastructure strategy, accessibility, fleet electrification, and sustainable transport systems. With a background in systems engineering and over a decade of experience in energy and transport innovation, Elaine has worked on some of the UK’s earliest EV and grid impact projects. She is particularly passionate about inclusive infrastructure and ensuring the transition to electric transport works for people with diverse needs. Elaine also brings a thoughtful, evidence-led perspective to how policy, planning, and real-world delivery intersect.

Elaine Meskhi Links:
Website: https://steergroup.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine-meskhi

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