Day one of the 2025 IPWEA Fleet Conference delivered plenty of insights, but it was John Cadogan’s keynote that truly stole the show. With his trademark mix of humour, logic and sharp critique, John urged the audience to cut through the noise surrounding electric vehicles and focus on facts — not emotion.
Despite what some might assume, John isn’t against EVs. He was quick to acknowledge the impressive engineering behind modern electric cars. His issue isn’t with the vehicles themselves, but with how they’re being integrated into the transport landscape.
Cadogan raised three key concerns: Australia’s patchy and unreliable charging infrastructure, the lack of a clear emergency response plan for EV battery fires, and the growing challenge of lithium-ion battery disposal. “There’s a big difference between being recyclable and actually getting recycled,” he noted, referencing research from the CSIRO on the looming battery waste problem.
He also questioned the industry hype around fast charging technology, suggesting that claims of “petrol-like refuelling times” often don’t stand up to real-world scrutiny. “Marketing spin shouldn’t guide billion-dollar decisions,” he told the audience.
One of his strongest messages was around tribalism — the idea that you’re either for EVs or against them. “You should be able to point out flaws in the system without being labelled an EV hater,” he said. “We need to work together on the details, not argue over ideologies.”
For fleet managers, Cadogan’s talk was a timely reminder to focus on fit-for-purpose solutions and real-world outcomes. With Australia’s vehicle fleet turning over slowly, he urged attendees to make smart, emissions-focused decisions now — rather than waiting for an electric utopia that may take decades to arrive.
His talk was bold, entertaining and exactly what the conference needed: a reminder that good intentions aren’t enough — we also need a plan that works.
