Episode 103: Liz Allan and Angela Muresan - Electric Vehicle Adventures and the Importance of Sustainable Networking.

Episode 103: Liz Allan and Angela Muresan - Electric Vehicle Adventures and the Importance of Sustainable Networking.

Liz Allan speaks to Angela Muresan, the founder of BrightBee and a sustainability advocate who is fluent in five languages. Angela shares her incredible journey from working in the rail and automotive industries to becoming a dedicated EV enthusiast and sustainability expert. She also recounts her ambitious drive to Spain in a Mercedes EQA, navigating the challenges of long-distance travel and learning the nuances of charging in different countries. Angela discusses the benefits of sustainable living and reveals the story behind her trailblazing "Race to Zero" event and the importance of building genuine relationships and trust in networking and sales. Angela also delves into EV ownership's technical aspects and day-to-day experiences, offering invaluable insights on managing range and charging.

Angela Muresan Bio:
Angela Muresan is a remarkable leader in the fields of sustainability and electric mobility. As the founder of BrightBee, she devotes her talents to helping businesses, startups, and scale-ups expand their brand, manage partnerships, and strategise their marketing initiatives. With a robust background that spans the rail and automotive industries, she has a particular focus on electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Her journey in sustainability is deeply rooted in her childhood experiences, where she learned the importance of sustainable living from her mother. Angela is a champion for green initiatives in sports as a brand ambassador for the Green Sports Alliance. Her creative approach to combining sports, sustainability, and networking is embodied in her "Race to Zero" event, which integrated these elements into a dynamic and engaging platform.

Episode Keywords:
Angela Muresan, sustainability, electric vehicles, EV journey, BrightBee, networking, building relationships, trust in networking, Green Sports Alliance, EV charging, climate science, Race to Zero, Gridserve, PlugSurfing, sustainable mode of travel, Mercedes EQA, net-zero lifestyle, regenerative braking, one-pedal driving, Gridserve electric forec

Transcript

Episode 103 - Liz Allan and Angela Muresan
 
Liz Allan [00:00:01]

So, I have a lovely guest with me today, the wonderful Angela Muresan. She's the founder of a company called BrightBee. If you look at her on LinkedIn, you will see she's known as the girl who talks about sustainability in three languages. We need to talk about that, Angela. Thank you for joining me, my love.

 Angela Muresan [00:00:20]

No, thank you for having me, and thank you so much for your time. It's so lovely to be on your podcast. I'm super excited. Yes, I speak five languages. I speak Spanish, English, and Romanian fluently. My dad is Romanian, my mom's Spanish, and I've lived in Italy for a couple of years, so I've learned Italian. I also speak German, but I'm unsure if I can now—I haven't practised it. So that's why I say three languages.

 Liz Allan [00:00:56]

That's amazing. I mean, I can only just about speak one. You know, I speak English and Yorkshire because that's where I'm from originally. So, yeah, I don't think we British are brilliant at languages. 

 Angela Muresan [00:01:20]

It's nice to speak multiple languages, but sometimes it can be so hard, especially when I'm tired. I don't even know what language I speak anymore. I might just mix them up, and it happens quite a lot.

 Liz Allan [00:01:37]

Bless you. I didn't realise you had a Romanian mix as well. Fantastic. Love it. So please give me a little bit of your background. You are such an influencer on social media. You came to our attention at Full Circle, my business, a little while ago because Michele who does all of the digital content. She said, "Oh, this woman, you should see what she's doing." We met a few months ago at a Gridserve event, which was fantastic. But can you give us a little background about what you were doing and what you're doing now?

 Angela Muresan [00:02:17]

Oh, thank you so much. I don't really think I'm an influencer. I just love what they're doing, and I love to share what I'm learning about sustainability and electric cars on my videos. My background is quite diverse. When I started working in the space, I was in the rail industry, which was hard. I didn't know much about space, but I learned and fell in love with it. Then I transitioned to automotive, mobility as a service and EV charging—probably for the last six years now.

 Liz Allan [00:03:09]

Oh, wow. So can you explain what you support businesses with?

 Angela Muresan [00:03:18]

It's more about supporting businesses, startups, and scale-ups in getting their brand out there, teaching people what they're doing, supporting their expansion, building partnerships, management, and marketing—like personal branding and corporate branding.

 Liz Allan [00:03:35]

Oh, wow. And you're also a Green Sports Alliance brand ambassador, right?

 Angela Muresan [00:03:40]

Yeah, their work is amazing, and they're very well known in the US, working with big leagues like the NFL, NBA, PGA, and more. Their work is about making sports sustainable—not just the game, but also how people commute to these venues, how stadiums are built, looking at energy consumption, water, noise, EV charging points, and much more. They are expanding into Europe and are already working with organizations like FIFA and FC Barcelona. I've been supporting them with that, and I think they're brilliant. If anyone is interested in sports and sustainability, they should reach out to them.

 Liz Allan [00:04:39]

So, what started your interest in sustainability? What led you to think, "Oh, actually, this is what I want to focus on?"

 Angela Muresan [00:04:57]

Looking back, there are so many things I used to do with my mom when I was younger. We used to create our own Christmas decorations and reuse all sorts of things, like turning plastic bottles into plant pots. Sustainability has always been part of my life in one way or another. When I moved to England and started working in the automotive and railway spaces, I just fell in love with it. It's so complex, and there's so much more to learn. That's what intrigued me to get into it, learn more, pick and choose different projects, and expand on that. And people are so nice as well.

Liz Allan [00:05:48]

They are lovely. Would you say you had any influence from school, or was it just you and your mom doing all of this?

 Angela Muresan [00:06:05]

I think we did have some influence from school, but it wasn't because of sustainability. It was just a lifestyle that we had. We used plastic cans to play music or create different things. I didn't know about climate change or sustainability back then—I was too young to understand, and it wasn't mentioned. Even nowadays, I don't think it's talked about enough. But there are things we used to do in our daily lives that were sustainable, and looking back, it makes sense now.

 Liz Allan [00:07:09]

Absolutely. You're right. People kind of shy away from climate change. You probably know that I'm married to a professor of climate science, so it's been part of my life since 1999. Ever since we got married, things have changed a bit. People's attitudes have changed a bit toward climate and its acceptance. There was a point where Rich used to get grief from trolls saying it was all a load of crap, but that seems to have changed. What are your thoughts on getting people to recognise that it is a real issue and that we must do something about it?

 Angela Muresan [00:08:17]

We need to support and create ways where being sustainable should just be a lifestyle—you shouldn't have to think too much about it. For example, fruits and vegetables should be out of the packaging. The coffee you're buying should just be sustainable. Even now, I still get people messaging me privately saying I'm selfish because I drive an electric car—just nasty things. But I've also had people supporting me and saying, "Amazing, keep doing what you're doing." With anything in life, you'll have people that support you and those that don't. All we can do is keep going and encourage more people to join.

 Liz Allan [00:09:14]

Exactly. That's awful if you've had people saying these negative things to you. We've been getting a lot of negative comments, not necessarily from the UK either. We were called a bunch of "Karens," which I thought was funny in a way, and I've been called a "communist." People have their own thoughts about this, and I don't know how long it will take us to move away from it all.

Angela Muresan [00:10:23]

It's the education side of it. As soon as you mention sustainability or zero waste, people think you'll live in a tree or something. But it's not like that. A zero-waste lifestyle isn't that hard—it's just learning how to reuse things, which can save you time and money. It's fun and something you can do with your family. It's not hard but about getting the message out there. Even if you have bad interactions with people, it's OK—you'll always get that. Just keep doing what you're doing, and the right people will understand.

 Liz Allan [00:11:27]

Hopefully, eventually, at least at some point. I want to talk about something—there was a brainchild you were working on called "Race to Zero." What was this idea about?

Angela Muresan [00:12:04]

Race to Zero started last year after the London EV Show. I had this random thought—why don't I do a race? I love sports, I love sustainability, and I love networking. I wanted to create something that would integrate all of them into one. I messaged John Curtis, and he said, "I think it's crazy. I love it." And that's how it all started. I didn't know how I would do it—I had never organised an event before. A few months later, I started talking to people who were all so supportive. Now I have to do this! It was such a challenge, but I'm so proud of what I've done. There's going to be a next Race to Zero.

Liz Allan [00:13:32]

Can you explain what Race to Zero is for those who haven't heard of it?

Angela Muresan [00:14:25]

Race to Zero was meant to be different from all the other networking events. I wanted to allow people who don't enjoy networking as much and make them feel more comfortable. I wanted something more fun and engaging, where you feel good at the end of the day. We had an actual race, like a Top Gear-style episode. We had someone cycling, someone driving an electric car conversion, and someone taking public transport on a 60-mile journey to see what was the cheapest, fastest, and most sustainable way of travel. It was an amazing day, and the networking event was fantastic—nearly 200 people showed up!

Liz Allan [00:16:27]

The three contestants—I know one was going on public transport—that was Sara Sloman. And then you had the cyclist. Can you remind me who the cyclist was?

Angela Muresan [00:16:41]

Chris Kirby from Tomorrow's Journey.

Liz Allan [00:16:44]

And who was in the Mini?

Angela Muresan [00:16:48]

Paul Sweeney from Gridserve. He was driving the Fellten classic Mini converted into an electric car, which was really nice.

Liz Allan [00:16:57]

That did look very cool, I have to say.

Angela Muresan [00:17:02]

Yeah. It was so cool to have that car. Thanks to Fellten for supporting me with this mission and providing the cars. We also had the classic Porsche 911 converted into electric and the Mini on display at the networking event, which was really cool.

Liz Allan [00:17:20]

Fantastic. So you had Sara on buses and trains, like you say. 

Angela Muresan [00:18:29]

Sara Sloman had to use the bus and trains, and from Braintree, she used the DigiGo services, which is great. I didn't know if you knew, but in Braintree, there's no Uber. You have DigiGo. It's an app where you can book an electric bus to pick you up and take you anywhere you want to go for just £2.

Liz Allan [00:18:59]

Oh, that's really cheap. So we probably need more of those, don't we?

 Angela Muresan [00:19:05]

Yeah, they’re always fully booked and very busy. But we need more of that everywhere.

Liz Allan [00:19:14]

I think you're right. So that was Sara's journey. And Chris, oh my god, Chris on the bike—I couldn't have done 60 miles. It looked intense for him.

Angela Muresan [00:19:34]

To be honest, he came up with the idea. Before I started Race to Zero, I met with Chris, and I mentioned what I wanted to do. He suggested, "Why don't you do it from London to Braintree? That'll be a challenge, and I'll cycle." So he actually came up with the idea and offered to cycle.

 Liz Allan [00:19:59]

Oh my god. Who came first, and who was the most sustainable?

 Angela Muresan [00:20:17]

Sara Sloman won. Paul Sweeney from Gridserve was the second runner-up, and Chris Kirby came third. We did a fun thing where we deducted points if you stopped for a break, and Chris stopped one too many times, which probably cost him the win. But, of course, he was the most sustainable.

 Liz Allan [00:21:01]

Not everyone's that fit to do that kind of journey, but it's brilliant that he did.

Angela Muresan [00:21:09]

I didn't expect it. I thought I would struggle to find somebody to cycle, but Chris was the first to step up. Big shout out to Chris; he's amazing.

Liz Allan [00:21:31]

And finishing at the Gridserve Electric Forecourt, which I've been to, is an innovative and interesting place. The things they do, like recycling rainwater, solar canopies, and more—it blew my mind when I went last year.

Angela Muresan [00:22:13]

Oh, I absolutely love it. I went there about a year and a half ago and fell in love. I had never seen anything like it before. They have showers, meeting rooms, and even gym equipment. It's an amazing place.

Liz Allan [00:23:03]

Oh wow, even gym equipment that sends energy back to the grid?

Angela Muresan [00:23:17]

Yes, they have everything you need, from Costa to WHSmith. You can comfortably spend hours there.

Liz Allan [00:23:52]

And Amanda Armitage at Gridserve is just so lovely. She's been a great help.

Angela Muresan [00:24:01]

Amanda is amazing. She helped me with planning the event, and I'm so grateful to her. I couldn't have done it without her.

Liz Allan [00:24:24] 

Before we started recording, we were talking about networking. For some people, it isn't easy. I'm a bit of an extrovert introvert, but it's not easy for everybody.

Angela Muresan [00:25:27]

No, it's not. I can be an extrovert when I have to be, but it can be exhausting. I wanted to create something more relaxed, where people want to talk and collaborate rather than just sell something. Networking should be about building relationships and learning about new products and technologies.

Liz Allan [00:26:46]

Absolutely. I'm quite good at networking, but it's more about connecting people. I like building relationships, not selling something.

Angela Muresan [00:28:32]

It takes practice. You have to keep trying, even if not everyone likes you. The right people will be there for you.

Liz Allan [00:29:10]

Yes, networking is about relationships, not just selling something. It's about being genuine and building trust.

Angela Muresan [00:30:34]

Exactly, and it's about putting yourself out there and sharing your mission. Networking and sales should be about authenticity, not just numbers.

Liz Allan [00:31:23]

Absolutely. Hopefully, people will recognise that we're trustworthy and care about what we're doing. It's not just about business; it's about meeting people like you.

Angela Muresan [00:31:46]

Yes, talking to people is so good, especially in a world where we all work from home. It's nice to connect.

Liz Allan [00:32:36]

Before recording, we talked for an hour and a half! It's been brilliant to develop relationships, which has made these episodes flow easier. I hope people are interested in what both of us have to say.

Angela Muresan [00:33:07]

Yes, thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to share my experiences from driving electric for the last 4-5 years and what I've learned.

Liz Allan [00:33:17]

What's your first EV? What's your EV journey been like?

Angela Muresan [00:33:28]

My first EV was an E208, which I loved. I got it through Onto, a subscription platform. It was small, sporty, and perfect for what I needed. I've since driven many other EVs, but the E208 was my favourite.

 Liz Allan [00:35:23]

What's the range on the E208?

Angela Muresan [00:35:26]

In winter, I traveled around 140-150 miles, and in summer, about 180 miles. It's not a lot, but it worked for what I was doing.

Liz Allan [00:36:37]

That range is similar to our Ioniq. You have to learn to plan. But you don’t plan, do you? You’ve done massive journeys without planning, which blows my mind.

Angela Muresan [00:37:13]

Yes, I'm an organized mess. I don't plan much, and life is too busy. I just go with it. I've gone down to one mile many times, but I'm used to it.

Liz Allan [00:37:48]

I'd be anxious at one mile!  

Angela Muresan [00:37:48]

I’ve even gone down to zero, and nothing happened. You still get a few extra miles. It's all about confidence.

Liz Allan [00:38:33]

I got to 12 miles and was nervous. But one mile would give me the heebie-jeebies!

Angela Muresan [00:39:16]

I learned to play with regenerative braking. I also learned tricks like heating in traffic and turning it off when driving to save battery.

Liz Allan [00:39:58]

Regen is fantastic. It's so important to educate people on how to use it properly.

Angela Muresan [00:41:00]

Absolutely. People need to understand the basics, especially if transitioning from petrol cars.

 Liz Allan [00:42:47]

Education is crucial. People must understand what they're getting into to fully embrace EV adoption.

Angela Muresan [00:43:10]

Yes, even those working in the sector are still learning. We need to share knowledge and support each other.

Liz Allan [00:44:18]

Let's talk about your journey to Spain with your cat, Fluffy. That made me smile so much.

Angela Muresan [00:46:23]

It was a crazy idea. I love Fluffy and travel so much for work, so I decided to take him to Spain to be with my mom. Amanda from Gridserve suggested I drive instead of flying, and they gave me a car. It was such a fantastic experience, and I would do it again.

Liz Allan [00:47:53]

So you drove from Milton Keynes to Spain. What car were you in?

Angela Muresan [00:48:20]

The Mercedes EQA. I absolutely loved that car—it was amazing.

Liz Allan [00:50:05]

What did you use to find chargers?

Angela Muresan [00:50:27]

I used Gridserve charging points in the UK and the PlugSurfing app in France and Spain. Both were great for planning the route and paying for charges.

Liz Allan [00:51:59]

We're going to Brittany soon, so we'll use PlugSurfing. It’ll be interesting to see how it works.

Angela Muresan [00:53:00]

It simplifies everything. You can use the app or card, which was very convenient for me.

Liz Allan [00:55:00]

Your trip sounds amazing. Are there any other experiences you're planning?

Angela Muresan [00:55:33]

Yes, I have some ideas! I've learned so much, and now I'd love to do a tour around Europe or even around the world!

Liz Allan [00:57:52]

That would be incredible. You're doing such fantastic work getting the word out about electric vehicles.

Angela Muresan [01:00:14]

LinkedIn is my main platform, but I also use Instagram and share a lot of stuff on YouTube. It's all very new, so I didn't have many followers. I would really appreciate it if you follow me. One thing I'd like to say about my experience and what I've learned so far is that it's possible. It's not that hard. It's just a change in mindset, and that's something that I had to teach myself. In an EV you don't just turn up at a petrol station and fuel up; charging is different. 

Angela Muresan [01:01:08]:
It should become part of your lifestyle, which can happen with time. And if you think it's hard, just try and give it a bit more time. I would never go back to an ICE car now.
 
Liz Allan  [01:01:20]:
Neither would I.
 
Angela Muresan [01:01:21]:
 I enjoy driving electric cars, but I've never had a home charger. I only rely on public charging, so I know a lot of people can relate to that.
 
 Liz Allan  [01:01:36]:
 Your work is fantastic. Please contact Angela on LinkedIn if you're interested in talking to her about the work she's been doing or if you know anyone who might be interested. It's been an absolute joy talking to you. Thank you ever so much for joining me.
 
Angela Muresan [01:02:00]:
Thank you so much for having me. And, you know, if anybody wants to know more about electric cars or if anybody's looking to buy an electric vehicle and they don't know where to start, just drop me a message. You know, I'm always happy to support and advise where I can.
 
 Liz Allan  [01:02:14]:
 And, If anybody wants help building their brand, you are the person to come to.
 
Angela Muresan [01:02:21]:
Oh, thank you so much. I appreciate it. Thank you so much for your time. It was lovely chatting with you.
 
Liz Allan  [01:02:28]:
I hope everybody else has got as much out of it as I have. I'm going to say thank you for listening and watching, and I shall see you next time. Bye.
 
Angela Muresan [01:02:44]:
Bye.