Shane Pither is Head of Select Electric at Select Car Leasing and is responsible for the company’s electric vehicle strategy and industry partnerships. He works with leading automotive manufacturers, charging providers and energy partners to accelerate EV adoption, improve the customer journey, and help both personal and business customers confidently transition to electric vehicles.
You lead partnerships, EV & energy strategy at Select Electric, the EV side of Select Car Leasing: can you give us a quick overview of what that role covers, day-to-day, in your mission to lead on EV leasing at Select?
One of the things I enjoy most about my role is that no two days are ever the same.
I’ve been fortunate to be involved with Select Electric from the very beginning, helping shape the proposition, the customer journey and even the name itself as the business recognised the growing importance of electric mobility. Since then, I’ve been involved in many of the initiatives that have contributed to Select Electric becoming one of the UK’s most recognised EV leasing brands. My role is about making the transition to electric vehicles easier for both businesses and private customers. That means looking far beyond simply leasing a vehicle. I spend much of my time working with manufacturers, charging providers, energy companies and technology partners to develop solutions that remove barriers and improve the overall customer experience.
Internally, I work across sales, marketing, CRM, fleet, learning and development and senior leadership, helping to shape strategy, customer journeys and educational programmes that build confidence in electric vehicles. Ultimately, I see my role as bringing together the right people, partnerships and ideas to help customers navigate one of the biggest changes our industry has experienced.
What EVs have you personally driven, and which one left the biggest impression on you?
The biggest surprise has been just how quickly the industry has evolved. I’ve been fortunate enough to drive everything from Tesla, Porsche and Kia through to BYD, Geely, Volvo, Polestar and many of the exciting new brands now entering the UK market. Every manufacturer now brings something different to the table. Some lead on technology, others on driving dynamics, charging performance, practicality or value.
What’s changed most is the level of choice available to customers. Five years ago the conversation was often about compromise, and today, it’s about finding the vehicle that best suits someone’s lifestyle or business. For me, that’s a really positive sign of how mature the EV market has become.
How do you see the relationship between partnerships and energy strategy evolving as fleets and consumers move to EVs at scale?
The future isn’t simply about supplying a vehicle; it’s about creating an ecosystem around that vehicle. As EV adoption grows, customers increasingly expect a joined-up experience covering energy tariffs, home charging, public charging, fleet management and digital services. At present, no single organisation can deliver all of that alone. That’s why strategic partnerships are becoming increasingly important. The businesses that collaborate effectively will create better customer experiences than those trying to solve every challenge independently.
The strongest partnerships don’t feel like separate organisations. They feel like one joined-up customer journey.
What’s the biggest barrier you’re currently seeing to EV adoption, and how is Select Electric working to address it?
A few years ago I would probably have said charging infrastructure. Today, I genuinely believe the biggest barrier is confidence. The technology has matured enormously, charging infrastructure continues to improve and vehicle choice has never been greater.
At Select Live in June 2026 (Select’s own business and fleet event held at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in Reading, Berks), one thing really stood out to me. Very few people were asking whether EVs worked from a business perspective anymore. Instead they were asking, ‘Which vehicle is right for me?’ and ‘Who can I trust to guide me through this journey?’ That tells me the conversation is moving on. Our role isn’t simply to lease vehicles. It’s to educate, support and give customers the confidence to make informed decisions.
From a partnerships perspective, what makes a charge point operator, or energy partner, a good fit to work with?
For me, it always starts with a shared focus on the customer. The best partners don’t simply offer a product or service. They genuinely want to improve the customer journey, educate drivers and continually innovate. We also look for organisations that share our values around transparency, collaboration and long-term thinking. The strongest partnerships are those where both organisations are committed to solving problems together and creating better outcomes for customers.
Where do you think the smart money is going next in EV and energy infrastructure investment?
The future won’t simply be more chargers. It will be smarter chargers, smarter software, and smarter energy management. We’ll continue to see investment in ultra-rapid charging, but I think the bigger opportunity lies in connecting vehicles, homes, workplaces and energy systems into one intelligent ecosystem. That’s where I believe the greatest value will be created.
What’s one misconception about EV charging or energy strategy that you wish more people understood?
One misconception I’d love to change is that public charging is complicated. That perception comes from the early days of EV adoption, but the experience has improved enormously. Charging networks are more reliable, payment methods are becoming simpler and technology continues to remove friction. Like any new technology, there’s always a learning curve, but most people are surprised by how quickly charging becomes second nature. Sometimes perception around EVs simply hasn’t caught up with the actual reality.
Looking ahead two or three years, what does success look like for Select Electric, and for the broader EV transition in the UK?
Success for Select Electric means continuing to help businesses and private customers transition to electric vehicles with confidence, supported by strong partnerships, trusted advice and an outstanding customer experience. For the wider industry, success isn’t simply measured by registration numbers, but by confidence. For me, we’ll know we’ve reached the next stage of the transition when customers stop asking, ‘Will an EV work for me?’, and instead ask, ‘Which EV is right for me?’. That simple shift in mindset will tell us electric mobility has truly become mainstream.
