Mike Dull, President, EVUniverse.com, Interviewed by EVinfo.net

Mike Dull, President, EVUniverse.com, was interviewed by Bill Pierce, Publisher, EVinfo.net. In this interview, Dull shares information about EVUniverse.com, as well as his own thoughts on EV adoption.

BP: Tell us a little about yourself.

MD: I began my career as a pharmacist, spending time with multiple companies developing, testing, and implementing clinical mobile applications/websites for chain pharmacies. My most recent venture was as COO of CHC Health, now part of Custom Health, which was one of the nation’s largest clinical pharmacy outreach companies. Recently, I made the switch from the pharmaceutical industry to vehicle sales to pursue a lifelong passion of mine: EVs and the sale of luxury vehicles. My passion for EVs began in 2008 after seeing the original Tesla Roadster. I was blown away by its performance and what the technology would hold for the future. Since then, I have bought 6 more EVs and have thoroughly enjoyed each one.

BP: Who founded your company? When did that happen?

MD: I founded the company in late 2021.

BP: Please list the current leadership and describe their roles.

MD: Mike Dull- President & CEO: I am the President, CEO, and founder of EV Universe. I am largely responsible for day-to-day operations, overseeing our website, and marketing efforts.

Vinay Tannan- COO: Vinay assists me with day-to-day operations in addition to overseeing a large amount of our website analytics and marketing efforts.

Board Members:

Rory Carroll- Editor-in-Chief at Jalopnik

Bryant Kolle Regional Vice President at Hagerty

Derek Kaufman Managing Partner at Schwartz Advisors and Former CEO Mission Motors

BP: What is your company’s mission?

MD: Our goal is to educate, inspire, and make people’s transition into the electric vehicle marketplace far less intimidating. We provide expert advice and insight through comprehensive vehicle reviews, product reviews, industry news coverage, and MD: common questions people have about EVs on our blog.

BP: What services/products do you provide?

MD: We have two main services combining our EV marketplace and a large section of parts and accessories. Here you can buy and sell electric vehicles from all over the country and find the parts that fit your car in the same place. EVU offers a breadth of information and knowledge to inform your purchasing decisions whether a new or seasoned EV owner.

BP: I strongly believe that if an employee is treated well, the company benefits from having a greater retention rate. Does your company offer policies such as remote work and unlimited PTO?

MD: EVU employees are dotted across the country in various states and regions. Each employee is able to work on their own schedule, remotely and enjoy unlimited PTO. We have a very tight-nit and motivated group of individuals from a variety of backgrounds that make EVU what it is today.

BP: How has your company supported sustainability?

MD: Sustainability is at the heart of what we do, it’s the reason why we exist as a company and our team embodies that each and every day. Beyond driving electric, it’s also supporting like-minded companies and individuals, in a variety of ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

Mike Dull’s EV adoption journey

BP: How and when did you get into EVs? Which EVs have you owned? What have been your most favorite and least favorite features of them?

MD: My love for electric cars began in 2008 after seeing the original Tesla Roadster in Las Vegas. That car was fundamental to my love for EVs. Since then, I have owned a Tesla Model X, Tesla Model S, two Tesla Model Y’s, Rivian R1T, BMW i4 M50, and my baby a 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport in Radiant Red.

BP: How has your org promoted EV adoption in the past?

MD: EV Universe was founded to provide a home for EV enthusiasts and those looking to buy their first EV. We wanted to create a space that not only offered the ability to buy/sell EVs, but also to find parts and resources to support owners on their journey. We spend a large amount of our time one-on-one with EV curious folks either on the phone or at in-person events. The easiest way to get people to buy into the EV experience is to drive one, they really sell themselves.

BP: What plans does your org have for promoting EV adoption in the future?

MD: Right now, we are in the process of building an e-book that centers around EV ownership. It has an emphasis on first-time owners and those who are curious about purchasing their first electric vehicle. We want to help ease people into the EV lifestyle and also show them that EV ownership is not all that different from owning an ICE vehicle. Beyond that we have a lot in the works that we will share when the timing is right.

BP: What are the biggest barriers to EV adoption in your opinion? How could these barriers be overcome?

MD: Prices of new EVs are beginning to match that of their ICE equivalents and therefore becoming less of an issue. The charging infrastructure and lack of understanding of how EVs function within our current system are two big barriers to EV adoptions.

In the case of the infrastructure, it isn’t at a level that work for all consumers, especially those in more rural area of the country. Not to mention the fact that apartment complexes are less likely to have convenient charging stations or allow you to run a cable to your apartment. As time goes on and businesses are able to meet the demand of consumer charging needs, we should see more people making the switch. Those hurdles are being worked on and as someone who has traveled the country in an EV more times than I can count, it is doable for many, if not most people right now. The limiting factor in my opinion is really education and understanding that at times there will be some trade-offs.

With respect to understanding EVs, the public sentiment is rapidly changing and it’s important to understand that gasoline cars are not going anywhere for some time, nor is your gas car going to be taken away from you. At EVU, we aim to provide resources to people, so they are able to understand EV ownership and how it actually affects day-to-day life.

BP: What do you believe government could do to promote EV adoption that they are not currently doing?

MD: While the current promotion of EVs is commendable, increased allocation of resources towards infrastructure, new manufacturing techniques and battery technology is where I believe the government could make the largest impact.

BP: How could middle class and lower income families be assisted in adopting EVs?

MD: There are several factors that affect this, and right now people are struggling to afford necessities due to factors such as high inflation rates and the housing crisis. Government subsidies are a great start to helping people afford EVs, but in order to assist those demographics the charging infrastructure needs to improve on top of fixing inflation. Mainly to help people charge their vehicles while at work or if they live in an apartment complex.

Thank you Mike Dull for taking the time to speak with us. We greatly appreciate your efforts in EV adoption and your time.