EV influencer speaks out after squaring off with Channel 7 reporter

An electric vehicle influencer has slammed Channel 7 after it aired footage of a tense argument with a journalist.

An electric vehicle influencer involved in a fiery exchange with a Channel 7 journalist claims the footage that aired on television was edited to make him look like a bad guy.

But the network has strongly defended its representation of events as being completely accurate.

Liam Bartlett, chief correspondent of 7News Spotlight, was filming a press conference with Australian climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen at the Sydney International EV AutoShow in November for an expose on Chinese-backed Indonesian nickel mining for EV batteries.

In the footage aired on Sunday night, Bartlett was going back and forth with the minister when YouTuber Sam Evans stepped in to wrap the reporter up, prompting Mr Bowen to end the media opportunity.

A frustrated Bartlett later confronted Mr Evans, who is known as the ‘Electric Viking’, about his authority to end Mr Bowen’s press conference, in footage captured by the show. (Watch in the video player above).

But Mr Evans told news.com.au him being the reason the press conference ended was an “absurd” claim.

“I hadn’t said a single word to the minister at that point,” he said, adding that he had been there to also ask questions but accused Channel 7 of “hogging the mic”.

Channel 7’s Liam Bartlett confronts the man who wrapped up his questions at a press conference with the climate change and energy minister. Picture: Spotlight / Channel 7

Mr Evans said that as the minister left, he walked alongside him to ask a question about his announcement on vehicle to grid charging in Australia – that he described as a “game-changer” – and his intention was not to block Mr Bowen from the media.

It was after the minister left that things escalated between Bartlett and Mr Evans.

“I was shocked — completely blindsided by his aggression,” Mr Evans said.

“He kept calling me a nobody, saying I had no right to be there, and pushed me for about 30 seconds until I finally snapped back.

“I said something like, ‘Let’s go outside, tough guy — let’s sort this out.’ But then I realised it was intentional goading. His crew was filming, hoping I’d react. I walked away instead.”

Spotlight maintains their reporter approached Mr Evans in a “calm” manner.

A Seven spokesperson told news.com.au “the Electric Viking’s accusations are a total and utter fabrication of the truth” and “the 7NEWS Spotlight team acted with full integrity at all times”.

It is understood Bartlett asked other journalists to go ahead of him at the press conference.

A Channel 7 journalist and an electric vehicle influencer got in a fiery exchange. Picture: Spotlight / Channel 7

In the footage aired on Spotlight, Bartlett was not heard calling the YouTuber “a nobody” but had demanded to know who Mr Evans was.

“Who is this guy? Who is he? Who is he to step between the media and a minister of the crown?” Bartlett asked another man who appeared to try to defuse the situation.

The argument continued.

“Let’s go, go on, let’s go” Mr Evans said.

“Get out of my face, pal,” Bartlett warned.

“You got in my face,” Mr Evans snapped back.

“You want to do it on camera? You really want to do this?” Bartlett said.

Spotlight showed Mr Evans eventually walking away from the confrontation.

Another man stepped in to defuse the situation. Picture: Spotlight / Channel 7

Spotlight’s investigation looked into the environmental impact and workplace deaths and injury incidents at Morowali Industrial Park and Weda Bay Industrial Park, two nickel processing facilities in Indonesia.

The Seven Network said the episode reached 1.63 million people on Sunday night, with a total TV national average audience of 850,000. It is still available to watch on 7Plus.

In a statement, Bartlett said: “I’m not surprised that this story has resonated so strongly with Australians.

“Our audience has a very good nose when it comes to sniffing out social injustice and hypocrisy.

“When you consider how this issue is also tied into environmental destruction and government inaction, it makes perfect sense that it strikes a chord with so many people.”

On a “risky” visit to Morowali, Bartlett had told the camera: “There are no serious rules and regulations. There are no serious safety protocols.

“But if you’re serious about environmental protection, think about this: This place produces almost 11 times the amount of greenhouse gases to produce the same battery as you would for an equivalent production process in Australia, and that is why they call this dirty nickel.”

When asked if Australia was talking to China about the “dirty nickel”, Mr Bowen said there was “a range of discussions” and the government had “regularised relations with China”.

“It’s better to have discussions with China rather than not have discussions with China, which was the case under the previous government,” Mr Bowen replied.

The minister said he had been “very clear” that his preference was Australian nickel being used to make electric vehicles being sold to Australians.

Mr Evans described the Spotlight story as a “hit piece” and said he would address it in a YouTube video — a platform where he has almost 300,000 subscribers. He stressed all EVs do not use nickel-based batteries.

“While it feels like I was used as a prop in the story, to craft the angle they were looking for, it only strengthens my resolve to continue sharing accurate information,” he told news.com.au. “EVs are part of a cleaner, smarter future, and a balanced and factual discussion is essential if Australia is to move towards cleaner energy.”

He said Australians should “push for EV adoption and demand responsible mining and more sustainable battery chemistries” at the same time.

Originally published as EV influencer speaks out after squaring off with Channel 7 reporter