As the world increasingly prioritises sustainability, the electric vehicle sector is one of the prominent fields for career advancement. Understanding the sought-after roles, necessary skills, recommended courses, and other relevant details is crucial to future-proofing careers in this industry. Electric vehicles have gained significant popularity, experiencing rapid growth and offering various career prospects. The Indian government has launched a program called FAME, aiming to subsidise the purchase of nearly 1 million electric bikes, 7,000 electric buses, and 55,000 electric vehicles for three years.
Decoding the Indian EV landscape
Rapid growth for e-mobility stems from unbearably high levels of pollution overlapping with the economic difficulty that comes with increasing oil import prices. The country mostly relies on conventional automobiles but has seen high adoption of two- and three-wheeler EVs due to their relatively overall inexpensiveness and ease of maintenance. The cost of running electric vehicles is low; additionally, government subsidies made EVs more affordable for consumers.
The Future of Electric Vehicles in India
India’s population of 1.4 billion and its rapidly growing economy, the country is certain to be an influential leader in the global EV market today. Electric vehicles in India will represent a major step in the right direction toward sustainable development in worldwide mobility. EVs also represent at least 30% of all road traffic by 2023. Though a modest target, a 30% adoption rate will have global ripple effects, both environmentally and economically.
India Sets Ambitious Targets
According to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the Indian government intends to achieve the following EV mix in India by 2030:
Skills Requirement in the Electric Vehicle Industry
- The high-demand skills in electric vehicles are designing, manufacturing, battery production, and developing and maintaining charging infrastructure.
- Encompassing knowledge of sustainable materials, energy-efficient technologies, and environmental regulations, is becoming more valuable.
- Combining data analytics, project management and innovation skills can enhance an individual’s capacity to address challenges in this fastest-evolving industry.
- Other skills in demand are Green skills in climate action planning, sustainability education, carbon accounting, hydrogen fuel cells, carbon capture, green IT, sustainability reporting, solar system design, ecosystem management and impact assessment.
Career Opportunities in Electric Vehicle Industry
- Smart Technologies: Automakers are increasingly enhancing smart technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, embedded systems, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to analyze data and ensure quality control at every stage of electric vehicle (EV) production. Moreover, research has shown that AI and ML can optimize EV charging speeds, expanding their application in the industry by creating numerous opportunities for computer engineers, software developers, embedded system specialists, and data analysts.
- Cybersecurity: Electric vehicles rely on various sensors that are vulnerable to cyber threats. Furthermore, there have been incidents where attackers compromised charging stations to access sensitive customer data. To deal with such risks, EV manufacturers depend on cybersecurity professionals.
- Research & Development: In the electric vehicle (EV) industry, a dedicated research and development (R&D) team is essential to stay abreast of the latest global trends in technology and ideas. Their focus is on improvising battery charging and recharge technology, also sourcing fuel and materials. The R&D team is responsible for investigating and testing EV technology. Typically, chemists and material scientists assess battery life and performance, while exploring new materials to improve EV components. These efforts aim to develop faster recharging technologies to surpass conventional vehicles.
- Electrical Engineering: In the electric vehicle (EV) sector, a core capability is electrical engineering. Proficiency in electricity principles, circuits, and power electronics is indispensable for designing and managing EV systems. Students can pursue degrees in electrical engineering or related fields to establish a solid groundwork.
- Automotive Engineering: Automotive engineering provides an edge for those interested in the EV industry, which encompasses an understanding of vehicle design, manufacturing techniques, and safety standards. Specialized courses or degrees in automotive engineering are available to cater to this interest.
- Design and Development: The design and development sector is involved in the entire vehicle modelling process, from initial concepts to final product development. This includes engineers, software developers, industrial designers, technicians, and drafters. Their main objective is to find cost-effective solutions that enhance vehicle affordability. Professionals in chemical, electrical, electronic, mechanical, and industrial engineering, software development and design, are in high demand for roles in this sector within the EV industry.
The government aimed to go fully electric by 2030, and several brands have come up in the electric vehicle segment in India. These EV brands include TATA Motors and Mahindra, which are household names in the country, as well as newcomers such as Ather Energy and Okinawa. More brands such as Maruti Suzuki, Yamaha, and Honda are also expected to join the bandwagon soon. Tata Motors was one of the first automotive brands in India to enter the electric vehicle bandwagon. Quickly assess the EV space way before the competition. Tigor EV was the manufacturer’s first electric vehicle for personal buyers which came at a hefty price in 2019.
The growing partnerships and collaborations among manufacturers to share resources, technology, and innovations to develop advanced EVs are facilitating market growth. Other factors, including extensive research and development (R&D) activities, the rapidly expanding automotive industry, increasing consumer awareness regarding the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs), and rising expenditure capacities of consumers, are anticipated to drive market growth. The global electric vehicle market has several major players including Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, BYD Auto, Chery, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, Geely, General Motors, Honda Motor Company, Hyundai Motor Company, Nissan, Renault, SAIC Motor, Tesla Inc., Toyota Motor Corporation and Volkswagen.
With the global shift towards sustainable transportation, there is a high demand for skilled professionals in EV manufacturing, battery technology, software development, and infrastructure development is on the top. Engineers, technicians, and software developers are particularly sought after to innovate and improve EV performance, efficiency, and connectivity. As governments and corporations worldwide invest heavily in green technology, the EV industry presents a dynamic and promising career landscape, poised to shape the future of transportation and environmental sustainability.
