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How New Maintenance Training Can Increase the Declining Demand for EVs
How New Maintenance Training Can Increase the Declining Demand for EVs
by Elaina Farnsworth
The world is racing toward a more sustainable future, and the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) stands as a cornerstone in the fight against climate change and harmful emissions. Although EVs offer a hopeful solution to the climate crisis, their widespread adoption hinges on one critical component: a robust network of EV charging stations.
The EV world has a charging station problem, causing rampant “charging anxiety” and disinterest in EVs altogether. Recent studies show that up to 20 percent of current charging stations are inoperable at any given time.
Although there have been calls for more charging stations to be built, people are beginning to see the writing on the wall. If there are not enough specially trained technicians to support the current infrastructure, what good will more stations do?
Decline in demand
The problems with the current charging infrastructure have contributed significantly to the overall declining demand for EVs. Data published in January of 2024 stated that survey respondents who reported being interested in purchasing an EV stands at 41 percent, down from 49 percent in 2023. Interest has plummeted for members of Generation Z, despite their overwhelming interest in sustainability and climate change issues, with 52 percent of survey respondents citing the “inconvenience of charging” as a primary reason for steering clear of EVs.
Much of this inconvenience stems from the unreliable EV charging network; “charging anxiety” has emerged as a leading deterrent to EV ownership. Long lines at the one or two charging stations available in certain areas, broken equipment, and unreliable software have made people feel that owning an EV is not so much a “sure thing,” but rather a daily gamble on whether or not the need to charge one’s vehicle will be supported.
Today’s drivers need to find reassurance in the push for EV adoption. They need to know that not only will the EV charging infrastructure be expanded to support the number of EVs that experts would like to see on the roads, but that those new charging stations will be supported by trained technicians who know the ins and outs of the specific needs of these stations.
Skill development and training
To support the increased adoption of EVs, there must be a push for better training and skill development for technicians tasked with supporting the current and future network of charging stations. Currently, electricians or IT professionals are often tapped to handle issues of maintenance and network downtime. Problems arise when these technicians — however talented they may be within their own industries — do not have the EV-specific knowledge or training to properly support the embattled infrastructure.
EV charging stations can have complex operating systems and electrical needs. Components such as network connectivity, cybersecurity, and links to payment systems put the maintenance of these stations outside the skill realm of many traditional electricians or IT technicians. This skill gap has resulted in frustration on the part of both workers and EV drivers.
Through specific skill development and certification programs, proponents of EVs are working to tackle the skill gap issue. The operations and maintenance (O&M) market is rapidly evolving for workers. Aligning skilled professionals with the precise expertise they need to successfully support the growing EV charging infrastructure could solve the slowdown of EV adoption.
Even with a slight decline in EV demand, there are rampant opportunities for workers in the EV space. By gaining specific certifications such as Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) certification, technicians can unlock nearly unlimited future career opportunities in the EV space.
All of this work toward offering upskilling and training evolution for EV charging station maintenance technicians goes toward furthering overall EV adoption in the future. With a fully supported charging network, a significant pain point for EV drivers could be solved.
In the face of a decline in demand for EVs, enhanced technology and a bolstered infrastructure are two steps that will be necessary to support the waning EV market. In addition, the skilled support of EV charging stations will underpin wider adoption – restoring consumer confidence, and soothing “charging anxiety.”
By equipping technicians with the specialized skills and certifications they will need to properly maintain and support the growing EV charging infrastructure, charging stations will finally begin to shed their reputation for unreliability. Moreover, the continued interest in specific skill building is helping to create a robust new industry that will become more in demand as EV technology evolves.
The world will continue grappling with climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. EV use is integral to the plan to create a more sustainable future. By recognizing the pivotal role of skilled professionals in supporting the ongoing EV revolution, barriers can be overcome, and widespread EV adoption can pick up steam once again.
Farnsworth is Co-Founder & CEO of SkillFusion, which increases availability of certified electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) workers to ensure service providers have seamless access to the righttrained service technician.
