Transition to Electric Vehicles
With rising environmental concerns and the implementation of global policies to curb the adverse effects of climate change, governments and automakers around the world are looking at Electric Vehicles (EVs) as a green solution. EVs are emerging as the breakthrough innovation that can dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions. With a reduction in battery prices and the emergence of AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System), EV sales are booming as the auto industry witnesses a massive revolution in motoring.
The World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Statista, has reported that global electric vehicle sales have risen 30% almost every year of the past decade. Norway is at the forefront of this shift to cleaner cars with a 75% share of plug-in electric vehicles, along with Iceland, Sweden, and Finland. By 2030, 18 million EVs and hybrids will be on UK roads due to the projected ban on diesel and gasoline engines. The country, along with others, is attempting to meet the Paris climate agreement's target of a 37.5 percent reduction in car emissions by 2030.
Along with contributing to a cleaner environment and reducing noise pollution, electric vehicles come with several benefits, such as free parking, government funding, renewable electricity traffic, and increased resale value.
The Challenges Faced While Transitioning to EV
Although electric vehicles come with a plethora of benefits, the transition itself can pose a few challenges to society. Key ones include;
The Lack оf EV Infrastructure
A global shortage of essential EV charger components and precious metals, such as lithium, has resulted in a slowly developing charging infrastructure. The situation was further affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic resulting in a shortage of electronic components, which was worsened by manufacturers stocking up on 12 months' worth of machinery, thus straining the supply chain. The construction of an EV station can take four to eight weeks, and the cost varies depending on the type of charger. Installing a Level 2 charger, which is typical in residential and commercial settings, costs between $3,000 and $5,000. The cost of a DC fast charger, which allows users to recharge 80% of a vehicle's battery in 30 minutes, ranges from $125,000 to $300,000.
Most electric vehicle owners use a special wall-mounted charger to charge their cars at home; however, this is not the case for owners living in apartments, as parking garages with charging infrastructure are infrequent, and building managers can find them extremely expensive to install.
The requirement for skilled EV mechanics
According to the Institute of the Motor Industry, there is a scarcity of EV skilled workers compared to growth in BEV, PHEV, and HEV sales. For instance, there are only 500 certified electric car technicians in Australia, according to the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC), while there are already 25,000 electric vehicles on the roads. Additionally, it is estimated that the number of electric vehicles will rise to 1.7 million by the end of the decade as per the federal government's Future Fuels and Vehicles Strategy. Technicians handling EVs must be able to code and re-program vehicle software, as well as diagnose and repair high voltage rechargeable energy storage systems, thus requiring professional skills which are more akin to IT professionals or software engineers than traditional mechanics.
