With this issue, we say farewell to 2023. A few of the articles published in this issue touch on the electric vehicle market. We already have published numerous articles about the need for more charging stations and reliable solutions to ensure EV drivers have the battery power they need to get to their destinations. What I appreciate about the articles by the authors who talk about EVs in this issue is the way each presents a broader view of some of the challenges the industry is facing, as well as solutions industry experts are exploring.
Electric vehicles have remained among the top trends that industry experts have watched for several years. But EVs are more than just an industry trend. Because car emissions are responsible for about 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, EVs give environmentally-conscious drivers, who can access and afford EVs, a way to lower their carbon footprint.
Based on the increasing number of EVs now on the road in the U.S., more consumers are switching to electric vehicles. According to a 2023 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2011, there were about 22,000 EVs on the road, and by 2021, that number jumped to a little more than 2 million. Cox Automotive reports that EV sales accounted for 7.9% of total industry sales in Q3 of 2023, which is up from 7.2% in Q2 of this year, and up from 6.1% in 2022.
Although there are significantly more EVs on the road now than a decade ago, some barriers, like high purchase prices and the availability of EVs, make it difficult for the masses to embrace electric vehicles. Even if EVs were readily available in every market, and people could afford the cost of purchasing or leasing an EV, the lack of access to charging infrastructure remains challenging to the widespread adoption of EVs.
In his article, “Battery Swapping: Friend or Foe of the EV Charging Industry?” Aatish Patel with XCharge points to charge anxiety as another hurdle that gets in the way of widespread EV adoption. As Patel explains, the EV market has seen an increase in charging networks, but battery swapping stations have also shown up as a possible solution.
Patel also writes about how the EV industry is looking at battery swapping to match the convenience and speed of visiting a gas station, but as he explains, until there is uniformity in the way EV batteries are manufactured, people with charge anxiety will be among those sticking with gas-fueled cars. Patel lays out steps the industry must take for battery swapping to be a viable alternative or complement to charging stations. Battery swapping and charging station companies each offer advantages. Additionally, they present different challenges, but ultimately, both are working toward the same goal. So, as Patel suggests, the best approach is for these companies to work together to achieve that goal.
Ronald Hermans, who works for Honeywell, adds EVs to his list of emerging trends in utilities. According to Hermans, more EVs on the road could result in a heavier strain on electricity infrastructure. Consequently, not only will there be a greater need for more charging solutions, but the impact of EVs extends beyond charging stations. Hermans points out how the evolution of EVs is reshaping the urban landscape, which includes dedicated EV lanes on roads, broad acceptance of public charging infrastructure and ensuring new building codes are EV-ready.
As renewable energy becomes more mainstream, we will see more consumers begin to rely on alternative energy sources. Wider deployment of alternative energy means companies that make up the electric power sector will need to grow their work force. However, with so many current workers retiring, the need to fill the positions vacated by those experienced workers has.been an issue about which human resource experts have been concerned since the first Baby Boomers began to age out.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2030, all Baby Boomers will be age 65 and over. Granted, not all Boomers will retire at age 65, but as more workers age, the need to replace them will increase. In The Bigger Picture section of this issue, Michael J. Reidy, who is a senior consultant at Interaction Associates, writes about the future of talent in renewable energy.
Recognizing the increasing gap left as aging workers retire, and the next generations develop the skills and experience necessary to fill those positions, Reidy provides suggestions for hiring managers and HR professionals to follow. Reidy emphasizes that not only is it important to attract new workers, but also to remember that like all industries, the renewable energy sector is made up of different generations of workers.
So, as the renewable energy space expands, companies that want to attract and retain workers must recognize that each generation has valuable experience to contribute. Therefore, to ensure a sustainable workforce now and in the future, employers need to foster mutual trust among the different generations by encouraging the transfer of knowledge and working to establish a culture of respect.
As we venture into 2024, we look forward to sharing the latest updates from our experts in the electric energy sector and passing along their insights affecting the industry. Here’s to wrapping up another year and to a new year of great prosperity, good health and innovative solutions!
As always, if you would like to contribute an article on an interesting project, please email me: Elisabeth@ElectricEnergyOnline.com
Elisabeth
