Story by Gemma Beasley / November 1, 2023
Electric vehicles (EVs) are having a moment. With commitments from automakers and government incentives for consumers, EV purchases are dramatically increasing across the United States. Major auto manufacturers plan to invest billions to build new battery plants and transition to electric fleets over the next decade.
This acceleration in EV adoption requires a massive, parallel expansion of charging infrastructure to support these new electric fleets. Charging stations will need to be installed everywhere from homes, to office buildings, retail locations, and along highways – an infrastructural shift akin to expanding gas stations to fuel internal combustion engine adoption in the early 20th century.
Billions Invested in New Southeast EV Production Facilities
Several high profile EV and battery plant projects have recently been announced across the Southeastern United States:
● Ford and SK Innovation are building a $5.8 billion battery complex to power 1 million EVs annually. This will require vast charging infrastructure.
● Hyundai announced a $5.5 billion EV and battery plant in Georgia, demanding expanded charging capabilities.
● VinFast chose North Carolina for its $4 billion EV manufacturing facility which will depend on regional charging stations.
Scaling Up the Construction Workforce to Meet Demand
Constructing this EV infrastructure will require a monumental workforce expansion. Conservative projections estimate at least 7 million new EV jobs will be needed in the US by 2030. But who will build this new infrastructure?
Successfully powering up the pipeline of qualified EV construction technicians requires collaboration between industry, trade schools and training providers. Curriculums must align precisely with the skills employers need – from electrical systems to site planning and installation. These programs should combine classroom learning with on-site training.
States can offer funding and incentives for employers who engage with training initiatives. Schools need to rapidly expand program capacity using industry partnerships, short-term bootcamps, and accessible online learning options.
Effective outreach to veterans, women, and minority groups is also critical to meet demand. The future of the region’s EV infrastructure hinges on the action we take now to build a robust construction workforce.
Energizing New Careers
The time is right for employers, educators, recruiters and leaders to work together to plug the talent that will power this EV infrastructure boom.
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