A quiet revolution has been taking place and is gaining momentum – welcome to the future or transport, the electric car. The government has been raising awareness about the toxic gases that are emitted from traditional diesel and petrol driven engines, and have been actively encouraging us to consider switching to an electrical vehicle when choosing a new car.
The problem of pollution caused by the fumes from diesel and petrol engines isn’t restricted to the UK, it is a global problem. Many countries have promoted the transition from traditional engine vehicles to hybrid or fully electric cars in a bid to address the situation. Not only is this beneficial from and environmental point of view, it is also a wise course of action as, at some point, oil will eventually run out, or become so scarce as to be too expensive for the average citizen to use.
In order to promote the transition, the government is offering a grant of up to £4,500 towards the cost of a new electric vehicle to boost sales. In a typical carrot and stick approach penalties are also being introduced to users of petrol and diesel engine cars to discourage use.
These initiatives are designed to move the end user towards electric vehicles as the car of choice for future purchases. Although sales of electric vehicles have grown rapidly the overall figure as a percentage of all cars is still quite low.
There is no question though that the use of electrical vehicles will continue to grow. It is predicted that in the very near future the majority of all of vehicles on the road will be electrically powered. Major manufacturers are fully committed to this course of action. Volvo being the first mainstream car maker to announce that all new models launched from 2019 will be electrically powered.
The UK government and world leaders are fully committed to tackling the air pollution problem. There is no doubt that the development of electrical vehicles and the supporting charging infrastructure is high on the agenda, and will continue to be so for decades to come.
Business Opportunities
Whilst the total shift to the use of electric cars seems to be slow nonetheless the shift will take place. This will inevitably mean the gradual demise of petrol and diesel engine powered vehicles over time.
As with any change there are casualties. Those involved in the manufacture and production of diesel and petrol engines will naturally be concerned for their future employment. Many leading car manufacturers began the development of their own models of electric powered vehicles and hybrid cars several years ago.
The government is offering grants to the manufacturers of low emission vehicles. Many car manufacturers were quick to embrace this change as a way of future proofing their business. This collaboration between industry and government looks set to be a very long-term arrangement, as even though their motives for change are different, the end result of this change is the same. The government gets a cleaner environment and industry gets a whole new market to sell their products to.
With the development of electric powered vehicles there is also the demand for the supporting infrastructure. Grants are available to companies who are designing and building the electric vehicle charging points, and even though there is a severe shortage of charging points across the country, specific localities (like London) are generously equipped and are enabling roll-outs of more points further and further afield.
The decision to use electric vehicles is one that cannot be taken without consideration of how and where the vehicle can be recharged. If you are a fleet manager and your remit is to phase in the replacement of petrol and diesel engine vehicles with electric cars than securing the appropriate access to the charging infrastructure is a priority.
Therein lies a further business opportunity for a company seeking to install and maintain the charging points, and also to supply route planning services to ensure each journey taken never strays to far away from the existing charging points. As a further sweetener to industry the government has pledged to invest £400 million specifically in the development of this vital enabling technology.
In order to further encourage companies whose employees rely upon company cars to travel in the course of their work, the government has announced that there will be no benefit in kind charge on the electricity provided by the company.
This is good news for employees as currently the Inland Revenue levy tax on fuel provided by an employer if it is for personal use by the employee. Given this fact, it is likely that those people who depend on a company car will pressure their fleet managers to supply an electric vehicle to enable them to avoid this charge – as depending on how a company car is used this benefit in kind deduction can take a big chunk out of take home pay.
Predictions for the time that it will take for the UK to fully embrace the use of electric vehicles varies from one report to another. Some reports suggest that the infrastructure to support electric car charging will grow to such an extent that petrol stations would be outnumbered by as early as 2020.
The preference by the public to purchase an electric vehicle as opposed to a petrol or diesel vehicle is predicted to happen as early as 2027. Not only does this mean that there are many business opportunities to be had in the manufacture and maintenance of electrical vehicles but the opportunities available in supporting the charging infrastructure cannot be under stated.
Where are the charging points?
Many electric vehicle owners will have charging points at home. Just as petrol stations are required on motorways and in city centres so are charging points for electrical vehicles.
It is predicted that many more car parks will need to provide charging points. Tourist attractions and leisure facilities will also need to consider providing charging points if their customers travel long distances to visit.
The way in which we think about refuelling our cars is changing rapidly. Instead of visiting a petrol station the users of electric vehicles will be expecting to plug into a charging point at their workplace or any office or business that they visit.
As the demand for electrical vehicles grows the charging point infrastructure must develop in step. To support the development of the infrastructure many companies are seeking to train their electricians to install and maintain the vital electrical vehicle charging points.
This is an area of business development that is set for rapid growth and any company interested in being part of that growth will need to act swiftly to ensure that their workforce is fully trained.
How can I be part of the revolution?
For those seeking industry recognised qualifications in the electric vehicle sector PTT now deliver a one-day intensive training course that satisfies the requirements of City and Guilds 2919.
This course, entitled “Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation”, is for electricians who are looking to develop their skills in the installation and maintenance of charging equipment for electric vehicles.
The course covers installations in domestic, commercial, and on street locations and equips students to provide a full range of relevant services, everything from site planning, equipment selection up to and including final installation
In addition, post installation services including advising on equipment inspection and certification are also covered in the course, enabling qualified engineers to further increase their billing and maintenance opportunities.
Many small to medium-size businesses are already enrolling their electricians on our dedicated training course to provide them with the skills required to install and maintain electrical vehicle charging points.
Students will require a copy of “IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation – 3rd Edition” to complete this level 3 qualification course.
If you believe that this is a future area for business growth and you want to ensure that you secure your market share, then it is important that you receive the training as soon as possible.
To find out more about this or any other training courses please contact us on 01442 828754. Or email info@ptt-training.co.uk.
