Electric Vehicles, and the opportunities they present, have changed dramatically in the last decade and continue to go from strength to strength, year on year. 10 years ago, the Electric Vehicle landscape in the UK was minimal. A total of 30,000 Electric Vehicles were on the road, and the number of charging points numbered in the small hundreds. Only four body styles were available: city cars, small family cars, small vans and sports coupés. Electric Vehicles were only a dot on the horizon, and only those who had expert knowledge in the field saw the growth that was coming.
The Current Landscape
Now, in late 2021, Electric Vehicles are a major factor in the transport industry. It is estimated that there are now more than 330,000 Battery Electric Vehicles in use across the UK.[1] This growth has also been witnessed globally, with 10 million electric cars reportedly on the world’s roads at the end of 2020. A significant proportion (3 million) of these vehicles were registered in 2020 alone,[2] showing that the pace of growth has picked up significantly over the last couple of years. The overall landscape of the Electric Vehicle market is vastly different to that of 2011, not only encompassing electric cars but also electric buses and heavy-duty vehicles. As the Electric Vehicles industry is expanding exponentially, expert knowledge regarding trends and technology enhances the career of professionals in the sector.
Surprisingly, the Pandemic has done little to hamper sales of Electric Vehicles, despite overall car sales decreasing in 2020. Electric Vehicle registrations increased by 41% in 2020, whereas overall car sales dropped by 16%. This increased further in early 2021, with global sales up 140% in the first quarter of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020.[3] Recent events such as the UK fuel shortage in September 2021 have also resulted in even more demand for electric vehicles. It has been reported that the sales of Battery Electric Vehicles in the UK, during the September fuel shortage, very nearly equalled the total sales in 2019.[4]
Government Action
Governments are preparing for the changes that this vast expansion is bringing. As one of their commitments, revealed ahead of COP26, the UK Government pledged to end the sale of all petrol and diesel cars by 2030.[5] The UK Automated and Electric Vehicles Act, passed in 2018, continues to upgrade motorway services with easy to use and reliable charging points; as well as allowing city and regional mayors to request their installation at petrol stations in their area. With transport now the largest sector for greenhouse gas emissions in the UK[6], it is crucial that the government acts quickly on this to meet Net Zero targets in time.
Across the world, innovative incentives are also being introduced to encourage the use of Electric Vehicles. Norway, who arguably leads the way in Electric Vehicle adoption, has a multitude of available incentives. Electric Vehicle owners can not only avail themselves of grants, but also avoid road tax, road tolls, pay half price on ferries, receive free municipal parking in cities and use bus lanes.
Grow your career in the Industry
The world has very important decarbonisation targets to meet in the next decade and beyond. As a result, the demand for Electric Vehicles is not going to subside any time soon. All of this brings vast opportunities for those with the expert knowledge to navigate the expanding landscape. Professionals who have expert knowledge in the Electric Vehicles industry will be able to stay ahead of the curve and take advantage of opportunities as they appear.
The Renewable Energy Institute’s Accredited Electric Vehicles course provides professionals with the knowledge and tools to apply expertise in the technology, policy and trends of Electric Vehicles to their career. Delivered by Experts who have vast experience in their field, we are pleased to offer two versions of this course, focusing on either the UK or US Market.
The Institute also offers the opportunity to study Electric Vehicles as part of the Accredited Master in Renewable Energy Award. By completing 13 courses over 18 months, participants will gain the expert knowledge required to make the most of future opportunities and succeed in the expanding Renewable Energy Sector.
Start studying today with our online, on-demand course which allows you to study from your own location and in your own time. For more information please call +44 (0)131 446 9479 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm, UK Time) to talk to one of our course advisers, or email training@renewableinstitute.org
[1] https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/electric-cars/choosing/road-to-electric/
[2] https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2021
[3] https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2021
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/05/uk-car-sales-electric-vehicles-petrol-crisis-chip-shortage
[5] https://ukcop26.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/COP26-Explained.pdf
[6] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/automated-and-electric-vehicle-act-report/automated-and-electric-vehicles-act-2018-regulatory-report