Indian EV industry to have demand for 200,000 skilled workers: ET report

Green energy and sustainability are transforming India's energy transition and bringing in a new era focused on cutting carbon emissions and switching to cleaner, more sustainable options. Even while the country has achieved incredible progress in expanding access to energy, India must keep improving its energy infrastructure and diversifying its fuel sources if it hopes to have a truly sustainable future, a report by the Economic Times said. 

As part of India’s ambitious commitment to attain net zero emissions by 2070, the country plans to decrease its expected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030 and meet 50% of its energy demands from renewable sources. Moreover, a different approach to ensuring India's future economic and environmental prosperity is this crucial green transition in this vision.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are at the forefront of this historic shift and are anticipated to be crucial in decarbonising India's transportation industry. The EV market is poised to become a ₹20 trillion business by 2030, with an anticipated 45–50% annual growth rate, solidifying its place as a key component of sustainable mobility. By the end of the decade, the government wants to electrify 70% of commercial vehicles, 30% of private automobiles, and 80% of two- and three-wheelers.

To speed up the adoption of EVs, the government has started several programs, including the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) schemes. Over 1.6 million EV purchases have already been subsidised since 2015 thanks to the recently launched ₹10,900 crore PM E-Drive subsidy scheme, which is a component of FAME's third phase. FAME 1 and FAME 2 also established the foundation for the sector. Furthermore, to solve serious issues with charging accessibility, the government has set aside ₹2,000 crores for the installation of fast chargers around the country. The Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024 (EMPS 2024) intends to strengthen the EV production ecosystem and hasten the adoption of electric two- and three-wheelers in support of these activities.

However, ongoing investments in workforce development, skill-building initiatives, and technology innovation are essential to the long-term success of India's EV revolution. One of the immediate challenges of the industry is to develop a qualified workforce of more than 200,000 experts by 2030, encompassing technology, manufacturing, after-sales services, and ancillary operations like charging infrastructure and maintenance. For the EV ecosystem to flourish sustainably and for India to maintain its position as a leader in the world of green energy, this skills gap must be closed.