The electric vehicle (EV) market is witnessing an unprecedented surge in popularity, driven by growing environmental concerns, advancements in technology, and government funding in the billions of dollars. As more individuals and businesses transition to electric vehicles, the need for building out an extensive and reliable EV charging infrastructure becomes paramount. However, the process for installing EV chargers and building the supporting infrastructure faces significant challenges, including a shortage of skilled electricians which is creating a major bottleneck. In this article, we explore the critical need to improve the EV charger installation process by integrating technology.
The Demand for a National Charging Network
A 2023 report “Building the 2030 National Charging Network” was recently released by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which has been at the forefront of assessing EV charging needs and developing state-of-the-art analytical tools for over a decade. Researchers estimated the number of chargers needed to create a comprehensive network of EV charging infrastructure to support an anticipated 30-40 million EVs on the road by 2030. That will require the following:
- 182,000 publicly accessible fast charging ports to enable long-distance travel and ride-hailing electrification and to support those who lack access to residential charging;
- One million Level Two charging ports at publicly accessible locations – including high-density neighborhoods, office buildings, and retail outlets; and
- 26 million Level One and Level Two charging ports at privately accessible locations – including single family homes, multifamily properties.
There’s a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. Who’s going to get it done? Electricians. But there’s a bit of a problem there.
Supply vs. Demand – A Shortage of Electricians to Meet Aggressive Timelines
No matter what– if you’re installing EV chargers, an electrician will be involved: walking the site, making the plans, purchasing the equipment, trenching the lot, laying the conduit, pulling the wire, and making terminations.
The installation of EV chargers is a complex process that requires skilled electricians to ensure safety, compliance, and reliability. However, this poses a significant challenge to the rapid deployment of charging infrastructure. The shortage of skilled electricians is expected to reach critical levels by 2030. According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the years 2025-2030 are forecasted to witness a substantial shortage of 80,000 skilled electricians each year. This shortage can be attributed to various factors, including the retirement of experienced professionals and a lack of new talent entering the field.
This shortage is exacerbated by the fact that the demand for electricians is increasing across various industries, including residential, commercial, and industrial projects. EV charging infrastructure – as a specialized field – competes for the same pool of skilled professionals.
By contrast, the demand for EV charging stations is projected to skyrocket in the coming years. According to the EC&M’s Top 50 Electrical Contractors report, the steadfast revenue of the country’s top electrical contractors reflects an increased demand for electrical services, driven in part by the surge in EV adoption. The report emphasizes the need for electrical contractors to adapt to this changing landscape and invest in technology to efficiently meet the growing demand.
Improving Efficiency through Technology
By integrating automation, artificial intelligence, and other smart solutions, the EV charger installation process can become more efficient, cost-effective, and accessible.
Electrical contractors are increasingly investing in technology to enhance their services, improve efficiency, and stay competitive. This indicates a growing recognition within the industry that technological advancements can address existing challenges.
Efficient and Accurate Site Assessment
Traditionally, site assessments for EV charger installations have been time-consuming and resource heavy. However, the integration of software can transform this aspect of the installation process. Mobile field applications can aid in data collection such as cataloging the existing infrastructure of a building or home, calculating the electrical capacity, and identifying any potential challenges. This type of information can provide electricians with comprehensive data to make informed decisions. By automating the site assessment process, planning for new chargers can be expedited, giving electricians the tools needed to install chargers more efficiently and remain in compliance.
Automated Planning and Design
Automated tools can analyze locations, assess electrical requirements, and generate optimal designs for EV charging stations. This reduces the workload on electricians and accelerates the planning phase, allowing for quicker deployment.
In addition, artificial intelligence algorithms can analyze historical data to predict future demand for charging stations. This predictive modeling can help identify high-traffic areas and strategically plan installations, ensuring that the infrastructure keeps pace with the growing demand for EV charging.
Remote Monitoring and Maintenance
Remote monitoring and maintenance technologies allow for real-time monitoring of charging stations, enabling early detection of issues and proactive maintenance. By remotely diagnosing problems and even performing software updates, electricians can address issues without needing to be physically present at the site.
This not only reduces downtime but also minimizes the need for frequent on-site visits, making the maintenance process more efficient and cost-effective. Additionally, remote monitoring enhances the overall reliability of the charging infrastructure, ensuring a seamless experience for EV users.
Building Digital Processes That Scale
The shortage of skilled electricians poses a significant obstacle, but by embracing technology, the installation and maintenance process can be revolutionized to ensure efficiency, safety, and accessibility.
Streamlining the installation process and introducing automation for planning, design, monitoring, and maintenance can modernize the EV charger installation process, making it more agile and cost-effective. The statistics on the shortage of electricians and the projected demand for charging infrastructure emphasize the need for urgent action.
As the world transitions towards sustainable transportation, investing in technological solutions is a necessity. By doing so, we can build a robust and future-ready EV charging infrastructure that meets the needs of a rapidly growing market while addressing the challenges posed by the shortage of skilled professionals.
About the Author:
Ian Hoppe, CEO and Co-founder. After spending most of his early career as an electrician across the southeast, Ian worked as a designer and draftsman at an electrical engineering firm based in Birmingham, Alabama, leading many trips into the field to assess the condition of existing electrical systems. This led to months of out of date records, poor quality photos, and messy, error filled, hand written notes and single line diagrams per job.
This process meant wasted time and money for the facility as well as the engineering firm. Ian knew there had to be a better way. After taking a step back from the industry and still seeing no improvements in its processes, Ian began developing the idea of Condoit, a method to more accurately and efficiently document electrical system records.
About the Condoit:
The Condoit platform digitizes and unites electrical construction and engineering mechanisms with standardized and validated site audits, on-the-fly design scenarios, in-app engineering calculations, and the complete automation of electrical plan assembly. What normally takes weeks and months to accomplish, Condoit can do in a matter of hours. Used by electrical contractors, solar and EVC installers, and electrical engineering firms all over the United States, Condoit is poised to revolutionize the electrical construction industry. For more information visit the Condoit website or contact the team at info@condoit.io.
Sources:
NREL: https://www.nrel.gov/news/program/2023/building-the-2030-national-charging-network.html
Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/ev-broken-finding-technician-fix-it-may-take-while-2023-09-06
EC&M: https://www.ecmweb.com/top-50-electrical-contractors/article/21273630/resilient-revenue-ecms-2023-top-50-electrical-contractors-special-report