Due to the growing pollution and climatic changes, people and industries are looking for sustainable options to save the planet. One such industrial revolution that has gained a lot of popularity in recent years is the launch of electric vehicles (EV). With the use of technology, these vehicles work on electricity and do not release harmful emissions. Experts believe that the EV industry is likely to witness tremendous growth in the coming years and will soon hold a significant share in the total global auto market.
As a result, several major auto manufacturers have either already started manufacturing EVs or will be launching new EV models over the next years. With the changing landscape of the EV and automotive electronics industry, there will soon be a huge demand for skilled personnel in this industry. Thus, if you are planning to start a career in the EV and automotive electronics industry, here are 10 skills that will help you in establishing a successful career.
- Electrical engineering
With more automobile manufacturers planning to launch EVs, there will be a huge demand for good and qualified electrical engineers. These engineers will have to think outside the box and use their creative thinking to offer innovative and efficient solutions. An electrical engineer can expect to work on motors, test battery packs and develop charging solutions for EVs. In addition to the traditional electrical engineering skills, candidates will have to be competent in using the latest methodologies and tools.
- Electronics engineering
To successfully work in the EV and automotive industry sector, candidates will have to broaden their outlook and work across different domains. Electronics engineers will be responsible for designing, developing and installing sensor circuit, implementing controllers and testing the working of all the electronic parts. Additionally, they will have to work on the body electronics of the EV, develop a powertrain and infotainment system for the vehicle and create a solid firmware for the battery management system.
- Power electronics
Recently, there has been significant growth in the use of application software and artificial intelligence in the automobile industry. To fulfil the changing demands of customers, EV manufacturers will offer vehicles packed with smart features such as voice control, advanced driver assistance, keyless entry, one-touch start/stop, etc. All these requirements have increased the demand for power electronics specialists who can develop the technology and meet the demands of the supply chain.
- Design and development
To accurately design, configure and test working parts such as motors, batteries, sensors, electric engines and generators there will be a need for design and development executives. Based on the industrial requirements, these designers will design the framework of the vehicle and its parts to improve the design and functionality of the vehicle. They will also design prototypes for hardware design, software development, functional testing and EMC compliance. Additionally, designers will need a good knowledge of designing software such as Solidworks, AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop, etc.
- Industrial engineering
Industrial engineers can assist manufacturers in determining the most effective ways to streamline production. They help creat a cost-effective and highly beneficial working system for people, machines, materials and energy. As the EV industry will soon face tough competition among different manufacturers, industrial engineers will help in manufacturing vehicles at the most competitive prices. Their role will be to increase the plant productivity with proper management of workforce, effective use of technology and enhanced use of production methods.
- Computer science
In future, EVs will largely depend on technology to offer the best solutions to the consumers. Thus, EV manufacturers also need computer science professionals who can digitally transform the production and supply chain environment. The major role of computer science engineers is to design and develop Internet of Things modules for sharing data generated by EVs in real-time. They will also implement Artificial Intelligence algorithms and develop algorithms for the battery management system.
- Information Technology
To develop accurate algorithms for the EVs, information technology professionals will need good programming language skills such as C++, Java, Python and SQL. With these skills, they can develop embedded systems and use tools for the validation of designs. Many EV manufacturing plants use machine-level data processing and cloud integration tools on the shop floor. Information technology specialists integrate technology to enable the use of robots, machine learning, artificial intelligence and optical recognition. They will also help the manufacturer in making real-time cloud-managed decisions to improve the quality, performance and asset utilisation of the plant.
- Chemical engineering
While many manufacturers import batteries for EVs, others prefer to manufacture them by themselves. For this, they will need chemical engineers who can design and develop lithium-ion batteries, assemble battery packs and recycle batteries. Chemical engineering candidates with good knowledge of computational analysis and computational fluid dynamics will see great demand for their skills. They will help in developing system dynamics and fluid structures. Furthermore, they will also evaluate the thermal strategy for integrated cooling systems and the battery architecture.
- Service and maintenance
Similar to other vehicles, EVs will also need occasional maintenance and repair. Most of the routine maintenance work is carried out by normal repair workers. However, having a diploma or certificate in service and maintenance can be beneficial in getting the job of a lead technician. The maintenance of electrical systems and drivetrain needs skilled personnel that are trained to work with specific types of batteries, integrated electronic systems and complex computer regulated vehicles.
- Infrastructure development
With the increase in the number of EVs on the road, there will be a growth in the need for charging stations. Professionals with skills in infrastructure development will identify potential locations for charging stations and upgrading the existing infrastructure for building new charging stations. They will also work closely with the government and local officials and suggest plans to improve the existing electric system and make electricity available for EV charging stations. Additionally, they will determine the number of charging stations required in the vicinity and ensure the proper installation of power lines for an uninterrupted supply of electricity. By Catherine Smith PhD thesis writing
