The EV market is growing rapidly in the run-up to the UN’s Net Zero 2050 target. This is because the UK Government is aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve its 2050 Net Zero goal by encouraging the use of EVs over petrol and diesel cars, alongside other strategies.

To aid this transition, the UK must invest in expanding its EV infrastructure and developing a skilled EV workforce to support it.

What is ‘EV’?

‘EV’ stands for ‘electric vehicle’. This mode of transport is powered using an electric motor and rechargeable battery, in comparison to a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) used in diesel and petrol cars. As a result, EVs do not directly emit greenhouse gases, which are major contributors to climate change.

EVs are becoming a popular alternative to petrol or diesel cars, with 19.6% of new cars sold in 2024 being electric vehicles. Although EVs currently account for only 2.5% of the total used car market, this number is likely to increase as new EV cars enter the second-hand market over the next few years.

While EVs have sometimes been controversial, particularly in the US, where US President Donald Trump froze EV charging funds earlier this year and has been a vocal opponent to the adoption of EVs. In the UK, there are no signs that the sale of EVs is slowing down, with the Government’s Electric Vehicle Grant expanding to more car models in August 2025 to encourage increased adoption.

Why are EVs so important to the renewable energy sector?

In 2023, transport was responsible for 29% of the total UK greenhouse gas emissions, with cars and taxis making up 54% of that figure. As transport contributes a high percentage of total greenhouse gas emissions, it is a sector where changes to reduce emissions could be significant in helping the UK reach Net Zero. In order to achieve this, the Government has committed to ending the sale of:

• New petrol and diesel cars by 2030
• New hybrid cars by 2035
• All other new non-zero emission vehicles, such as HGVs and buses, by 2040

Whilst there are no plans to ban the sale of second-hand non-electric vehicles or to remove them from the roads altogether, the Government argues that banning the sale of new petrol/ diesel vehicles and promoting the use of electric vehicles, will reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. This will, therefore, inevitably help support the UK’s Net Zero ambitions.

What areas need improvement to support the EV transition?

Two key areas driving the EV market include the expansion of the charging infrastructure and the growth of the UK’s skilled EV workforce. The success of these areas will be critical in ensuring the UK reaches its 2030-40 EV targets.

EV infrastructure

Strengthening the UK’s EV infrastructure is vital for the growth of the sector. The first UK EV charging point was installed in 2009, when only 55 EVs were in circulation. Since then, both of these numbers have risen rapidly. As of July 2025, the UK had over 84,000 charging points, which serve 1.3 million EVs currently on the road.

As the number of EVs on the road rises, there is a pressing demand to increase the availability of charging points for road users. In fact, in a recent survey, 44% of individuals said they wouldn’t buy an EV for their next purchase due to a lack of charging stations. Without confidence in adequate charging stations and infrastructure, the EV market will not expand as far as it needs to help the UK reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and reach its 2050 Net Zero targets.

In an attempt to improve EV infrastructure, in July 2025, the UK Government announced that £63 million worth of funding had been allocated for the “electric vehicle revolution”. This funding includes:

• A £25 million scheme for local authorities to expand kerbside charging points for homes without driveways
• An additional 100,000 public charging points to be installed by 2030
• £8 million in funding for the NHS to install charging points to power ambulances and medical fleets across 200 sites

This is in addition to the £400 million allocated for the rollout of the charging infrastructure across the UK’s road network to support long-distance driving.

The growth in funding for improving the EV infrastructure will inevitably lead to both job creation for EV professionals and an increase in the use of EVs on UK roads.

EV workforce

Developing and training the future EV workforce is vital to the UK’s ability to expand the EV infrastructure and support the increasing demand for EVs. Despite the need for skilled talent in the EV sector, the industry is currently falling short of securing the workforce required as adoption increases.

Overall, there are significant skills gaps in traditional automotive roles. Technicians are workers who diagnose, repair, and maintain cars; but due to EVs being built differently from diesel and petrol cars, technicians have to retrain to work on them. Currently, only 24% of UK car technicians have the skills to work on EVs. The Institute of the Motor Industry forecasts a shortfall of 16,000 EV technicians by 2032.

Additionally, 77% of manufacturers are struggling to recruit engineering and design professionals with EV experience, and 91% of automotive roles overall require reskilling from mechanical to electrical. To fill the skills gaps within the EV industry, a transformation of the entire automotive sector will be necessary.

How businesses should be encouraging the growth of the EV workforce

Scaling up the EV workforce will enable the sector to enhance its infrastructure, support the growth of EVs on the road, and help the UK achieve its 2050 Net Zero targets. However, with the acute skills gap present in the sector, more needs to be done to grow the EV workforce.

Reskilling professionals

Reskilling automotive professionals is a fast and effective way for the sector to fill vital skills gaps. As EVs differ significantly from petrol and diesel vehicles, training is often required for many professionals in the automotive sector to transition to EVs.

However, the automotive sector has been slow to encourage this. In the last year, the IMI, the main provider for EV training, saw a 6% drop in technicians obtaining an EV certification. Whilst training courses have flourished in recent years, there has been no consensus on what training is offered on these courses or the requirements needed for each level, making it more confusing for professionals as they attempt to reskill. The IMI argues that more targeted investment and reskilling strategies are needed to support this transition.

Without skilled professionals joining the EV industry, the sector will miss out on their key skills, expertise, and knowledge, and these professionals risk being left behind if more restrictions are placed on petrol and diesel vehicles.

Apprenticeships

In the past year, apprenticeships for the EV workforce have grown rapidly to meet the demand for skills in the sector. Top automotive employers are increasing their apprenticeships by 16% on average in 2025 in order to create pathways for professionals to join the EV workforce.

With the sector facing a significant shortfall of technical professionals, it is vital that more apprenticeships are offered, and incentives are put in place to encourage workers to enter the sector. Apprenticeships are often a more accessible route to careers than university, offering hands-on job experience that appeals to a wider range of individuals.

Additionally, by establishing routes for newcomers to the industry, it will increase the chances of a regular influx of new workers for EV-related businesses, which will create more stability in the industry.

Career progression

Establishing clear career progression routes is essential for the EV sector to attract and retain professionals.

The EV industry is continuously evolving. Many roles are currently focusing on establishing infrastructure, such as EV charge point installers. However, long-term plans for EV careers will need to be created to support the sector’s changing demands.

Career progression opportunities are also affected by the stability of the market. There are many start-ups in the EV industry, with the UK ranking as the 4^th largest EV battery VC investment recipient since 2018. Whilst this is positive for investment, job creation, and funding, start-ups can be unstable, which can make people hesitant to join the industry. As the sector matures, more stable career options are expected to emerge, making it easier to attract long-term talent.

Overall, the EV industry is poised to grow rapidly over the next few years, as EVs become the only type of new cars available on the market. However, reskilling opportunities, apprenticeship options, and career progression plans will need to be expanded in order to support the sector’s projected development.

The VIQU Energy team has expertise in E-mobility and EV recruitment, meaning we have the knowledge, expertise, and connections to help businesses secure the EV talent they need. If you are looking to hire top talent for your company, click here to get in touch with the team.