In what could be good news for electricians and those considering a career change into this area, demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging points is growing in Europe as more drivers make the switch to full EVs.
However, the latest research indicates that supply is not keeping up with demand. The HERE-SBD EV Index 2025 surveyed drivers in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the US.
While it found that sentiment around EVs is good among European drivers, with many intending to buy an EV as their next car if they don’t already have one, access to charging points is considered one of the top barriers to doing so by 42 per cent of European drivers.
In addition, 43 per cent of those surveyed in Europe said that the availability of fast chargers (or lack thereof) was a frustration. This is despite the fact that charging power in Europe has increased by 12 per cent on average in the last year.
However, the environmental benefits of driving an EV, better value for money than that provided by a petrol or diesel car and lower running costs were cited by drivers as the top three motivations for making the switch to electric.
Meanwhile, Vauxhall has revealed that drivers have requested on-street charging points on 12,500 streets in the UK since the organisation launched its Electric Streets of Britain campaign in August 2023.
This indicates that there is strong demand among drivers and a willingness to adopt EVs, provided the infrastructure is available to support their use.
As an electrician qualified to install EV charging points, this presents a significant opportunity. Meanwhile, if you have been considering a career change and therefore have been exploring the electrician training courses available, this might encourage you to take the plunge.
If electrical work is completely new to you, you will obviously need to complete some foundation courses before you move onto EV charger installation. However, there is a dedicated course for this skill – the City & Guilds 2921-31 Electric Vehicle Charging award.
With this certification, you will be licensed to install domestic and small commercial EV chargers. The course lasts for two days and takes certified electricians through the basics of designing and installing a range of EV supply equipment.
You’ll also learn about the different EV charging systems currently available, ensuring that you can put your skills to use wherever you’re based.
Vauxhall’s research indicates that certain regions are in greater need of new EV chargers than others. Rural areas, especially in Wales, Scotland and the east of England, are underserved by the current charging infrastructure.
Although the number of charging points on the UK’s streets has increased by 56 per cent since the end of 2023, many of these new chargers are located in London and other big urban areas. With such strong demand for more on-street charging points, there will also be strong demand for people who are trained to install them.
So, if you haven’t already explored training in EV charger installation, now is a good time to do so!