More than two-thirds (68%) of UK electricians are potentially missing out on thousands of pounds each year by not offering electric vehicle (EV) services to their customers, new research has revealed.
With the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars fast approaching, the demand for EV-related infrastructure is set to continue rising, with charge points now legally required in all new-build houses and supermarkets.
Electricians are perfectly placed to take advantage of this trend, so ElectricalDirect, a specialist retailer of electrical products, surveyed the industry to see how many are embracing this opportunity by adding EV-related work to their list of services.
The study found that less than a third (32%) of UK electricians are currently installing EV charging points, and almost a quarter (23%) have turned down work of this nature.
Although it is strongly advised, registered electricians do not legally need additional qualifications to work with EV chargers, so many workers are potentially missing out on a lucrative source of income.
Electricians receive, on average, 40 EV-related customer enquiries a year – the equivalent of once every nine days – and with each installation typically generating over £300 of profit, this adds up to potential annual earnings of £12,000.
With EV training courses generally costing around £300-400, the initial investment can usually be repaid within a couple of jobs.
Besides the financial incentive, there are many benefits to electricians offering EV services, and ElectricalDirect has partnered with Darran Clarke at Alan Day Volkswagen to explain:
1.) Futureproofing your career
“Those who are able to offer EV-related services will be well-positioned to meet the needs of a growing market, so by learning about EVs and offering related services, tradespeople can future-proof their businesses and stay competitive in a changing industry.”
2.) Greater variety of jobs
“By offering EV-related services, a tradesperson can expand their business and accept a greater variety of jobs, leading to more income.”
3.) Working with new technology
“The opportunity to work with new technology and learn about the latest developments in the field can be a rewarding aspect of offering EV-related services.”
4.) Environmental impact
“By working in the EV space, tradespeople can contribute to the transition towards a more sustainable transportation system and make a positive impact on the environment.”
Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at ElectricalDirect, said: “It’s clear that electric vehicles are going to continue growing in popularity, and many electricians are already reaping the benefits of this market shift.
“However, our research shows that many are yet to fully take advantage. This is partly due to perceived barriers like cost and time, but we also found that some simply aren’t aware how to begin working with EVs.
“That’s why we’ve partnered with a series of experts to reveal exactly what tradespeople need to do in order to make this lucrative career step.”
For expert advice on how to start working with electric vehicles, visit: https://www.electricaldirect.co.uk/blog/how-to-start-working-with-electric-vehicles
