{"id":51240,"date":"2024-09-18T07:16:37","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T06:16:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=51240"},"modified":"2024-09-18T09:44:16","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T08:44:16","slug":"ev-production-significantly-boosts-auto-jobs-defying-predictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/ev-production-significantly-boosts-auto-jobs-defying-predictions\/51240\/","title":{"rendered":"EV production significantly boosts auto jobs, defying predictions"},"content":{"rendered":"
New research from the University of Michigan highlights the surprising need for more assembly workers in plants producing EVs compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, with some plants requiring up to ten times more labour during the initial phases of the transition.<\/p>\n
The University of Michigan’s research analysed data from several US auto plants that have switched to producing battery electric vehicles (BEVs).<\/p>\n
Contrary to widespread expectations, the study found that instead of decreasing, assembly jobs have surged, particularly in the early stages of EV production.<\/p>\n
In one specific plant that has been producing EVs for over a decade, the number of workers needed per vehicle remains three times higher than for ICE vehicle production.<\/p>\n
This finding is particularly striking given the simpler mechanical structure of EVs, which generally require fewer parts and less complex powertrains compared to their gas-powered counterparts.<\/p>\n
Earlier forecasts predicted significant job losses in the automotive industry due to the rise of EVs. Analysts had estimated that up to 30% to 40% of manufacturing jobs\u2014amounting to more than 200,000 positions\u2014could be lost as companies transitioned to electric models.<\/p>\n
This assumption was largely based on the idea that EVs, which have roughly 100 fewer components and lack complex systems like transmissions and exhausts, would require less assembly labour. However, the study found that these projections have not materialised.<\/p>\n
“What we’re seeing, with the data that’s available, is that the loss of employment predicted for EVs is not happening,” said Anna Stefanopoulou, the William Clay Ford Professor of Technology and senior author of the study.<\/p>\n
She emphasised that the research sheds light on the unexpected labour demands of EV production, which has been largely overlooked in previous industry discussions.<\/p>\n
Several key factors are contributing to the unexpected increase in labour demand during the transition to EV production:<\/p>\n