The sale of EVs is increasing rapidly. As a result, the entire sector around it is also growing at a rapid pace. The ‘Report Earning Potential Electric Transport 2020’ by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) shows that the number of Dutch jobs in electric transport is expected to double in the run-up to 2025.
The research distinguishes five sectors that have to do with EVs: Power transmission & components, new construction & conversion vehicles, EV services, charging infrastructure & smart grids and batteries & ‘second use’. Turnover in these sectors increased from €3.3 billion in 2018 to €4.2 billion in 2019, an increase of 27 percent. The survey does not report turnover figures for the past year. The strong sales growth can be explained in light of the growing number of EVs. The number of FTEs in the sector increased from 5,170 FTE in 2018 to 6,810 FTE in 2020, a 31 percent increase in two years. Of course, the sectors are not just about passenger cars, but also about electric trucks and buses.
According to the RVO, this increase in employment will only continue in the coming years. The researchers predict that employment in the Dutch EV sector will show a linear growth to 13,625 FTE towards 2025. That would mean doubling. According to the estimates, the number of jobs in the charging infrastructure shows the strongest growth, from 1,930 FTE to 4,623 FTE. Expanding the charging infrastructure is therefore an important spearhead. The largest market cluster is expected to remain the new construction and conversion of vehicles with 5,080 FTE in 2025.
Competition
Enough opportunities for the Dutch EV sector, but in Europe competition is slowly but surely increasing. When it comes to relative and absolute numbers of electric vehicles, the Dutch position in Europe is ‘no longer exceptional’, according to the study. The Netherlands has a head start, but the coming years will show whether the sector can also benefit from this internationally. The researchers warn the government not to phase out the EV subsidy too quickly, because this could potentially lead to the Netherlands falling behind the rest of Europe.