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Globe Group specialises in Australian labour hire and recruitment solutions in QLD, NSW and VIC. Over our 15+ years working in labour solutions, we have expanded to have offices in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne. During this time, we have developed a deep understanding of Australian infrastructure and what technological, political or environmental changes can mean for the market.

Discussion around Electric Vehicles (EVs) are often limited to their environmental impacts, you can see Elon Musk’s Twitter account for some of that.

Here at Globe Group, specialising in labour solutions, we’d like to consider what EVs can mean for labourers, specialised trades people, Australia’s trade services and the economy. 

So, what’s the deal with EVs?

As the ABC reports, EV take-up in Australia has been far slower than that of other developed countries.

As it stands, 0.2% of all cars on the road in Australia are EVs.

This pales in comparison to Norway’s whopping 10.7% (ABC).

The lagging rate of Aussies lining up to jump on the EV revolution is certainly in part due to an insufficient charging network.

Earlier this year, independent statutory body, Infrastructure Australia identified the national electric vehicle fast-charging network as a high priority initiative, calling for urgent government action.

With a growing range and falling prices, EVs are becoming increasingly attainable for Australians. However, without faster action from the government, we may be missing opportunities that span beyond environmental sustainability alone.

A growing EV presence and the associated charging network isn’t just for the environmentally-conscious and those who can afford a decked-out Tesla.

A fast-charging network roll-out in Australia would undoubtedly put more EVs on the road. This will translate to:

Aussies getting their fill from Australian energy, rather than imported oil.

CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council, Beyhad Jafari says that, “… energy is increasingly likely to be renewable, whether it’s sourced from local solar panels or the grid. But in the transition, the gap will be filled by Australian coal”.

According to the government’s Australian Petroleum Statistics, as of December 2018, Australia had only 18 days of petrol, 22 days of diesel and 23 days of jet fuel reserves. Over 90% of Australia’s fuel supply comes from overseas and the government has no individual stockpile.

Today, if Australia was to exhaust its current fuel stocks, everything would screech to a crippling and disastrous standstill.

As the Sydney Morning Herald posits, theoretically, if Australia switched en masse from petrol cars to EVs, it would reduce the fuel excise the government collects. However, the reduced tax burden on everyday Aussies is positive from almost all perspectives, and as SMH adds, perhaps a little tongue-in-cheek, the capacity of the government to come up with new approaches to collect revenue is not a concern.

A win for Australia’s mining workforce

Lithium batteries are three times lighter than their lead counterparts. They will take you three times further. Best of all, they are capable of being recharged time and time again, making them perfect for EVs.

Australia is one of the world’s major suppliers of lithium. Geoscience Australia forecasts that with EVs gaining popularity, both on-shore and abroad, lithium mining is set to take off. This translates to more jobs for hard-working Australians and a juicy injection to the economy.

EV manufacturing, labour & opportunities for Australia’s trades

There are already leading businesses building charging stations in Australia. Energetics predict that by 2050, between 40-60% of the Australian car fleet will be electric. With such a large portion of the market being electric, it means a greater number of Aussie workers will be involved in the manufacturing of electric cars and their parts required for charging stations, as well as a growing number of Australians involved in the construction of charging stations across Australia.

As reported by the Financial Review, right now, British billionaire Sanjeev Gupta is finalising plans to become a niche EV manufacturer in Australia with goals of a 10,000-20,000 run of vehicles.

Gupta plans to be at the forefront of the “inevitable drop in EV prices” as popularity rises, a greater EV range blossoms, charging infrastructure expands and government subsidies begin to happen internationally.

A focus on the road could mean highways that go the distance

Mashable describes driving an EV as “feeling like a game”. The praise EVs receive for driver enjoyment has spread across all corners of the internet. A quick Google search will reveal rave reviews for everything from the quietness of the car, to its power, to its safety.

In the coming years, as the Nation’s eyes focus on the experience of driving in Australia, it will be the perfect environment to push towards enhanced road infrastructure.

As driving for pleasure is revived and the appeal of road trips of QLD, NSW and VIC blossoms, demand for building better roads and opportunities for the associated workforce grows too.

What does EV mean for us as an industry and or trades people?

With solar and wind farms on the uptake due to private industry in Australia, we will keep seeing the demand for clean energy solutions, large scale, not just our personal vehicles, We have seen this change already, in 2018/2019 Globe has provided labour solutions on solar infrastructure projects and are proud to be at the forefront of the change.

Technical and unskilled labour staff demand will increase in line with the EV demand for charging stations and we are right there ready for it.

Globe Group Labour Hire and Recruitment Solutions are committed to keeping up to date with news, trends and topics of interest across everything from landscaping to other trades and services jobs, to new best-practice safety procedures. Check back to our blog to stay on top of the latest industry chat.

Globe Group provides recruitment solutions for QLD, NSW and VIC. With offices in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne and Sydney, we’re the workforce solutions group that make things happen.

Our easy online induction and safety training makes getting boots on the ground and talent in your team easier than ever.

Globe Group are experts in providing high-quality labour hire and trade solutions across a range of industries including building, construction, landscaping, manufacturing, transport, resources, logistics and more.

Whether you require one administration officer for the long-term, or, an entire workforce of labourers for casual construction work, Globe Group has the multi-industry expertise to deliver a hassle-free result that speaks for itself.

To hear more about our expert labour solutions, corporate hiring, trade services and workforce management, get in touch today.