In a world with a burgeoning population we need to consider the social implications of progress. Or else these may roll out in terms of unemployment, industrial action, poverty, mass migration and so on. On March 9, 2019 Aljazeera asked the question “will we need less people to make electric vehicles”. After all, they do have fewer parts and they say maintenance is less expensive.
Will We Need Less People, Partly Answered
Aljazeera put the question to the CEO of a major European brand at the Geneva Motor Show. When they asked will we need less people the person responded “I don’t know whether it’s the question of whether it’ll take less people to make an electric car.
“It’s about how many manufacturers will be able to afford to make the cars and how many of our customers will be able to buy our cars because electric cars do mean that potentially that’ll be an increase in price. So there’s very many factors playing in effect in terms of what the future is for the automotive industry.” This somewhat inconclusive answer left us wondering. One more electric car could mean one less gasoline one, presumably?
Perhaps We Need to Take a Wider View on This?
The European auto brand CEO continued “I’m not sure all customers realize that there will be an increment.” People will be needed to support the industry in terms of facilities and sources to charge these cars. Moreover there’s the question of where we source the EV battery supplier.
“China has the lead. Clearly, every auto manufacturer is trying to find ways to support the supply of batteries in the future. But China is in a very strong position and in terms of their own market. It is moving very quickly towards electric and wanting to encourage electric.”
Therefore it appears there is a need for governments to encourage local EV battery supplies. Europe seems to be streets ahead of North America in this regard. However the answer to the question will we need less people is still pending an answer. Post a comment. Tell us what you think.
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