India's EV boom exposes a widening skills gap; sector may need up to 2 lakh professionals by 2030

India's electric vehicle (EV) market is shifting into a higher gear. Automakers are rolling out new models, battery manufacturing is gathering pace, charging infrastructure is expanding, and investments continue to flow into the broader EV ecosystem. But as the industry scales up, companies are increasingly flagging a challenge that could determine the pace of India's electric mobility transition—a shortage of skilled, industry-ready talent.

A recent whitepaper by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India estimates that India will require 1-2 lakh trained professionals to install, operate and maintain EV charging infrastructure by 2030. While public charging stations have grown from just 25 in 2015 to nearly 30,000, the skilled workforce required to support this expansion has struggled to keep pace.

The challenge extends beyond charging infrastructure. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the industry will require up to 2 lakh EV-skilled professionals by 2030 to support the government's target of 30% EV adoption. Meeting that demand could require a cumulative investment of ₹13,552 crore towards hiring and training, with battery technology, power electronics and motor design emerging among the most sought-after skills.

A new talent equation

The transition to electric mobility is fundamentally reshaping the skills automakers look for.

According to Dr. Natwar Kadel, AVP & Vertical Head – People Strategy, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, "The shift to EVs is not merely a technology shift; it is a mindset, capability and ecosystem shift, requiring professionals who can work across mechanical engineering, electronics, software, chemistry and data." He adds that Hyundai is witnessing rising demand for specialists in battery pack design and safety, power electronics, embedded software, high-voltage systems, EV diagnostics, charging infrastructure, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and mechatronics.

The industry's challenge, however, is not simply hiring people but finding professionals who are ready to contribute from day one.

Dr. Nipun Sharma, CEO, TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, says demand is being driven by the entire EV value chain rather than vehicle manufacturing alone.

"India's EV talent requirement is being driven by growth across the entire value chain rather than vehicle manufacturing alone. Demand is expected to come from EV manufacturing, battery production, battery management systems, power electronics, charging infrastructure, vehicle diagnostics, after-sales service, and fleet operations," Sharma tells Fortune India. He adds that as the ecosystem matures, demand will increasingly extend beyond engineers to technicians, operators, maintenance professionals and field service personnel.

The hiring momentum is already visible. TeamLease's latest data shows the EV and mobility sector reporting a Net Apprenticeship Outlook of 75%, among the highest across emerging industries, reflecting companies' intent to build long-term talent pipelines as investments accelerate across battery plants, manufacturing facilities and charging infrastructure.

A shortage of job-ready talent

Despite India's large engineering talent pool, industry leaders say the biggest challenge is employability rather than availability.

Kadel says the sharpest gaps lie in limited hands-on exposure to battery systems, power electronics and diagnostics, academic curricula that struggle to keep pace with evolving EV technologies, and the need to reskill the existing ICE workforce instead of replacing it.

Sharma echoes the concern, noting that employers continue to struggle to recruit technicians who can work safely with high-voltage systems, troubleshoot equipment, and become productive quickly in real-world manufacturing and service environments.

Building the next-generation workforce

The talent shortage is also becoming increasingly specialised, according to Uday Narang, Chairman, Omega Seiki Mobility. Companies are finding it difficult to recruit professionals with expertise in battery management systems (BMS), battery technology, power electronics, embedded software, IoT-enabled vehicle systems and advanced diagnostics.

"The challenge today is not just the availability of talent—it is the availability of the right skills," Narang tells Fortune India. He says traditional automotive expertise alone is no longer sufficient, with EV companies increasingly seeking professionals who can work across mechanical engineering, electronics, software, battery technology and data analytics.

The shift is equally evident on the manufacturing floor. Ajinkya Firodia, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Kinetic Watts and Volts Ltd, says EV manufacturing has fundamentally altered the industry's talent requirements. Unlike ICE vehicles, EVs are built around electronics, embedded software and intelligent systems, making expertise in software testing, battery technologies and advanced electronics indispensable. Battery manufacturing, he adds, also demands specialised handling processes, temperature-controlled environments and stringent quality standards.

Industry leaders believe apprenticeships and stronger industry-academia collaboration will be critical to bridging the gap. According to TeamLease, apprenticeship-led pathways result in over 90% transition into formal employment, while 40% of apprentices are absorbed by the same employer. Organisations integrating apprenticeships with education can reduce hiring costs by up to 50%, improve employee retention by 10-25%, and enhance productivity by 20-25%.

As India scales up its EV ambitions, industry leaders agree that success will depend not only on investments in manufacturing, localisation and charging infrastructure, but also on building a workforce equipped with next-generation skills in batteries, software, electronics and connected mobility. The race to electrify, they say, will ultimately be won as much by people as by technology.