This is a huge rise from the current estimated 62,000 people currently employed in the sector across the continent.
This means the total jobs in the sector could number 300,000 by 2030 if the European Union maintains its current targets for electric vehicles.
The European Battery Supply Chain Tracker, records 30,600 jobs in the gigafactory section of the supply chain, with 62,000 in the wider supply chain, across 179 projects where data was available. These figures, when multiplied by a factor of two to account for wider supply chain activities, reveal the employment impact of the sector.
In the UK the figure is at 10,000 jobs currently but expected to rise to 18,500 by 2030.
Ginny Buckley, the chief executive of Electrifying, the electric car buying and advice site, said: “China, once known as the land of the bicycle, has reinvented itself as the global leader in electric vehicles – thanks in no small part to its robust battery supply chain.
“Europe, including the UK, stands at a similarly critical juncture, with the energy transition presenting significant opportunities. Embracing this shift can deliver substantial job creation and community transformation across the UK. This tracker will provide essential data to ensure we stay on course, reminding policymakers that timely investment and decisive action are vital to if the UK is to avoid falling behind in the global race to electrify.”
Imogen Bhogal, Chief Content Officer / Presenter at the Fully Charged Show said: “This new tool is an invaluable asset for media, politicians and industry alike. I interview people across the battery industry and value chain and see with my own eyes the huge job creation opportunities as we transition away from dirty and polluting fossil fuels. The energy transition is real and happening, and this map really brings it all to life.”
Simon Smith, CCO, InstaVolt: “Our Winchester Superhub leveraged both batteries and solar to reduce our reliance on the UK grid and accelerate deployment; this should be a blueprint for how to do it properly across Europe. The sector, from batteries to charging infrastructure, is a huge, huge, opportunity to deliver the jobs of the future across the continent. We must continue to drive down our addiction to fossil fuels and move to a cleaner, sustainable, future. This interactive map shines a spotlight on just how big the opportunity is.”