Overcoming electrification challenges: Insights from CENEX Expo

Following this year’s Cenex Expo, the leading annual event in the UK innovation community, Director of the Centre for Advanced Low Carbon Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS), ERS Hub and Head of Innovation, Deepak Farmah discusses the challenges that must be addressed if we are to deliver a net zero and connected e-mobility future.

Bringing together the UK’s innovation community, Cenex Expo is an important date in our calendar each year. It provides a unique networking opportunity for our university group with those who will deliver a future of net zero emissions, while also offering a platform to showcase our clean growth and e-mobility initiatives as we strive to support business and the communities around us on their sustainability journey.

Expansion of electrification sector faces barriers

Despite the rapid advancements we are seeing in electrification, the Cenex Expo reminded us of the barriers that remain. These include inflated costs, infrastructure challenges and the complexity of transitioning from traditional energy sources to electric alternatives remain. We must enhance infrastructure, incentivise domestic production, leverage private sector investment and invest in workforce training to ensure that the UK not only competes but thrives in the global e-mobility markets and shows its leadership for wider clean growth.

These are challenges the government must immediately address, but the responsibility does not lie solely with them. Higher education institutions, like Coventry University Group, must continue wielding their influence as well. Our research into battery technology, hydrogen power and future transport, for example, is mission-critical and highlights our ongoing commitment to working with partners to ease uncertainty and deliver solutions to complex environmental concerns.

Bridging the gap between academia and industry

This year’s Expo also reaffirmed the importance of closing the growing skills gap in the electrification and the industrial ecosystem whilst not forgetting the domestic markets. After all, the transition to a green economy requires and deserves a workforce with expertise in changing technologies, engineering and business sustainability.

Today, numerous opportunities are merging for training and education and we’re proud to be playing a part in this by energising activity like the Electric Revolution Skills Hub and the Electrification Skills Network that catalogue and point knowledge seekers and training providers in the right direction.

However, these initiatives are not without their challenges. Raising awareness and engaging with a wider audience about the promising careers available in the electrification sector remains a hurdle. Unfortunately, in the current climate, this is complicated further by the prevalence of 'greenwashing'— the notion of organisations exaggerating their environmental efforts.

As consumers become increasingly aware of these deceptive practices, there's a risk that they may become sceptical of genuine initiatives, ultimately slowing down the momentum needed to promote the importance of a net-zero future.

Bridging the gap between academia and industry is vital in overcoming this. At Coventry University Group, our degree courses, apprenticeships and continued professional development, we are proud to play a vital role in developing the future workforce while also developing trust and understanding in the sector.

Our Electrification Pathway courses are designed specifically with the EV industry in mind, upskilling the current workforce with the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive in this sector. Similarly, our electrification Skills Bootcamps, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, provide fully funded students with sector-specific knowledge and skills, while our partnership with North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College has seen us curate and deliver CPD programmes to support the development of electrification skills across the Jaguar Land Rover Powertrain function.

If we are to continue our journey of fostering innovation and reducing carbon emissions, then it is essential to align our efforts and prioritise collaborative opportunities with industry.

The Cenex Expo is a fantastic platform to shed light on the incredible work taking place across the sector, but we must and can do more as we keep making strides to a cleaner tomorrow.

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