👩🏽‍🔧 Charger techs needed

Plus: The COVID workforce | Thursday, October 27, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Robin Powered   Axios What's Next By Joann Muller, Jennifer A. Kingson and Alex Fitzpatrick · Oct 27, 2022 Looking for a new job? How about fixing electric car chargers? As Joann reports today, that's just one of the many new gigs being created by the historic shift to EVs. Today's newsletter is 1,024 words ... 4 minutes.     1 big thing: EV charger techs needed Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios   Electric vehicle charging stations are popping up everywhere, sparking a growing demand for technicians trained to service them, Joann Muller reports. Certified EV Supply Equipment technicians are among the many new kinds of jobs being created by the shift toward cleaner transportation. Why it matters: The nascent EV movement could stall if consumers can't find a charger when they need one — or worse, if they meticulously plan out their charging stops, only to be thwarted by broken plugs. One recent study found that about a quarter of the San Francisco Bay Area's 181 public chargers were malfunctioning. A lot of things can go wrong with EV chargers, such as broken screens or damaged plugs, power interruptions, network connection failures or faulty credit card payment systems — even a dollop of bird poop could be a turnoff for some drivers. Where it stands: About 48,000 public chargers currently dot the U.S., offering a range of power levels and speeds. That number will only grow, in part thanks to a $5 billion federal program for building charging stations along the nation's highways. The industry is fragmented, though, with many players and different business models — and no clear line of responsibility for maintenance and upkeep. Some companies, such as ChargePoint, sell charging equipment and cloud services to stores, offices and businesses. Maintenance contracts, however, are sold separately. Others, such as Electrify America and EVgo, own and operate the chargers they install on public and private property. They monitor their equipment remotely, deploying "boots on the ground" when needed. Many providers boast about network "uptimes" of 95%-98% — yet that doesn't always line up with reality. Yes, but: It's not always clear who is responsible for fixing chargers when problems arise. "There's a lot of passing of the buck," says Matt Teske, founder and CEO of Chargeway, a startup focused on simplifying EV charging for consumers. "We're spending billions to put chargers in the ground and zero on incentives to make sure they work." To help fix that problem, Kameale Terry and Evette Ellis co-founded ChargerHelp, a startup dedicated to fixing broken EV chargers. They first have to recruit and train a brand new workforce that can diagnose and repair the wide range of available chargers. So far ChargerHelp has trained about 500 technicians, but thousands more are needed to keep up with the expected rollout of EV charging infrastructure, they tell Axios. They're partnering with workforce development centers — especially in minority and rural communities — and retraining people from the cable, oil and gas, and telecommunications industries. What they're saying: "This is the new workforce where you have so many smart devices," Terry tells Axios. "You're OK with getting dirty — and you also understand software and IT." The bottom line: The EV industry is still young, and the charging experience has a long way to go — but there's an opportunity here for those looking for a new line of work. Share this story.     2. Self-driving stumbles Ford and VW will no longer invest in robotaxi developer Argo AI. Photo courtesy of Argo   Ford and Volkswagen are pulling the plug on their autonomous vehicle joint venture, Argo AI, which had failed to find other investors and is shutting down its operations, Joann reports. Why it matters: The retreat by the two giant automakers is a strong signal that the path to fully self-driving cars is too long — and too expensive. Both companies said they will focus on in-house development of assisted-driving technologies (such as hands-free systems for highways) that are closer and more realistic. Driving the news: Ford said it had recorded a $2.7 billion pre-tax loss on its Argo investment, resulting in an overall net loss of $827 million for the third quarter. VW will likely take a financial hit too. Some of Argo's 2,000 employees are expected to be offered jobs with the two automakers. What they're saying: "We're optimistic about a future for L4 ADAS, but profitable, fully autonomous vehicles at scale are a long way off, and we won't necessarily have to create that technology ourselves," Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a statement, using an industry term for fully self-driving vehicles. Share this story.     3. Behind the disabled workers surge Data: NYFed analysis of the Current Population Survey; Chart: Axios Visuals The number of people with disabilities in the U.S. workforce has jumped by nearly 1 million since 2020 — likely because of long COVID, according to new research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Axios' Emily Peck reports. Why it matters: If people with long COVID are working, that means at least some employers are likely accommodating their needs. Yes, but: As the economy cools, employers could be less willing to do so. Plus, telework and flexible scheduling have been key when it comes to keeping those with the condition in the workforce — but not all work can be done remotely or on a flex schedule. What we're watching: Disability counts have fallen in recent months. That could mean long COVID sufferers have recovered and no longer consider themselves disabled, says New York Fed economist Richard Deitz. Read the rest.     A message from Robin Powered Getting your employees back into the office     A successful hybrid workplace requires more than just meeting room and desk scheduling. A new survey of 200 business leaders revealed what companies are getting wrong, how leaders can overcome hybrid work roadblocks and practical steps to improve office engagement. Read the insights.     4. 📸 Kite-amaran Photo: Mehdi Fedouach/AFP via Getty Images   The SeaKite, an experimental vessel designed to be pulled along the water by what's essentially a giant kite, was launched in southeastern France earlier this week. The idea is to use wind power to reduce cargo ships' fuel use — and thus their emissions. Why it matters: Maritime shipping represents about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions — even more than aviation. What's next: The company behind the SeaKite, Beyond the Sea, plans to run brief initial tests before setting off on more ambitious cruises. A handful of other maritime companies are also revisiting wind power as a climate-friendly alternative.     5. One fun thing: The "middle seat lottery" A Virgin Australia aircraft departs Sydney's Kingsford Smith International Airport in May 2021. Photo: David Gray/Getty Images   Virgin Australia is offering travelers the chance to turn the dreaded middle seat into a lottery ticket, Axios' Kelly Tyko reports. Driving the news: The airline is giving away more than $230,000 worth of prizes to passengers "who either select or are assigned a middle seat." Flashback: Many airlines kept their middle seats empty in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to reduce exposure. 💬 Alex's thought bubble: Well here's a clever way to make people actually want to wedge themselves between two strangers in a tin can for hours on end. Share this story.     A message from Robin Powered Get hybrid work right. Level up your workplace strategy     The conversation around hybrid work has moved past return to office logistics and onto long-term measures of success. What you need to know: Leverage insights from interviews with 200 business leaders and get practical tips for creating workplace strategies that stick. 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