The electrification of transport opens the door to multiple career opportunities, some of which do not even exist yet! In this blog post, we will further analyze what electric transport actually consists of, introduce the innovative companies that make up this subsector, and take a closer look at the key skills required to work in this booming industry. The various training programs that lead to future careers in electric transport in Quebec will complete this overview.
Electric transport in Quebec
The electric transport sector includes companies that design, assemble or supply systems and components for various land vehicles: recreational (snowmobiles, scooters and bicycles for example), specialty (waste collection, defense and security vehicles, ambulances, school buses notably), medium and heavy (delivery vehicles, trucks, etc.), and rail (metro, trains and trams). It also includes companies that design and manufacture charging infrastructure (individual, corporate or on-street charging stations and points).
Among the companies in the sector are notably:
- Nova Bus, a member of the Volvo Group, is a leader in the manufacture of hybrid and electric city buses in North America;
- La Compagnie Électrique Lion is an innovative manufacturer of zero-emission vehicles (100% electric urban commercial trucks from Class 5 to Class 8 and fully electric buses and minibuses for school, paratransit and public transit);
- Blue Solutions Canada designs, develops and commercializes batteries used in mobile applications (cars, buses, trams) and stationary applications to supply cities with electricity;
- Merkur Inc. is a manufacturing engineering firm with a multidisciplinary approach, possessing solid expertise in transport electrification;
- Dana TM4 develops and manufactures electric motors, generators, power electronics and high- and low-voltage control systems for the commercial vehicle, passenger, sport and leisure markets as well as for the maritime, rail and mining sectors;
- And many others!
Training and career opportunities
The various job opportunities in electric transport in Quebec can be grouped into three main categories:
- Design and research & development;
- Manufacturing and assembly;
- Commercialization and services.
The different trades are divided into four distinct areas of expertise, which reflect the main current workforce needs within companies, namely:
- Propulsion : skills in subsystems such as batteries, battery thermal management systems, and electric drivetrains;
- Power electronics : includes all the equipment needed to operate electric and hybrid vehicles and charging stations. This expertise includes everything related to inverters, converters, controllers and thermal management systems for power electronics and high-voltage wiring;
- Software: ubiquitous in today's transport solutions, they enable interaction between the user interface and the systems. This expertise also includes everything related to cybersecurity;
- Assembly : scaling up solutions, a skill in itself, and this area also includes a lot of automation.
Among the priority occupations related to these different areas of expertise, which require different levels of training, are:
- Specialized workers;
- Technicians;
- Engineers;
- Programming, IT, data and artificial intelligence;
- Commercialization, service and management.
"With the growth of transport electrification, new positions are emerging within the industry. These include roles related to batteries, whether in energy management, battery chemistry, or power electronics for converting energy within the powertrain."
Other in-demand jobs — and currently being developed — are appearing in the field of electric transport, including all positions related to onboard vehicle programming (embedded systems).
Key skills required and workforce and training needs
Future workers in electric transport will develop transversal skills in this constantly evolving industry and will work collaboratively with teams on innovative products. Candidates who work in fields such as electrical engineering and information technologies, for example, could face interesting challenges in electric transport. Their skills complement the jobs being developed within the TEI. Their basic training can be applied to new products and their key skills will also contribute to preserving the planet by actively contributing to the deployment of sustainable mobility solutions.
According to Stéphanie Castang, Human Resources Director at Merkur Inc., "occupations currently most in demand, are all positions related to powertrain reliability and power electronics, conversion systems, mass optimization and R&D."
In terms of training, companies would like training programs that integrate the various skills required in transport electrification to be developed. However, at present, excellent vocational, college and university programs exist and can lead to various specialized professions. If Quebec aspires to become a leader in transport electrification, it is essential for companies in the sector to collaborate with educational institutions to train a qualified, globally recognized workforce.
The key to success and Stéphanie Castang's best advice for future candidates in the TEI industry:
"Align your career path with the evolution of technology and consumer needs."
Conclusion
In a nascent and constantly changing industry like electric transport, training and workforce needs are often glaring and difficult to fill. However, this promising sector has everything it takes to engage versatile young people who want to grow and apply their skills while contributing to the preservation of their environment — a winning combination of values!
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Discover the key takeaways for a job in the world of electrification:
