Make Your Contributions to the EV Industry as a Mechanical Engineer

 

 

Do you think the advent of electric vehicles will reduce the role of mechanical engineers? As the transportation industry is shifting towards e-mobility, conventional Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) is getting replaced. Cars, trucks and scooters are turning electric. The change is happening slowly because conventional gasoline engine vehicles are reliable, and the infrastructure supports them. 

Even after the onset of the EV revolution, the dependency on ICE cannot be eliminated for the next few decades. Because in 2021, only 3% of the cars sold were fully electric, 5% were hybrid, and the remaining were conventional vehicles. The conventional vehicles currently rolling on roads would require at least a decade to get outdated.

 

What is the EV industry?

Globally, the EV industry in India ranks fifth in producing automobiles and is forecasted to reach the thirdposition  by 2030. In the first half of 2021, over INR 25,000 crores has been invested in the design and development of Electric Vehicles. BAU report says the EV market size in India will expand at 49% CAGR from 2021 to 2030. For the growth and expansion of the EV industry, many new jobs will be created in this sector. In India, it is estimated that by 2030, ten million direct jobs will be created in the EV industry.

 

Unlike ICE vehicles, the design and manufacturing process varies for EVs. The significant difference between ICE and EVs lies in the powertrain system.

Let’s understand the contributions of engineers in the manufacturing of cars.

 

What Do Mechanical Engineers Do with Cars? 

 

 

Most mechanical engineers work in industries that manufacture machinery and automotive parts. A mechanical engineer's role is to understand every part's functionality and improve performance by optimising various parameters. A car has many sub-systems, including a fuel system, engine, transmission system, electrical system, cooling and lubricating system, steering system and braking system. A collaborative work of mechanical, electrical and electronics engineers is needed to create all these systems. But the major governing mechanisms, functions and parameters are determined by a mechanical engineer.

 

Mechanical engineers not only design the systems and machinery components, but they also perform calculations and run simulations. They analyse FEA and CFD reports to ensure the safety of the vehicle and the passengers. With the knowledge of the properties of materials and fluids, they adjust the physical parameters and make the system run at maximum efficiency. 

 

Can a Mechanical Engineer Make Electric Vehicles? 

In modern EVs, powertrain systems deploy motors and batteries instead of engines and fuel systems. In designing battery packs and e-powertrain systems, the roles of electrical engineers are essential. Yet the design and development chassis, body and supportive framework are in the hands of the electrical engineer.

Role of electrical engineers lies in developing e-powertrain systems, wiring harness systems, PCBs and embedded systems. But the mechanical engineer will determine all the design hardware system and even the motor's power.

Though the need for electrical engineers has increased with the advent of EVs, the role of mechanical engineers cannot be replaced. Designing the different sub-systems mentioned above requires the expertise of a mechanical engineer. 

 

Final Words

The role of mechanical engineers is integral to most manufacturing industries in engineering. 

The advent of modern electric vehicles cannot reduce the role of mechanical engineers. When mechanical engineers equip themselves with additional skills, it gives them an edge over their peers. Because many jobs require people with diverse skill sets for effective collaboration and supervision of the project. 

Skill-Lync offers many courses for engineers like you to teach different software tools used in the automotive industry. The skills you gain from these courses will make you eligible for a lucrative career. 

If you are interested in the EV domain, consider enrolling in the free EV course offered by Skill-Lync. The course will take you through the evolution of EVs and their function. The course will give you the knowledge needed to secure a career in the EV industry in India. 

Start learning How does an Electric Vehicle work? for free.