Pelican EV launches funded high-voltage skills bootcamp for commercial vehicle technicians

Britain's car sector is at a critical crossroads, as Europe accelerates its transition to battery-electric vehicles with strategic investments and policies. Without coordinated efforts, the UK risks falling behind in the global EV race, facing economic and manufacturing decline.Britain’s automotive industry really finds itself at a pretty crucial crossroads these days. If it doesn’t sharpen its industrial strategy and manage to stake a firm claim in the EV supply chain, there’s a real risk of long-term decline. A recent report from the Jacques Delors Centre, titled Europe’s Car Industry in Transition: Stuck in Neutral or Shifting into Gear?, underscores just how urgent this moment is—Europe is rapidly shifting toward battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), and delaying action could be a recipe for disaster. The study warns that trying to drag your feet on electrification just ends up making things worse—you're essentially disrupting your own path forward rather than keeping anything steady. For the UK, these challenges hit especially hard. Car production has fallen to levels not seen since 1954, thanks to Brexit-related supply chain chaos, tougher EV mandates, and inconsistent policy signals. One key point the report stresses is that consumer demand for EVs isn’t the problem. In fact, interest across Europe is quite strong. The main barrier remains the cost—on average, battery EVs in the Eurozone are about 22% pricier than similar petrol models. This gap largely comes down to manufacturers focusing on premium segments instead of pushing for more affordable, mass-market options. Fortunately, some EU countries are taking steps to close this gap with targeted policies to develop their own EV ecosystems domestically. Poland, for example, made a smart move by investing heavily in battery manufacturing. That strategy sparked a regional cluster that’s positioning Poland as a significant player in Europe’s BEV supply chain. Meanwhile, France’s “Battery Valley” initiative and Spain’s EV recovery programs are attracting plenty of investment aimed at boosting advanced manufacturing and cutting dependency on outside sources. Sadly, the UK seems to be falling behind these exciting developments. The report warns that, although national efforts are necessary, they are not enough on their own—without a cohesive, larger ecosystem that can compete globally, especially with China, the current dominant leader in battery production. China’s stronghold and ability to offer low-cost EVs at scale pose a serious threat. Industry experts point out that for the UK to stay relevant, it needs consistent policies, affordable vehicles, and better cross-sector collaboration. Frequent policy swings and unpredictable incentives just shake investor and manufacturer confidence—these ups and downs aren’t helping create the stable environment needed for sustainable domestic production and innovation. Looking at recent data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the UK’s automotive sector faces mounting difficulties. In April 2025, vehicle output dropped by 15.8% compared to the previous year, marking the worst figures since 1952, outside of pandemic-related disruptions. Both car and commercial vehicle production saw sharp declines, and exports—normally a bright spot—continued to fall due to ongoing uncertainties in trade policies. The report attributes this downturn to several issues, including new model changeovers, industry restructuring, and tariffs—especially those from the US. Moving into May, the situation didn’t improve much, with a further 32.8% decline in vehicle production versus last year. It’s pretty clear that stabilizing investment and boosting competitiveness—perhaps by lowering energy costs and clarifying policies—are now urgent priorities. But it’s not just about more cars coming off the line; the bigger European picture shows some promising moves to support EV supply chain resilience. The European Commission, for instance, is updating waste codes linked to batteries. The goal? Encourage circular economy principles, improve recycling, and secure critical raw materials needed to manufacture batteries. Stepping up battery recyclability and reducing import reliance fits neatly into Europe’s Green Deal ambitions, too. Poland’s rise as a lithium-ion battery hub offers a great example of how strategic national investments can pay off. Poland now ranks second worldwide after China when it comes to battery production—its sector has grown by an incredible 38 times since 2017, becoming a big share of what it exports. Major players like LG Energy Solution, Northvolt, Umicore, and Mercedes-Benz have set up significant operations there, illustrating how aligning policy and investment in battery tech can give a country a real edge and help decrease dependence on Chinese imports. And France isn’t sitting still either. They recently announced joint ventures involving the nuclear group Orano and China’s XTC New Energy Materials, aimed at producing EV battery components locally. It’s a clever way to diversify supply chains, ramp up European manufacturing, cut costs, and keep jobs in the region—all while safeguarding against potential disruptions from outside sources. These partnerships show a pragmatic approach, blending global collaboration with efforts to strengthen domestic industry. All in all, the UK’s automotive scene is at a pivotal moment. Without a clear, long-term strategy—one that provides stable incentives, makes vehicles more affordable, and encourages industry collaboration—it risks falling even further behind as Europe pushes ahead with its EV transition. The Jacques Delors Centre wraps it up with a tough but fair message: “standing still is not an option.” As the EU accelerates its electrification push with coordinated policies and new regulations, Britain needs to act fast if it wants to keep its place in the evolving automotive landscape—or risk being left on the roadside of progress altogether. 📌 Reference Map: - Paragraph 1 – [1], [2] - Paragraph 2 – [1], [2], [6] - Paragraph 3 – [1], [3], [4] - Paragraph 4 – [5] - Paragraph 5 – [6] - Paragraph 6 – [7] - Paragraph 7 – [1], [2], [3], [4] Source: Noah Wire Services

The electric two-wheeler market is set to expand significantly by 2025, with dealerships benefiting from urbanisation, sustainability trends, and government incentives, while infrastructure developments and technological innovations accelerate adoption across Asia and beyond.The market for electric two-wheeler dealerships is expected to experience significant growth by 2025. This expansion is driven by broader urbanization trends, shifting mobility preferences, and increasing environmental awareness among consumers. According to a detailed business plan prepared by the IMARC Group, establishing a successful electric two-wheeler dealership requires more than just a clear sales and service strategy. It demands investment in the latest technologies, customer education, and exceptional after-sales support. These dealerships primarily focus on selling electric scooters, motorcycles, and e-bikes to urban consumers seeking sustainable transportation options, incorporating advanced battery systems, charging infrastructure, and smart connectivity features. A key component of this business model involves diversified revenue streams, including vehicle sales, financing packages, insurance services, maintenance contracts, battery replacement programs, and charging solutions. The sector benefits greatly from government initiatives such as reduced registration fees, tax incentives, and subsidies that make electric vehicles (EVs) more attractive to consumers. However, dealerships face challenges including rapidly evolving battery technologies, dynamic regulatory landscapes, and competition from traditional vehicle dealerships entering the electric vehicle segment. Location selection plays a crucial role in success. Dealerships situated in urban centers, technology hubs, college campuses, and environmentally conscious neighborhoods tend to attract consistent customer traffic. It is equally important to align showroom design and operational capabilities with comprehensive staff training and the installation of dedicated charging infrastructure, ensuring smooth operations and enhancing buyer confidence. IMARC Group’s financial projections cover a five-year period, outlining capital investments, operating costs, and profitability forecasts to aid entrepreneurs in planning for long-term success. The growth of electric two-wheeler dealerships is closely linked to the expansion of public EV charging infrastructure. Data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicates that in 2024, public charging points increased dramatically—led by China, Europe, and the United States—supported by initiatives such as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program in the US. These advancements are essential in alleviating range anxiety, a significant barrier to broader EV adoption, by improving the accessibility and reliability of charging networks. Developing charging infrastructure involves collaboration among utilities, contractors, and governmental agencies. Comprehensive planning addresses site selection, permitting, equipment procurement, labor costs, and scalability. State and local governments are instrumental in tailoring deployment strategies to regional needs, promoting equitable access—particularly in underserved communities—and fostering local economic growth through streamlined regulations and incentive programs. The electric two-wheeler market in Asia, especially India, is poised for rapid expansion. Industry experts project annual sales growth from roughly one million units in 2023 to between seven and nine million by 2030. This surge is propelled by strong government policies, subsidies, rising consumer interest in clean mobility, and partnerships between European and Asian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Sustained growth will depend on innovations in battery technology, scalable high-performance vehicles, and comprehensive charging infrastructure development. Another important driver is the volatility of traditional fuel prices, influenced by crude oil market fluctuations, refinery capacity variations, seasonal demand changes, and regulatory requirements. These factors contribute to unpredictable gasoline prices, motivating urban commuters to consider electric alternatives that offer greater cost stability and environmental benefits. For aftermarket professionals—including manufacturers, fleet managers, and logistics providers—entering the electric two-wheeler dealership space requires a holistic approach. Success hinges on combining technical expertise, agile supply chains, and effective marketing strategies focused on consumer education and trust-building. As environmental regulations tighten and urban congestion intensifies, electric two-wheelers supported by robust dealership services and reliable charging infrastructure present compelling opportunities for innovation and growth in the aftermarket sector. References - Paragraph 1: OpenPR, McKinsey - Paragraph 2: OpenPR, McKinsey - Paragraph 3: OpenPR, IEA, IEA 2023 - Paragraph 4: AFDC, AFDC - Paragraph 5: McKinsey, OpenPR - Paragraph 6: EIA, OpenPR - Paragraph 7: OpenPR, McKinsey Source: Noah Wire Services

Advancements in welding processes, automation, and materials are transforming modern vehicle production, enhancing safety, efficiency, and lightweight design to meet the demands of the electric and hybrid vehicle era.Welding, you know, is really a core part of modern automotive manufacturing. It’s not just about putting parts together; it’s essential for ensuring the overall strength, safety, and performance of vehicles. From the basic joining of chassis and body panels to the more delicate assembly of intricate components, welding technologies have to deliver both precision and durability—pretty much what today’s cars demand. As automakers push for lighter designs and materials that are more innovative, welding processes have had to evolve too. They now support the advancements in electric vehicle (EV) design, safety standards, and even help with cutting costs. When it comes to a vehicle’s structural integrity—well, that really depends a lot on high-quality welding. The seamless joining of major parts like frames, panels, and ultra-high strength steels (often called UHSS) is what allows the vehicle to handle daily stresses, not to mention bigger forces like in a crash. Now, some research into how these UHSS components respond during crashes emphasizes how crucial proper welding is. Basically, if these parts aren’t welded correctly, their safety performance can suffer. Sometimes, manufacturers prefer replacing damaged parts rather than trying to repair UHSS elements, since a poorly done weld might weaken crash safety—think increased intrusion, extra forces on occupants, and less energy absorption during collisions. All this really drives home the point that strict adherence to manufacturer specs and tight quality control during repair welding are absolutely necessary to keep things safe. On the production side, everyone’s looking for ways to make things more efficient and cut costs, and welding automation has been a game-changer here. Robots now handle a lot of the welding tasks, offering incredible precision, consistent quality, and faster production cycles, especially when it comes to resistance spot welding and seam welding. Plus, with the integration of cutting-edge sensors and even artificial intelligence (AI), defect detection has become smarter and faster. These AI-powered inspection systems analyze almost every weld in real-time, using visual and acoustic data, which cuts down on scrap, rework, and warranty issues. Basically, these intelligent tools give technicians and engineers the ability to tweak parameters on the fly, keep track of trends across the line, and boost overall manufacturing quality. It’s pretty amazing how much progress has been made. Material diversity and design flexibility have also become a big part of welding’s role in vehicle development. The industry is moving heavily toward lightweighting—partly because of stricter regulations but also because consumers want fuel-efficient and electric cars. As a result, aluminium, magnesium, and multi-material composites are now used extensively. One technique gaining popularity here is friction stir welding (or FSW)—a solid-state process that creates very strong, defect-free joints without melting the materials. For example, projects like LightBlank demonstrate how combining FSW with hot-form quenching allows for the production of tailored-welded blanks. These help reduce vehicle weight while improving crashworthiness. FSW is already widely used for structural parts like door panels and space frames. That said, the process isn’t without challenges—joining different alloys and inspecting welds to ensure quality are important hurdles the industry continues to tackle. Laser welding and hybrid techniques—like laser combined with MIG welding—are also on the rise. They cater to the need for high-strength, low-distortion joints, especially in thin aluminium body structures. These methods combine the deep, stable heat penetration of lasers with the filler and gap-bridging capabilities of MIG, making them well-suited for lightweight applications such as EV battery enclosures and body panels. Several studies show that hybrid approaches can reduce heat input, increase welding speed, and improve mechanical properties—pretty much what you want when working with delicate, thin materials. Resistance welding, meanwhile, remains fundamental for mass production—especially for joining thin steel sheets and high-strength steels (or AHSS). But welding these advanced steels needs careful control because issues like liquid metal embrittlement and excessive hardness can crop up in the weld zone. Techniques like pulsed current, specially designed electrodes, and tight parameter control are key here. Since modern vehicles often involve complex multi-material setups and coatings, it’s critical to follow manufacturer guidelines and industry standards to ensure the welds stay strong and safe during crashes. All in all, welding tech in the automotive world is advancing rapidly—integrating robotics, AI, and new joining methods to meet ever-increasing demands for safety, efficiency, and lightweight design. It’s a vital part of manufacturing, supporting not just safety standards but also the innovative flexibility that future mobility requires. As electric and hybrid vehicles gain more market share, these welding processes will keep evolving—helping with chassis design, battery integration, and the use of composites. And for anyone working on vehicle repairs, understanding these technologies isn’t just a good idea; it’s essential for keeping vehicles performing well and staying safe on the road. References: - Paragraph 1 – [1], [2] - Paragraph 2 – [2], [7] - Paragraph 3 – [1], [3] - Paragraph 4 – [1], [4], [5] - Paragraph 5 – [1], [6] - Paragraph 6 – [1], [7] - Paragraph 7 – [1], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7] Source: Noah Wire Services