EV Revolution in India: Skill Gaps and Opportunities in Battery Manufacturing

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15 Jun 2026

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EV Revolution in India: Skill Gaps and Opportunities in Battery Manufacturing

Building India's Battery Workforce for a Gigawatt-Scale Future

India's electric vehicle transition has crossed from aspiration into reality. As of early 2026, the PM E-DRIVE Scheme has supported more than 28 lakh EVs, with 22.12 lakh units sold as of January 2026. The EV battery market, valued at USD 8.49 billion in 2024, is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 40.7 percent through 2030. This momentum has elevated battery manufacturing to a strategic priority for India's EV ecosystem.1

Yet a critical bottleneck remains. India imports nearly 90 percent of its lithium, cobalt, and nickel requirements. Domestic battery manufacturing faces dependence on imported cells and limited localization of high-value components. The government has committed INR 18,100 crore under the ACC Battery Storage PLI Scheme, with 40 GWh of the 50 GWh target capacity already awarded. Just 1 GWh has been installed so far, highlighting the scale of the challenge.

The Skill Gap That Could Slow the Revolution

India boasts an automotive workforce of nearly 19 million professionals, but EV-specific skills differ fundamentally from traditional internal combustion engine systems. Over 70 percent of engineering and diploma graduates require significant upskilling before entering the EV workforce. More than 10 million skilled workers will be needed by 2030 in EV manufacturing, R&D, charging infrastructure, and maintenance.2

Battery manufacturing demands specialized expertise across the entire value chain. Critical gaps include cell manufacturing processes, battery pack assembly, Battery Management Systems design and validation, quality assurance and testing protocols, thermal management engineering, battery recycling and second-life applications, automation and Industry 4.0 technologies, and safety compliance standards. The biggest gaps center on Battery Management Systems, power electronics, EV software, and advanced driver assistance systems.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2222604&reg=3&lang=1

https://isieindia.com/niti-aayog-ev-report-2/

The Industry Shift Toward Multidisciplinary Talent

The sector now seeks multidisciplinary talent combining electrical, electronics, manufacturing, software, and data skills. Traditional automotive knowledge must be unlearned and replaced with new-age skills from EV safety and battery systems to software-led diagnostics.[linkedin]

Emerging opportunities reflect this transformation. Battery Manufacturing Technicians, Cell Process Engineers, BMS Engineers, Battery Testing Specialists, Thermal Systems Engineers, EV Quality Engineers, Battery Recycling Specialists, and Gigafactory Operations Managers represent the new workforce profile. These EV jobs in India require competency in battery technology skills extending far beyond conventional mechanical training.

Bridging the Gap Through Skilling at Scale

Industry-aligned skilling, apprenticeships, and hands-on laboratory training are essential. The Automotive Skills Development Council has launched specialized courses on EV battery assembly, diagnostics, and recycling, training over 5,000 technicians with a target of 200,000 by 2027. Collaborations with Tata Motors, Mahindra Electric, and MG Motor enable hands-on development in battery management and EV maintenance.[apnnews]

Curriculum upgrades integrating EV, battery technology, and power electronics into degree programs are urgent. Establishing EV labs, Centres of Excellence, and industry-academia collaboration through internacies will determine success.[isieindia]

The Path Forward

Skill development will determine India's ability to become a global battery manufacturing hub. As EV industry careers expand and gigafactory jobs emerge, workforce readiness becomes the deciding factor. The Automotive Skills Development Council plays a pivotal role in building future-ready talent through automotive skilling programs aligned with industry needs.

India's EV revolution will succeed through the people who manufacture, test, maintain, and innovate across the battery value chain. The time to prepare the EV workforce is now.