Hold onto your hats, folks! Big news just rolled in! The Siemens Foundation, the big-hearted side of that massive German tech giant we all know, announced a jaw-dropping commitment. They’re digging deep into their pockets, splashing out a cool $30 million over a decade, all to give the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) charging game a massive boost. And boy, do we need it! With the boom in EVs, we’re talking about tens of thousands of jobs cropping up this decade. Mind-boggling, right?
David Etzwiler, the big cheese at the foundation, was all, “The demand is through the roof! We need folks trained, like, yesterday.”
They’re not wasting any time, either. They’ve got their eyes set on Michigan and North Carolina first. The dream? Cooking up a rich mix of people, from all walks of life, to build, service, and keep our future EV chargers humming, whether they’re at our homes or giant commercial hubs.
Teamwork makes the dream work, they say! The Siemens Foundation is joining forces with North Carolina’s Business Committee for Education and the snazzy-sounding Michigan-based Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP).
Word on the street is, EVITP’s already trained a ton of tech whizzes across the U.S. and our neighbors in Canada. Their main gig? Keeping those charging stations in tip-top shape. ‘Cause let’s face it, nothing’s more annoying for EV owners than finding a charger that’s seen better days.
And, who’s got EVITP’s back? Big shots like General Motors and BMW, plus a bunch of other gearheads, power companies, and worker unions. Oh, and Siemens is also buddying up with bigwigs from the National League of Cities and the National Governors Association. Quite the team, eh?
But here’s the heartwarming bit. Etzwiler’s super keen on reaching out to folks who usually get the short end of the stick. They’re all about creating opportunities in the EV world, making sure everyone’s got a shot at landing a good gig that pays well and sticks around.
The big automakers? They’re cheering from the sidelines, keen on ensuring chargers are all over the place, keeping up with the mad rush of EVs rolling out. Etzwiler’s on the same page, saying, “We gotta make sure these chargers are top-notch, and that means prepping the pros who’ll keep them running smooth.”
So, there you have it! Exciting times ahead! Who’s ready for a charged-up future? 🚗⚡🔌