EV Charger Technician

Working Schedule

• EV Charger Technicians may work full- or part-time, and they could be called in to fix problems at any time.  

Typical Duties

• Travel to different locations to conduct onsite repair work
• Enhance charging station equipment reliability through electrical and mechanical preventative maintenance and repairs
• Troubleshoot charging station software
• Determine causes of network connection failures
• Correct issues related to credit card payment systems
• Configure digital devices using routers, modems, or cellular signal repeaters
• Help wireless carriers establish Virtual Private Networks 
• Fix or replace broken screens and damaged plugs
• Investigate power disruptions
• Perform testing of circuits, insulation, thermal imagery, torque, and performance
• Find and isolate ground faults
• Respond to work request calls and emails
• Follow maintenance schedules 
• Ensure work orders are done in a timely fashion
• Assist electricians in installing new charging equipment

Additional Responsibilities

• Assess safety hazards at job sites and fill out the necessary documentation 
• Document all work done and generate service reports for employers or customers
• Respond to unplanned/emergency issues 
• Upgrade equipment as authorized

Soft Skills

• Attention to detail
• Compliance-oriented 
• Critical thinking
• Independent
• Initiative
• Normal color vision
• Organized
• Problem-solving
• Quality assurance
• Reliable
• Resourcefulness 
• Results-driven
• Safety conscious 
• Self-sufficient 
• Stamina
• Strong communication skills 
• Time management

Technical Skills

• Training in electricity and electrical systems
• Ability to understand technical books 
• Familiarity with EV software, E3 wireworks, and Visio
• Familiarity with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems
• General knowledge of lithium-ion batteries
• Knowledge of tools such as power analyzers, multimeters, cable crimpers, cutters, plyers, soldering irons, ohmmeters, voltmeters, and EV charging test sets
• Knowledge of equipment like routers, modems, or cellular signal repeaters
• Knowledge of OSHA safety (Lockout/Tagout, or LOTO, Arc Flash, JHA/JSA)

• Private companies 
• Government agencies 

EV Charger Technicians may need to drive far to reach some of the stations assigned to them. Depending on their employer’s needs, they could be called up to respond to after-hours problems at night or on weekends. The work often requires being outdoors, sometimes in inclement weather conditions. 

EV Charger Techs must also take great care to wear personal protective equipment and to closely follow all safety protocols as they work around high voltages, currents, and cables that can be tripping hazards.

Also called Field Service Technicians, EV Charger Technicians work in a relatively new career field. Previously, companies relied only on licensed electricians to maintain charging stations. But using electricians gets expensive fast, especially for routine matters. 

EV Charger Techs need some of the basic skills that electricians have, but not all of them. On the flip side of that coin, EV Charger Techs do work that electricians don’t know how to do without training. So it makes sense to simply create this new role! 

The job of EV Charging Techs is evolving as companies figure out the right mix of qualifications and training necessary. As Axios points out, “The industry is fragmented…with many players and different business models—and no clear line of responsibility for maintenance and upkeep.” One company that’s at the forefront of training EV Charging Techs is ChargerHelp!, which offers three workforce development training pathways for candidates. But many more such companies are sorely needed, soon! 

WeForum cites that there are ~53,000 public EV charger stations in the United States. But research organization McKinsey states the US will need “1.2 million public EV chargers and 28 million private EV chargers by [2030]” to meet projected demands. Currently, there’s no roadmap to get to that point…but based on those numbers, it seems like the need for qualified EV Charger Technicians will grow even more in the coming years.

EV Charger Techs may have enjoyed working with mechanical equipment, electrical gadgets, or computers growing up. They are very hands-on and able to focus on technical work for long periods and may have had hands-on hobbies that took up a lot of their time as kids. A fair amount of stamina is also needed, and they might have developed that from playing sports, exercising at the gym, or doing manual labor tasks.