Few UK mechanics ready for EV switch

Just 5% of mechanics working in dealerships and garages across the United Kingdom are qualified to work on EVs, a leading industry body says.

In response to the UK government’s announcement of a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) says 95% of the country’s mechanics have yet to complete the qualifications needed to safely work on EVs.

There are 13,000 to 20,000 qualified technicians working on 380,000 plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs) across the UK.

The IMI is concerned that as EV and PHEV adoption increases, vehicle numbers will further outweigh the amount of mechanics who can work on them.

The organisation issued a similar warning in 2018, when only 3% of mechanics were trained to work on EVs.

COVID-19 has exacerbated the issue, the IMI says.

In 2019, 6500 certificates for working on EVs were issued in the UK. In Q2 2020, though, the number of certificates issued was down 85% on the same time last year.

IMI is now calling for support and incentives for automotive firms to increase the number of technicians being trained to work on EVs, as well as improve and implement recruitment and apprenticeship schemes.

The organisation has previously warned Electricity at Work regulations are not comprehensive enough for automotive mechanics, merely referencing “systems in vehicles”.