According to reports, EVs are electrifying the second-hand car market. During the first quarter of 2024, sales of used electric cars were 71% higher in the first quarter of 2024 than in the same period last year. *
This represents a massive opportunity for the independent sector as these vehicles will be falling out of manufacturer warranty and regular clients will increasingly turn to their local garage for repair and maintenance work.
For many garage owners, particularly within the independent sector, EV training still represents a significant, and potentially unnecessary, investment. This is a significant oversight as, despite the pushback on the 2030 ICE ban, one in every 32 cars on UK roads today, comes with a plug, and this figure is set to rise.
Garages who defer EV training and purchasing the right infrastructure could be missing out on additional revenue streams, and risk losing customers to the competition, if they are not equipped or able to manage this rising demand.
Education is key
The starting point for any vehicle technician is a Level 2 qualification, which is designed for those who will encounter electric/hybrid vehicles within a routine maintenance situation. It also contains the knowledge and skills required to work safely around a vehicle that may have had damage to its high energy/electrical system.
The next stage, Level 3, equips the technician with the knowledge of how the electrical circuits of an EV operate, and how the high voltage and low voltage circuits interact with each other, while Level 4 teaches how to carry out repairs on live, high voltage vehicles and focuses on in-depth diagnostic of the systems within an EV.
The Autotech Training EV package
Autotech Training offers a tailored solution to EV training with IMI accredited Levels 1-4 Electric/Hybrid Vehicle courses. Offering a flexible approach, Autotech Training can deliver the courses from their Milton Keynes Electric Vehicle Training Suite or directly on the premises of any garage or business across the UK. This flexibility ensures minimal disruption to business operations, while dramatically reducing the cost of sending employees off for training.
To make the training process more cost-effective, Autotech Training offers an ‘EV Training Bundle’ which includes Levels 2 to 4 courses and creates a cost saving compared to booking each course individually. Comprising four days of intensive learning, this bundled approach saves money andstreamlines the learning process, allowing delegates to progress through the levels efficiently. A five-day course is also available which replaces the written assessment at the end of the four-day course with an additional day for a practical assessment.
The importance of training does not just end with certification. Vehicle technicians who have achieved an EV certification need to complete a total of 18 hours of CPD over three years to remain IMI TechSafe™ registered and compliant. With an estimated 8,000 individuals needing to undertake essential CPD training by next April, maintaining a learned skill set and staying updated with new training criteria is just as critical as initial training.
For details visit www.autotechrecruit.co.uk/training/electric-hybrid-vehicle-training-package/