EV HEADACHE
I’m an expert EV mechanic – there’s an elephant in the room with electric cars and no one is talking about it
AN EXPERT has warned that a chronic shortage of technicians able to fix electric vehicles is the "elephant in the room" nobody is talking about.
The Prime Minister's recent decision to delay the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by five years was welcomed in many quarters.
2
2
But sections of the motor industry called on the government for increased certainty having invested billions in getting ready for the 2030 deadline.
Now an industry expert has claimed that there is a chronic shortage of qualified technicians able to repair electric vehicles ( EVs) when they fail.
Lawrence Whittaker, chief executive at used car warranty provider Warrantywise, has raised concerns.
Speaking to he claimed the shortage is now the "elephant in the room" that people are reluctant to discuss.
He said: "I've heard arguments from manufacturers, comments from all areas of the automotive and transport industry about how we need a cohesive strategy about the EV implementation and ICE ban.
"However, no-one is talking about the fact that, regardless of this date moving, we don't have the talent to look after the EVs of today, and we're not doing enough to prepare for the future… regardless of if that's 2030 or 2035."
Mr Whittaker said that EV's growing complexity was a challenge and that the country needed a new generation of technicians able to work on them.
He added: "It's worth highlighting that EVs are, however, more complex due to the added technology versus a traditional
ICE-powered car - and while they have fewer 'moving parts', it's this added hardware and software that cause them to have a habit of going wrong in different ways than their ICE counterparts.
Most read in Motors
"It's why they [EVs] will always require trained, certified technicians to fix and maintain them.
"Yet, despite a push from the UK government including education regulators such as Ofqual, SQA, CCEA, and Qualifications Wales, IMI warns current economic pressures may result in cuts to funds usually available for training, leading to fewer businesses investing in the necessary TechSafe qualification for its technicians."
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) - the body that represents those working within the sector, has echoed Mr Whittaker's concerns.
In 2020 the IMI sent an open letter to then-PM Boris Johnson warning of the enormous skills gap in the aftersales sector.
Three years ago, the IMI said just one in twenty technicians were qualified to work on electrified cars.
Steve Nash, chief executive at the IMI, said in August: "More electric and hybrid vehicles are joining the UK car parc every day, but the number of technicians trained to safely maintain, service and repair them is simply not keeping pace, creating a real postcode lottery.
"Urgent attention is required to address the skills gap, enhance training initiatives, and ensure an adequate supply of qualified technicians to meet the evolving demands of the rapidly growing EV sector."
"What will we need in 2035? Who knows, but the problem isn't going away judging by these figures," Whittaker said.
He added: "It's worth highlighting that EVs are, however, more complex due to the added technology versus a traditional
ICE-powered car - and while they have fewer 'moving parts', it's this added hardware and software that cause them to have a habit of going wrong in different ways than their ICE counterparts.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"It's why they [EVs] will always require trained, certified technicians to fix and maintain them.
"Yet, despite a push from the UK government including education regulators such as Ofqual, SQA, CCEA, and Qualifications Wales, IMI warns current economic pressures may result in cuts to funds usually available for training, leading to fewer businesses investing in the necessary TechSafe qualification for its technicians."
Can you push an electric car if it breaks down?
You can push an electric car, but you must make sure that you put it into neutral first.
In neutral the motor becomes isolated from the control system .
Pushing an electric car when not in neutral can damage the electric motor.
Not every electric vehicle has a neutral mode. In this instance, it would be best to wait for a tow truck or a repair man.