More electric car mechanics needed, industry group warns
Just 6.5 per cent of technicians have the right qualifications to safely fix the cars
An electric car is charged at a charging point in Germany.
Credit: JENS SCHLUETER /AFP
Fewer than 10 per cent of mechanics are qualified to repair electric cars, an industry body has warned as it calls for training before a ban on new petrol and diesel cars.
The Institute of the Motor Industry said that just 6.5 per cent of 250,000 technicians repairing cars have qualifications proving their ability to fix electric and hybrid cars, which are equipped with high-voltage batteries and can be dangerous in inexpert hands.
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Franchised and independent car retailers across the UK are being urged to celebrate their successes in a COVID-impacted 2020 and boost the morale of their workforce by entering the AM Awards 2021.
After a year that saw car retailers successfully pivot to online retail and remote sales methods to weather the coronavirus storm, and with numerous dealer groups exhibiting a level of financial resilience exhibited by few business sectors, there is no better time to celebrate our sector.
Entries are currently being accepted for 19 awards categories – four of which are new to the event – and dealers are being urged to get involved before the May 24 deadline.
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Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), chief executive Steve Nash has highlighted £2bn in lost Apprenticeship Levy funds as a demonstration of “inconsistencies” in Government’s approach to upskilling the UK workforce.
Here is his letter in full, highlighting the issues for the automotive sector, and the IMI’s proposal to help car retailers claw back more cash to train the next generation of industry talent:
The last 48 hours have seen two significant announcements relating to skills, training and apprenticeships. Firstly, the Queen’s Speech outlined the government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, to give everyone access to skills for life.
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image captionA new generation of students are being trained to work on electric vehicles
A college will begin training a new generation of electric and hybrid car mechanics in what it described as a revolution .
Coleg Cambria s Bersham Road campus in Wrexham will teach students to service and repair the ever-increasing fleet of greener vehicles from September.
According to the RAC, just 5% of the UK s 202,000 vehicle technicians are qualified to work on electric cars.
Course tutor Alex Woodward said the motor trade will need to be prepared . Like with a petrol or diesel car, when the warranty runs out, motorists will be looking to take their vehicle to an independent garage, he added.