SMR industry facing EV skills shortage
Friday, 26. May 2023
A further issue facing the SMR industry is ensuring there are enough trained mechanics to work on electric vehicles (EVs) in the future.
At the end of last year, cross-party think-tank Social Market Foundation estimated Britain is facing a critical shortage of qualified technicians, who need specialist training to work on EVs due to the different technologies and potentially lethal high voltages involved.
In its A Vehicle for Change report, the organisation says that, by 2027, there will not be enough qualified mechanics to maintain all of Britain’s EVs, which risks driving up service costs and potentially leaving some drivers unable to have their vehicles maintained properly.
This followed a similar warning from the Institute of the Motoring Industry (IMI), which warned only 11% of technicians in the UK are qualified to work safely on EVs.
According to the IMI, there could be a shortfall of 25,100 qualified technicians by 2027.
“The skilled EV workforce is not keeping up with the sales of BEV, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles,” says Steve Nash, chief executive of the IMI.
“While manufacturers and their franchised dealers are committed to EV training, lack of funding means independents risk being left out in the cold and this risks consumer choice being restricted and EV servicing costs rising.”
The IMI is calling on the Government for £15 million funding to help get more technicians ‘EV ready’. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
