Industry skills shortage will fail government investment, IMI warns

Investment in the next generation of electric vehicles is likely to fail because of a 'skills shortage'

Industry skills shortage will fail government investment, IMI warns
Current only 1,000 vehicle technicians’ are qualified to work on electric cars in the UK.

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has raised further concerns about the lack of skilled technicians who are trained to work on electric and hybrid cars.

The government is promising to invest £600 million to help boost sales of electric vehicles but the IMI says action on closing the skills gap is urgently needed.

Current only 1,000 vehicle technicians’ are qualified to work on electric cars in the UK according the IMI and there are only 1,000 more currently in training.

Consumer demand

With the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement setting the goal of all new cars in Britain being electric by 2040 the current rate of skills development will be insufficient to meet consumer demand, the institute warns.

Speaking at an international motor industry event focusing on electric cars in Kuala Lumpur last week, IMI CEO Steve Nash said: “For Britain to be a world-leader in electric and hybrid cars, we urgently need more qualified technicians.

“We face a severe shortage of skills and it will hurt our economy.

“If the skills are not in place when consumer demand begins to surge, drivers will be paying higher prices to keep their cars on the road.

‘Amateur maintenance’

“There is no place for an enthusiastic amateur maintaining electric and hybrid vehicles, they have complex systems with three times the power of domestic voltage.

“The Government faces a skills shock if it does not factor this issue in its plan to reduce carbon emissions by 65 million tonnes.”

Earlier IMI research found that 60 per cent of consumers are thinking about buying an electric or hybrid vehicle in the next two years.

Find out more about the IMI by clicking ‘more details’ below.

Have you invested in hybrid and electric vehicle training or do you think these ‘warnings’ are too early to call? Please leave your comments below.

2 Comments

  1. Who is offering the training and how much does it cost

    Reply
  2. Who is offering the training and how much does it cost

    Reply

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