Gary Zhou 
Key Points
- 😱 The UK’s Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) warns of an upcoming shortage of qualified service personnel for electric vehicles (EVs).
- 📉 Only 18% of the UK’s total technicians received training for EVs in Q1 2023, with a 10% drop in newly qualified EV technicians compared to 2022 figures.
- 📉 IMI projects a staggering 31% drop in securing an EV qualification during Q2 compared to the same period last year.
- 🚗 The average age of combustion-powered vehicles leads to less time available for retraining on EVs, contributing to the skills gap.
- 💼 Employers are postponing new skills training to address customer demand, reallocating training budgets amid economic pressures.
- 👨🔧 IMI estimates that by 2030, about 107,000 qualified technicians will be needed to meet EV demands, but there may be a shortfall of 25,000 technicians if current trends continue.
- 🌍 The skills gap could be hugely damaging to the government’s decarbonization ambitions.
- 💡 Urgent attention is needed to address the skills gap, enhance training initiatives, and ensure an adequate supply of qualified technicians for the growing EV sector.
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) in the UK, which plays a vital role in setting skill standards for the automotive sector, has issued a warning regarding the electric vehicle (EV) industry. Despite the growing prevalence of EVs, the number of technicians trained to work on electric cars safely is dwindling.
According to the IMI’s data, only 18% of the UK’s total technicians, approximately 42,400 individuals, received training for electric vehicles in the first quarter of 2023. Surprisingly, the number of newly qualified EV technicians dropped by 10% compared to the figures recorded in 2022. The organization also projects a significant 31% decline in securing an EV qualification during the second quarter, compared to the same period in the previous year.
The IMI has identified several factors that could be contributing to this shortage. As the average age of the vehicle parc increases, technicians working on combustion-powered vehicles experience longer task times, reducing available time for retraining on electric vehicles. This, in turn, affects the pool of skilled personnel available to work on EVs.
The shortage of trained EV technicians is a concerning trend that needs attention to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles and ensure safe and efficient maintenance and repairs in the industry.
The widening skills gap in the industry is compelling employers to postpone new skills training in order to address customer demand effectively as well. Because of this, training budgets are typically reallocated towards sustaining regular operations amid the prevailing economic pressures faced by employers, as noted in a Car Dealer Magazine UK report.
IMI CEO Steve Nash issued a statement about the matter. “The high level of job vacancies across the automotive sector as well as the economic pressures that mean budgets are being funnelled away from training are a serious cause for concern if the government’s decarbonization targets are to be met.
“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,” the CEO noted.
Overall, the IMI noted that the current situation could be “hugely damaging to the government’s decarbonization ambitions.” The IMI also estimated that by 2030, about 107,000 IMI TechSafe-qualified technicians would be needed to meet the demands of electric cars. By 2032, the figure is projected to rise to 139,000, which suggests a shortfall of about 25,000 technicians if current trends continue.
