Newcastle sets standard for EV-trained technicians
More repairers in Newcastle employ EV-trained technicians than anywhere else in the country, according to new analysis.
Scrap Car Comparison found that 79% of the workshops in Newcastle employ at least one EV-trained technician. Bath and north east Somerset were jointly second with 75%, followed by Brighton (65%).
At the other end of the scale, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde were among nine areas with no recorded EV-trained technicians, while less than one per cent of repairers in Bedford and north Lincolnshire were EV-qualified.
Scrap Car Comparison calculated the percentages by cross-referencing data from Companies House with the IMI’s TechSafe-certified EV technicians.
Matt Clamp, customer service manager at Scrap Car Comparison, said: “Adoption of electric vehicles among car owners has increased hugely in recent years, but there’s clearly still a way to go before it’s easy to access the services of an EV-safe specialist.
“Though most garages will likely repair EVs, the data shows that in reality, many may not have the appropriate certifications for handling vehicles with high-voltage electrical systems.
“Though this isn’t a legal requirement, some vehicle manufacturers will require their owners to use technicians with the appropriate qualifications to help maintain the vehicle warranty. Similarly, there’s an ongoing risk to business owners and technicians if they’re working on vehicles without being properly educated on the risks and how to mitigate them.”
