‘Postcode lottery’ for electric vehicle technicians

There are 58,800 technicians now qualified to work on electric vehicles (EVs), representing 24% of the UK automotive workforce, according to the latest EV TechSafe certification data.  

Based on the forecast increase in EVs on UK roads, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is currently predicting a shortfall of 3,000 technicians by 2031. The gap is expected to reach 16,000 by 2035.

The new IMI data also illustrates the current postcode lottery for EV skills. While London and the south-east have a higher proportion of EVs, the regions do not boast a larger proportion of EV certified technicians. 

Just 6.1% and 6.4% of technicians in London and the south-east respectively are EV-trained.

Plug-in electric vehicles make up 5.9% of all cars in London and the south-east.

The East of England has the highest rate of EV qualifications (9.5%), while Northern Ireland has the lowest. rate (3.7%).

“There has been encouraging growth in the number of technicians gaining EV certification so far in 2024,” said Kevin Finn, executive chair at the IMI.

“However, with the expected reinstatement of the 2030 ICE ban deadline by the new Government, the skills gap remains.

“Automotive businesses urgently need to prioritise training more technicians so that the expected rising number of EV owners can find a local technician qualified to work safely on their vehicle.”

The IMI campaign – There’s More to Motor – aims to change perceptions of the opportunities in automotive and encourage more people to consider a career in the sector.