The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is predicting a 31% year-on-year drop in Q2 for the number of technicians trained to work on electric vehicles.

According to the latest IMI EV Technician Forecast Report, the total number of technicians trained to work safely on EVs by the end of Q1 this year was 42,400, representing 18% of all technicians in the UK.

However, the number of newly qualified EV technicians in the first three months of this year is actually 10% lower than the same period in 2022.

The IMI believes there are a number of factors contributing to the shortfall in EV upskilling. 

As the average age of the UK vehicle parc increases, the time required by technicians working on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles also rises, reducing available time for retraining on the new drivetrain.

The significant skills gap that exists across the sector is also forcing employers to ‘park’ new skills training in order to meet customer demand.

Plus, training budgets are being refunnelled into ‘business-as-usual’ operations as employers manage the current economic pressures.

The consequence could be “hugely damaging” to the UK government’s decarbonisation ambitions.

By 2030, the IMI predicts that the UK will require 107,000 IMI TechSafe qualified technicians to meet the evolving demands of electric vehicles.

This figure rises to 139,000 by 2032, with IMI projections indicating a potential shortfall of 25,000 technicians if the current trends persist.

Training for newcomers to the sector, attrition rates, the vacancy rate, and retraining needs after a three-year Continuing Professional Development (CPD) cycle all add further pressure.

“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 decarbonisation targets are to be met,” said Steve Nash, chief executive of the IMI.

“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 IMI will be discussing the challenges around addressing the UK's automotive skills gap as part of a special session at this year's AM Live exhibition and seminar show. The event will be held on November 9 at the NEC, registrations are open now and free for franchised and independent auto retail professionals.

Emergency services and roadside assistance lead the way in EV skills

Data published in a separate IMI report released earlier this year - ‘Electric Evolution: Examining the Triumphs, Trials and Roadblocks of the UK’s Electric Vehicle Aftermarket’ - shows the disparity in where the focus has been to date on EV skills training.

Emergency services and roadside assistance/recovery providers have the highest proportion of employees with an IMI TechSafe qualification.

Giving EV drivers the comfort that, at their hour of greatest need there’s a good likelihood that an EV qualified technician will be available, 4.9 employees per roadside assistance operator are EV qualified with 3 per regional emergency services operation.

The IMI also found that accident repair operations and bodyshops are investing in the skills to be EV ready with an average of 2.2 technicians per garage.

An estimated 19% of franchise dealerships have at least one electric vehicle (EV) trained employee.

On average, franchised dealers have 1.8 employees who are TechSafe members on the IMI Professional Register. Independent dealerships have 1.6 EV-ready employees.