Britain faces a critical shortage of electric vehicle (EV) mechanics.

The Social Market Foundation, a cross-party think tank, believes the problem will be acute by the end of the decade. A skills shortfall among EV qualified technicians also risks driving up servicing costs. This has the potential of leaving some drivers unable to have their cars maintained properly.

Increasing numbers

Numbers of EVs on the country’s roads is approaching one million. However the report has found that the number of skilled technicians needed to service such cars is not keeping pace.

‘A Vehicle for Change’ report highlights industry estimates that by 2027 there will not be enough qualified mechanics to maintain all of Britain’s EVs. By 2030, the country could face a shortfall of 25,000 qualified technicians.

Decreasing help

The conclusions follow a similar warning from the Institute of the Motoring Industry (IMI) earlier this year. This revealed that only 11% of technicians in the UK are qualified to work safely on EVs.

They described a “ticking time bomb” of consumer confidence, with motorists struggling to find appropriately qualified technicians.

This latest Social Market Foundation report calls on the Government to step up and prepare the British workforce for Net Zero. Supporting  is needed to recruit and train more workers with the skills needed to maintain EVs.

“Formalised, professional and accredited training routes” are needed, says the report.

Reforms are required to allow more of the money paid by larger employers for the Apprenticeship Levy to be used to fund that training.

Supply and demand

The SMF report is based on interviews with mechanics and technicians and industry experts. It believes the skills gap could raise the cost of repairs or reduce the quality of repairs. This could decrease consumers’ willingness to make the switch to EVs.

Neither the Department for Education (DfE) and Department for Transport (DfT) have examined how growing EV uptake will impact vehicle technicians or developed policies to support workforce growth.

Key solutions include attracting new entrants to the sector. At present it is suffering an “image problem” around car maintenance work. Perceptions of dirty, hard and male-dominated work deters some would-be recruits.

Amy Norman, senior researcher at the Social Market Foundation, says that “Britain is in real danger of running short of the skilled mechanics and technicians needed to keep EVs on the roads.

“More needs to be done to ensure more workers are getting the skills and training needed to keep Britain on the road to net zero. That means better policies to support skills and training, including more creative use of Apprenticeship Levy funds.

“It also means doing more to attract recruits into this vital trade.”