A new Electric Vehicle Training School has opened at Dundee and Angus College to help bridge the skills gap for mechanics.

The new facility at Dundee and Angus College offers three levels of courses

The new facility offers three levels of courses, including introductory ‘Awareness’ course, through to the Level 3 training, which is designed for those who need to repair and replace high-voltage electrical systems within the vehicles, with a fourth course specifically for recovery drivers and emergency service personnel going live in the next academic year.

The new school opens as latest analysis by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) reveals that only 11% of technicians in the UK were qualified to work safely on plug-in cars as of December 2021, equating to a total of 24,500 technicians.

Yet registration data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows 16.2% of all new cars registered last month were plug-in. And the industry body has predicted that one in four new cars (25.2%) will come with a plug by the end of 2022.

Stephen Swinley, head of curriculum and quality for engineering at Dundee and Angus College, said: “The motor industry is changing at a pace not seen for generations, and with the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to be banned in the UK at the end of the current decade, there has never been a more vitally needed facility than this if independent garages and mechanics are to be able to retain a place in the market.

“However, our courses are not just designed for those working under the bonnet, whether you are a recovery driver, paramedic, firefighter, or even fleet driver, there are necessary skills required to deal with and work around electric vehicles to keep yourself safe, and prevent damage.”

The city of Dundee has already been greeted as a trailblazer, and international award winner, for its work on the introduction and rollout of EV infrastructure.

Neil Swanson, director at the Electric Vehicle Association Scotland director, welcomed the Dundee and Angus College initiative.

He said: “As Scotland’s electric vehicle market continues to expand at a tremendous rate, it is vitally important the infrastructure that supports this transition to all-electric transportation keeps pace and is in place.

“Training of technicians in all aspects of EV technology is part of the country’s ability to deliver that expertise across servicing in car dealerships, fleet vehicle operations and throughout all the sectors going all-electric.”