Only a fraction of UK technicians qualified to work on electric cars ~ station of gear

Electric cars costing more to insure than petrol or diesel cars partly due to shock skills shortage

2016-06-23 09:00

Less than half a per cent of all vehicle technicians in the UK are qualified to work on electric cars, leaving electric car insurance premiums soaring far above those for petrol or diesel cars, Auto Express can exclusively reveal.

Just 1,150 out of the total of 240,000 vehicle technicians in the UK are qualified to work on electric cars, with none working in independent garages or body shops.

This lack of expert knowledge is partly what is causing insurance premiums for electric cars to remain up to 50 per cent higher than for petrol or diesel models.

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Auto Express compared insurance premiums for electric vehicles against those for conventionally fuelled cars and found it cost on average 21 per cent more to insure a battery-powered vehicle. However, some cars commanded even higher premiums; for example, a Renault Zoe cost 50 per cent more than an equally priced Renault Clio.

A spokesman for Thatcham Research, the organisation that assigns insurance group ratings for new cars, said: “Electric vehicles are subject to the same formula used for regular cars, with a couple of additions to reflect the potential complexity and cost of repairs, and the number of repairers.”

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) told Auto Express that more than 80 per cent of independent garages are struggling to recruit technicians qualified to work on advanced vehicles. With a lack of qualified technicians, the IMI predicts both insurance and service and repair prices will remain higher than necessary for electric cars.

Steve Nash, IMI CEO, has previously criticised the lack of widespread training towards electric car maintenance, saying: “This will mean that the market will fail to open up and develop to the benefit of the UK economy, and without competition in the marketplace the UK customer will suffer higher pricing.”

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He added: “Unless a proactive strategy is undertaken, the UK will not be able to support the growth of low-carbon vehicles.”

The research Auto Express conducted was mentioned in the House of Commons by Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies, who challenged the Government to do more to train technicians. He said: “It is not just about having the ability to make cars; we also need the technicians to support that industry, and at the moment we do not.”

The Association of British Insurers told Auto Express: “As innovative designs and trends become more mainstream, and repairs get cheaper, drivers can expect this pressure on premiums to reduce.”

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Martin Saarinen

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