The motoring industry is in the midst of a significant change of gears. Traditional internal combustion engines, which have been with us for more than a century, are gradually being displaced by new electric ones. In fact, the change isn’t as gradual as we might think, and there’s every reason to think that we’ll all be driving electric cars within a decade or so.
This has significant implications for the entire economy, and especially for mechanics. If all of your training and experience is based around the internal combustion engine, then you might not be equipped for the new kinds of vehicle. It seems inevitable that, when that tipping point arrives, many mechanics are going to find themselves out of work.
The electric car scene in the UK
The Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders regularly publishes data about sales in the auto industry. In 2022, they revealed some extraordinary changes. While the lockdowns associated with Covid-19 had dampened sales of new petrol and diesel cars, the same was not true of new electric ones. In 2022, we saw a year-on-year increase in battery electric vehicle sales of 35.4%. It’s entirely likely that we’ll see this trend continue in years to come, as charging infrastructure becomes more widespread.
If mechanics want to protect themselves during this transition, then they might pro-actively equip themselves with the right skills (and equipment), and invest in motor trade insurance.
What new skills will mechanics need?
Fortunately, mechanics won’t be starting from square one when they make the switch to the electric car. This is in part because electric cars share many components and mechanisms with gas-guzzling ones: they have wheels, headlights, axles and airbags. But it’s also because the skills needed to analyse a fault and act to correct it are very similar.
The first and most crucial skill for electric mechanics is the ability to troubleshoot problems. This means having at least some knowledge of the way that BEVs work. Fortunately, since BEVs are simpler in design than ICE ones, troubleshooting might theoretically be more straightforward.
Almost all electric cars are going to ship with some form of onboard diagnostics software. Being familiar with the relevant tools will hugely improve your chances of being able to locate a fault quickly.
Particular attention should be paid to the most essential component of the vehicle: the battery. As the market becomes electrified, motorists will begin to suffer from battery failures. Where this is the case, being able to fit a new battery might make a big difference. This goes especially if an older battery is being replaced with a more lightweight, efficient one that supplies the same level of power.
