Over the summer, garages continued to see support for those looking to work on EVs expand, but figures from the IMI showed the sheer scale of the EV skills crisis in the sector. Meanwhile, the industry called for cross-party backing for a series of pledges that would help secure the EV future. Servicesure Autocentres is teaming up with Recharge Rescue to offer around-the-clock emergency roadside charging for EV drivers. The new offering from the GSF Car Parts-run chain joins EVsure, which Servicesure has been running since March 2022 as an add-on for its members who are accredited to IMI Techsafe Level 3 and offers a range of benefits for EV-ready garages. GSF Car Parts Head of Servicesure Paul Dineen said: “We’re delighted to be working with Recharge Rescue to give added value and total peace of mind to EVsure customers. “Servicesure is at the forefront of the industry and our members are progressive garage owners who are committed to offering a high quality, professional and friendly service. Our industry is quickly adapting to and evolving with the electrification of UK vehicles, so partnering with Recharge Rescue is another excellent way for us to support EV drivers above and beyond the trip to their local Servicesure garage.” Recharge Rescue Co-Founder Bruce Compton added: “Recharge Rescue is a new and unique insurance, so partnering up with Servicesure to support their EVSure customers is both an exciting opportunity, but also a logical support mechanism for their existing EV drivers, and a helping hand for drivers considering the move from ICE to electric, by providing total peace of mind.” IMI warns on EV tech availability disparity There are very wide variations in the availability of EV-qualified technicians 60 AFTERMARKET SEPTEMBER 2023 EVS AND HYBRIDS www.aftermarketonline.net EVOLVE AND ADAPT An overall industrial strategy to keep the to EVs on track was called for during the summer, as concerns over the technical shortfall grew across the UK a new IMI report has found, and the organisation has warned that this risks running the EV bandwagon off the road. Just seven local authorities can boast 10% or more EV-qualified techs, with 150 local authorities having under 2% of technicians qualified. The study is contained within ‘Electric Evolution: Examining the Triumphs, Trials and Roadblocks of the UK’s Electric Vehicle Aftermarket’, which was published by the IMI in June. Top 20 local authorities with EV technicians Croydon: 18.9% Redditch: 14.4% West Lancashire: 11.5% Inverclyde: 11.2% Winchester: 10.9% Broadland: 10.7% Cheltenham: 10% North Hertfordshire: 9.8% Rushmoor: 9.2% Stevenage: 8.3% Moray: 8.2% Basingstoke & Deane: 7.7% Perth and Kinross: 7.6% Guildford: 6.9% Rushcliffe: 6.8% Pendle: 6.6% South Tyneside: 5.9% Worcester: 5.7% Reading: 5.5% Watford: 5.5% Bottom 20 local authorities with EV technicians North East Derbyshire: 0.5% Newry, Mourne and Down: 0.5% Camden: 0.5% Hackney: 0.5% South Ribble: 0.5% North Northamptonshire: 0.5% Charnwood: 0.4% Runnymede: 0.4% Sunderland: 0.3% Islington: 0.3% Barrow-in-Furness: 0.2% Copeland: 0.2% Craven: 0.2% Isles of Scilly: 0.2% Knowsley: 0.2% Maldon: 0.2% Redcar and Cleveland: 0.2% Rossendale: 0.2% Shetland Islands: 0.2% Thanet: 0.2% IMI Research Manager Emma Carrigy commented: “Our data reveals the greatest proportion of EV qualified technicians in the automotive aftermarket workforce in some obvious locations such as London and
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