Automotive technology is moving at a rapid pace and has been for some time. Moreover, the introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles is one of the next significant evolutions. The growth of the BEV market is expected to accelerate in the coming years as the UK prepares for the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales. In 2021, 1.65 million new vehicles were registered, and 114,554 of those new registrations, 114,554 cars were electric or hybrid cars. This was a huge increase over previous years. With that rate of growth set to increase rapidly as we move to the 2030 date, is your garage ready to handle repairs on these types of vehicles?
Snap-on are bringing to market new products and services technicians are going to need in order to help you stay ahead, of what will be a surge in demand. We have been adding electric and hybrid vehicles models to our diagnostic products for some time – in fact, with the latest spring release we added 12 new models including the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Skoda Enyaq. With new model variations, new systems, codes, data, and tests being continually added, the content for these types of vehicles is expanding with every release.
Snap-on has also introduced a training qualification in partnership with the IMI, that will help technicians prepare for the change in technology – the IMI Level 3 award in electric/hybrid vehicle system repair and replacement.
This training course is a mix of at home and in classroom learning, involving 2 days at a state-of-the-art Snap-on Training Facility. On completion of the course, participants who pass the assessment will receive an official Level 3 qualification and entry to the IMI Techsafe register. It is anticipated that level 3 will be the minimum requirement to work on hybrid/electric vehicles in the future. So invest in the right training now to get ahead, stay ahead, and stay safe. Visit here to take a look at our EV Training.
It is predicted that over 90,000 qualified technicians will be needed by 2030 in order to keep up with the demand for servicing & maintaining EVs. IMI data projections predict a shortage of qualified technicians. In fact, only around 11% of technicians are currently registered as being IMI TechSafe qualified.
Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Battery Lift
As well as diagnostic products and training, Snap-on has extended its range of tools and equipment specifically for the servicing of electric and hybrid vehicles. The most recent addition being the new EV battery lift. This new lift is an electro hydraulic lift with dual speeds that allows you to mount and remove batteries from electric and hybrid cars. It has a lifting capability of 1200 kg and a lifting range of 800mm to 1810mm, making it suitable for garages and dealerships that EV, BEV, HEV, and PHEV vehicles.