UP TO 50,000 automotive workers in NSW urgently need funding to upskill and train in the safe servicing of electric vehicles, the Motor Traders’ Association of NSW (MTA NSW) has said.

The Association said that unless it has state government financial support, the automotive industry will be left “severely unprepared” to meet 2030 targets given a lack of training places.

The MTA NSW said that with the expected growth in the number of EVs, it is estimated that Australia will require an additional 14,000 qualified EV technicians by 2030.

MTA NSW CEO Stavros Yallouridis said: “Our industry is already battling a skills shortage and as we face arguably what is the biggest transition in our sector’s history, it’s crucial that specialist training in electric car and battery maintenance is prioritised to ensure the safety of everyone that works on an EV as well as to mitigate driver risks.”:

“The current system and availability of training is inadequate and we’re calling on the incoming NSW government to help fund more EV training across the state to prepare our workforce.”

MTA NSW is one of Australia’s biggest state-based industry organisations representing 28 different motor trades.

In a statement, the MTA NSW said that it is preparing to launch its own training program later this month “but worries that without support from government, the industry will be left severely underprepared to service and repair EVs, as the state works towards increasing the number of EV sales to 52 per cent by 2030-31 with the vast majority of new car sales being EVs by 2035.”

“In order to work on EVs, workplaces must undertake safety training to fulfil their obligations under Section 19 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW). Specialised training is essential for workplace safety, as EV batteries are of high voltage which range between 400 and 800V DC.”

It said that a full training safety course would cost up to $3000 for automotive technicians and auto-electricians.

“These costs will have to be borne by automotive businesses – the majority of whom are small and family-owned businesses across the state – already struggling with increased costs of living and doing business, on top of a skilled workforce crisis,” it said.

“This does not include the outlay of additional infrastructure and space required for servicing EVs.

“Given there are currently more than 49,000 licensed technicians in NSW alone who will all need the relevant safety training, it’s expected this will cost the industry around $100 million.”

MTA NSW does not have a training facility. Other states have already established training courses and facilities, either independently or in conjunction with TAFE.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) said state and federal governments had to accept that electrification is the biggest transition in the automotive industry for 100 years.

VACC CEO Geoff Gwilym told GoAutoNews Premium that while there’s a focus on subsidies to help people get into electric vehicles “there also has to be a focus on helping to train the providers who deliver this training to industry to make sure we have enough technicians out there.”

“Governments need to recognise that funding supports need to be provided to help the industry transition,” he said.

“And that’s including the upskilling of existing technicians in the industry today.”

In WA, the MTA WA this year established a separate facility for practical and theory training in repair, maintenance and safety for electrified vehicles and battery systems.

MTA WA CEO Stephen Moir said its battery/hybrid electric vehicle program contains two skill sets and is conducted over five days for a cost of $2000. It is subsidised to the tune of about 60 per cent by the WA state government as an ‘Industry Skill Set’ program.

A similar course, with similar costing and state government support, is also in place in South Australia.

Queensland’s MTA has recently received funding of about $1.5 million for EV training.

By Neil Dowling