Who can work on electric cars?

With the UK's 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars looming ever closer, we’re here to answer all your questions about EVs, including “who can work on electric cars?”

Maintenance is an important part of safe and efficient everyday driving. This is still true for electric cars too, even if they do have fewer moving parts compared to traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles.

EVs are powered by a lithium-ion battery and an electric motor, whilst ICE cars use a fuel-powered engine. This is the main difference in maintenance, servicing and MOTs.

Read on below to find out who can work on electric cars, and to learn about the electric vehicle qualifications that mechanics need before carrying out any work on an EV.

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Anyone who has the relevant qualifications and training from the IMI can work on electric cars. This means that not all garages will be able to work on an EV.

Mechanics undertake this additional training to learn how to efficiently work on any electric car. There may be fewer parts, but there are still vital checks to ensure the battery system is working safely.

There are new safety regulations to work to due to the high-voltage battery and electrical system.

But don’t worry, all of our Pentagon service centres across #branchCountyService# have fully qualified, trained and experienced EV technicians.

Yes, mechanics will be needed for electric cars. Mechanics will be needed even well after the government’s 2035 ban on the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles.

No matter how much car technology changes we will always need qualified technicians to keep them working.

As zero-emission cars evolve over the next few decades, so will our car technicians. They’ll need to learn new skills and techniques to keep our vehicles running.

Some things will never change. We'll always need tyres, brakes, steering and more. So we'll always need mechanics for electric cars.

Also, we will still be driving ICE cars for a good few years to come. Only the sale of new ICE cars is banned in 2030, but you can still buy and drive second-hand versions. And the same goes for hybrid cars after 2035.

We’ll still have thousands of petrol and diesel cars on the roads which means they’ll need maintenance to keep them roadworthy.

Electric cars need the same level of maintenance as petrol and diesel vehicles. There’s just less than can go wrong! EVs still need MOTs and regular servicing.

It’s a legal requirement for all vehicles on the road to have a valid MOT. This includes electric cars and hybrid variants.

The MOT test ensures your car is roadworthy with a series of checks carried out across all areas of your vehicle.

You only need a valid MOT certificate once your car is three years old so brand-new EVs don't have to worry for a few years.

Once your electric vehicle is three years old, you need to book an MOT test every year to ensure you have a valid MOT certificate.

The MOT process is the same for all drivers - whether you’re in an EV or diesel car. The test itself is different depending on the powertrain, but as the customer, this doesn’t affect you.

Find out more about electric car MOT & servicing

Electric cars also need regular servicing. Sticking to your service schedule keeps your car running safely and efficiently whilst spotting any faults early.

Regular servicing retains your EV’s value in the long run, as providing a full service history when you come to sell proves that it has been looked after.

Using a main dealer for servicing increases your car’s value even more, whilst also maintaining the manufacturer’s warranty.

Again, the checks carried out are different compared to an ICE service but the process for the customer is still the same.

Certain aspects are more important in an EV service, including tyre, climate control and brake checks as this can affect driving range.

Explore our guide to electric car servicing for more information.

The powertrain setup in electric cars is much simpler than in an ICE vehicle. The lithium-ion battery stores electricity, which is then turned into power by the motor that then turns the wheels.

You plug it in to charge when your battery levels are low and then you’re good to go. Regenerative braking also regains energy that is usually lost when slowing down and turns it into electric power to increase your range.

The electric motor has instant access to torque too, which is why EVs are so quick off the mark.

As technology develops over time we may see a change in the type and level of maintenance needed.

Current electric car technology relies heavily on battery power which takes a few hours to charge.

There are also hydrogen cars powered by fuel cells. This has the potential to be the next step in zero-emission driving as refuelling is as quick as filling up a petrol or diesel car.

The hydrogen fuel cell system has more moving parts compared to electric vehicles meaning that, in the near future, there may be yet another change in what’s needed in servicing and maintenance.

But for now, the main focus is on battery-powered electric vehicles!

Get in touch with your local Pentagon service centre to learn more about EV maintenance, servicing & MOTs.

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