By the end of the decade, Ireland will have 1 million electric vehicles on the road. With an 81% rise in EV registrations in 2022 compared to 2021, it’s a rise which is difficult to ignore. While the differences between these vehicles vary greatly, from size through to those with an internal combustion engine to electric, the common thread is that they all have tyres. Potentially an overlooked component of a vehicle, tyres are essential and the upkeep of these and the need for the greater training of the tyre sector has never been more vital.
As the evolution of the motor vehicle continues to evolve, so too has the tyre, in fact, over recent years, the construction of the tyre has become increasingly complex. From weight and size through to aerodynamics and resistance – it’s become a science, and the responsibility on the tyre technician has increased as fitting the wrong tyre on a vehicle could have harmful consequences.
While tyres are generally of a higher specification, what has really been a driving force of change within the tyre industry is the rise in electric vehicles. In 2022 41% of all new vehicles registered in the ROI where EV.
Consequently, every business within the automotive repair and service sector is having to adapt and as the wheels of an electric vehicle will roll us into an emission-free future, specific attention needs to be given over to how the tyre industry is prepared to manage this uplift.
According to reports from recovery service companies, electric vehicles are twice as likely to suffer from a wheel or tyre related breakdown than their petrol or diesel equivalents. Due to the weight of heavy batteries, electric vehicles are often up to 20 – 30% heavier than non-electric counterparts. While a blessing for the planet, these heavy batteries will put greater pressure and load on tyres, leading to an increase in the number of repairs needed.
The pressure of this increased load means an ordinary tyre on an electric car won’t last quite as long or stand up to the demands of the vehicle while out on the road. In fact, conventional tyres on an EV would probably wear out 20% faster. Consequently, over the last couple of years, tyre manufacturers have announced the launch of new tyre technology for the electric age to handle the extra weight and withstand the instant torque for a smoother, more energy-efficient, low-impact ride.
Fitting the wrong type of tyre on an electric vehicle will result in loss of range, extra noise, accelerated wear and the risk of failing while being driven, which could result in a serious incident. Consequently, tyre technicians and mechanical technicians working within fast fit environment need training to ensure they are familiar with the new technology and can work on them safely.
As the pressure for a cleaner environment is paramount in all European countries and the number of EVs on the road’s creeps up, the notion that these vehicles will feature within the garage of the future rather than today is completely wrong.
While there is little doubt that the majority of repair and servicing work carried out within Irish garages are on vehicles with internal combustion engines, garage and fast fit business owners are increasingly being contacted by EV owners for remedial or essential maintenance work – and tyres is one of the key areas.
The majority of first time electric vehicle owners will have a very basic knowledge of EV maintenance when they drive their new car off the forecourt. And while the majority of these vehicles are still under warranty, owners are inevitably starting to turn to their local garage and tyre fitter for both general advice and remedial work – leading to one of the most fundamental reasons to make EV training a priority.
“Simple repair work on an electric vehicle, from tyre replacements to wheel realignments, could take additional time for a technician. Safely isolating the high voltage system from the rest of the vehicle, and correctly re-instating it and this additional time requirement is something that customers are largely unaware of. Having the knowledge and explaining the process to a customer is imperative,” explains Dasos Michaelides, Business Development Manager of Autotech Training. “There is a whole new level of education needed around electric vehicles from the consumer through to the garage owner and FastFit outlet.”
There are four levels of electric vehicle training:
- Level 1 - Simple awareness courses which provides a basic understanding of electric vehicles and the safety requirements when working within the vicinity of an EV
- Level 2 - Designed for those who will encounter electric/hybrid vehicles within a routine maintenance situation. It also contains the knowledge and skills required to work safely around a vehicle that may have had damage to its high energy/electrical system.
- Level 3 - Equips the technician with the knowledge to work safely on and carry out repairs and maintenance activities on an EV
- Level 4 - Teaches how to carry out repairs on live, high voltage vehicles and focuses on in-depth diagnostic of the systems within an EV
The level of training required is dependent on many variables such as the type of work carried out and specific job roles within the centre. It may be that service advisers and managers would engage at Level 1 to equip them with the confidence to talk to customers about their vehicles, whilst tyre technicians should be trained to Level 2 or 3.
Ultimately, employers have a duty of care to ensure any vehicle technician working on an EV holds the necessary skills to work safely on, or around them. First and foremost, before any repair work can be carried out the garage needs to have an area which is prepared for EVs with the correct Health and Safety equipment available. Having the right tools is also essential, such as Class 0 insulated rubber gloves and face shields. Also required are the correct 1,000 volt rated tools and testing equipment to ensure the vehicle is safe to work on and carry out repairs.
Even some relatively simple modifications, such as wheel re-alignments, could require the safe isolation of the vehicle’s high voltage system. And, since power will still remain in the battery, vehicle technicians will need to remain vigilant.
“Not only will training ensure that a technician holds the relevant skill set, but it will also safeguard them against injury,” Dasos continues. “We cannot lose sight of the fact that these are high-voltage vehicles, and the industry has a duty of care to ensure vehicle technicians have the necessary skills to work safely on, or around them. Employers may find themselves liable if an untrained employee is injured while working around an electric vehicle.”
Autotech Training offers a suite of EV training options enabling a garage or fast fit workshop to create a bespoke programme which directly meets their needs, and the company is certified to teach IMI Levels 1 to 4 electric/hybrid vehicle training, along with IMI Levels 2 and 3 heavy electric/hybrid vehicle training. These courses can be delivered from The AA Training Academy powered by Autotech Training dedicated EV Training Suite in Dublin, or on the premises of any organisation to minimise downtime and employee travel expenses.
In fact, this year, over 65% of all courses delivered have been rolled out to a business to help cut costs and downtime.
While the rising number of electric vehicles push EV training up the agenda, general training should still be a focus.
The safety of roadside tyre technicians has always been a cause for concern, but as the number of vehicles increases, demand on this sector will intensify. For this cohort of technicians, training for the REACT licence, created by the ITIA & NTDA, is essential as it provides the delegate with the knowledge and skill to work safely at the roadside whilst attending a breakdown situation.
Autotech Training offers the ITIA / NTDA REACT licence training over two days either from The AA training Academy Dublin, or on the site of any garage or business.