Gloucestershire College (GC) is set to be the region’s go-to training centre for Electric Vehicle (EV) and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), with a range of short courses launching in the New Year at its Gloucester Campus.
Half a million pounds is being invested in cutting-edge equipment to kit out its fully equipped, industry leading workshops and learning spaces, alongside significant training to upskill its entire team of industry-expert lecturers to deliver face-to-face training in everything from maintenance and diagnostics to testing and repairs.
In addition to a range of EV and HEV vehicles and five on-site EV charging points, the college is investing in an ADS Chassis Dyno with SD1+ and 500bhp capabilities to replicate faults under load and allow for real-time diagnostics; a top-of-the-range Autel IA900WA Wheel Alignment and ADAS Calibration system; the latest dual gas air conditioning system; an automated one-man test lane for MOTs, and plenty of EV/HEV-compliant tooling and diagnostic equipment from manufacturers including Bosch KTS, Snap-On, Autel and LAUNCH.
Auto technicians can get qualified up to Level 4 at GC, through short courses including:
- L1 Award in EV/HEV Awareness
- L2 Award in EV/HEV Routine Maintenance Activities
- L2 Award in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Calibration
- L3 Award in EV/HEV System Repair and Maintenance Activities
- L4 Award in the Diagnosis, Testing and Repair of EV/HEV and Components
- A range of automotive air conditioning qualifications
Currently, most local EV/HEV training is delivered online, with local garages having to venture out of county for any meaningful, face-to-face delivery. Gloucestershire College will provide a closer-to-home solution that upskills technicians; taught in person by experienced lecturers in real working garages on their doorstep.
The forthcoming launch of the GC Electric and Hybrid Vehicle training centre not only supports the college’s GC Zero commitment – having recently become the first college in the country to power its campuses by 100% renewable energy – but will also help address the skills gap the motor industry is facing, with less than 5% of mechanics currently being qualified to work on EV/HEV.
Principal and CEO, Matthew Burgess, said: “Gloucestershire College is committed to working with our employer partners to meet local skills needs, as well as supporting the wider skills and sustainability agendas. We plan to bridge the skills gap in low-carbon vehicle mechanics and future-proof the skills of our own talent-in-training, to make them even more employable when they move into industry.
“We fully support ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, and are proud to have the government support, resources and an expert team of lecturers who are driven to deliver EV/HEV training to work towards achieving this.”
The project is being supported by the government’s Strategic Development Fund (SDF), which enables FE providers to reshape their teaching and training provision, and invest in facilities, in preparation for the rollout of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs).
County employers looking to upskill their staff in EV/HEV can register their interest in the new short courses by visiting www.gloscol.ac.uk/ev-training
