The UK’s leading technical, health and safety training provider, HSS Training, is aiming to further develop solutions to satisfy the needs of the UK when it comes to Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
A recent City & Guilds study has found of 500 electricians surveyed, 99% understood there to be major risks associated with electrical vehicle charging work. Despite this level of danger only 28% had specific training for the EV work undertaken, highlighting a major concern in the safety surrounding this area of work.
Other studies from CENEX and OZEV further proved the findings of City & Guilds showing that ‘nearly a fifth (18%) of new at home charge point installations installed as part of the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) had dangerous or potentially dangerous issues.’
As the UK looks to push towards greener travel and with the ban on new petrol and diesel cars looming it is expected that there will be more than 35 million new electric vehicles in the UK by 2050. With this level of growth, the country will require the infrastructure to support the change and training is a vital step to ensure the safe installation of these charging points, not only for electricians undertaking the work but for every consumer using these EV points.
‘We started offering courses that cover installation and maintenance of EV charging points, but it quickly became apparent having spoken to our trusted clients and with the help of City & Guilds that electricians will need a variety of skills to meet demand. We are always updating our portfolio of courses in the EV market sector and believe that we have all the training we need to cover the needs of UK electricians, but we continue to adapt as the marketplace continues to rapidly change.’ – Andrew Smith, Commercial Director HSS Training.
It is predicted that the UK will reach a massive 300,000 electric vehicle charging points, 5 times the fuel pumps currently in place today by 2030. As well as providing public EV charging points the government is also set to present a requirement for all new build homes to be fitted with EV points. As the industry gears up for these changes and we push towards a greener way to travel, will the UK be equipped for the shift required in such a short period of time?
Already many councils are pushing for additional funding to further EV developments with the aim to provide new ways to install EV points for a variety of households. As well as expanding the number of EV charging points within new homes it has been highlighted that there will be a requirement for access to EV points for those with on street parking. A pilot scheme from Bedfordshire Council has looked at the use of Gul-e cable channels that allow residents to park their car outside their homes on the street and still maintain access to an electric supply. If this scheme is successful, it may provide an alternative way to supply more homes in the UK with the facilities to go electric.
The government are also providing incentives for flat owners and landlords with new initiatives offering up to 75% (£350) towards the cost of EV point installation with the aim to further improve the supply and infrastructure required if more households are to make the switch to electric vehicles.
With the exponential growth of EV points due to be seen in the coming years, electricians will be in demand to update homes, install on forecourts and even provide charging points in industrial locations. With this additional pressure for new EV points, HSS Training are concerned that without an uptake in new training serious risk may present itself. The road to fully electric vehicles will be fraught with learning curves but HSS Training are convinced that significant risks can be avoided by simply ensuring all electricians receive the correct training to ensure their competency to install and maintain EV points.
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