Why electric vehicle owners are pushing to drive change in how mechanics are trained

In the seven years Sean Hart has ownedhisNissan Leaf electric vehicle (EV), it hasn't needed many repairs, so he'sbeen able to get regular maintenance of tires and brakes done in Windsor, Ont.

But that may changeif he needs major repairs, because the Nissan dealership in the citydoesn't have a technician to do them. He'd instead have to take his EV toLondon.

"Yeah, it's unfortunatethat Nissan in Windsor still hasn't decided to sell or service the Leaf. I'm hoping they will soon," said Hart, also vice-president of the Electric Vehicle Society, about the dilemmafacing owners of electric and plug-in hybrid EV owners.

PinoMastroianni, chapter president of the EV Society Windsor-Essex, says while most new car dealerships in Windsor that carry EVscan service them, that's not the case with independentauto mechanics.

"Locally, I'm not aware of anyone who does anyof the extensive high-voltage repairs," saidMastroianni, who owns a Chevy Volt.

Mastroianni saidTesla will sometimes do service house calls, but some work still has to be done in Toronto, adding the auto company is opening a facility soon in London.

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Auto mechanic shops say there's little incentive to work on EVs, because of the complexity of dealing with them and therelatively few numbers on the road.

"There's a lot of electronics on these cars and there's a lot of schooling you've got to go to," saidMarc Thibert, manager of the Kipping Tire shop in downtown Windsor. "You also have to get the proper equipment not only for the vehicle itself, but for the technicians, for protective equipment as well, just because it's electric shock."

While EVs have fewer moving parts, Thibert said, thatcan prove to be a challenge to troubleshoot the electronics.

WATCH | Cara Clairman of Plug N' Go speak on the shortage of EV mechanics:

Cara Clairman from Plug'n Drive says EV mechanics are in short supply

3 years ago

Duration 0:36

So you own an EV. Good luck getting it serviced outside of a dealership. Cara Clairman from Plug'n Drive says more mechanics need to be trained on EVs and fast.

"I think we need to do a lot more training," said Cara Clairman, president and CEO of Plug N' Go, a non-profit organization aimed at promoting EVs.

"We need to really push that up across Ontario, where kids who go into colleges to learn to be a mechanic,learning about EVs alongside [internal combustion engines]or gas vehicles. And then we need to do some extra training for folks who are already mechanics."

We are looking at the potential ramping up of this program, what are the costs in terms of the facility and infrastructure.- Peter Wawrow, St. Clair College, on possibly adding EV training to mechanics program

St. Clair College is working to develop EV training as part ofits auto mechanics program.

"So we have to look at the technology involved in addressing that," said Peter Wawrow, St. Clair's director, appliedresearch and development."We are looking at the potential ramping up of this program, what are the costs in terms of the facility and infrastructure."

Wawrow said they are also pursuing research and development in battery production.

"The [Windsor-Essex] region itself is looking at attracting battery manufacturers, and we've been working closely with the region to understand what that entails and what kind of talent we need to develop in order to address that."

Wawrow said the college is also looking at adding the auto mechanics programto its apprenticeship program.

Derek Snider, owner and head mechanic at Heinz Garage, an auto repair shopin Windsor, realizes independent mechanics will have no choice but to offer service for EVs once production of new gas-powered vehicles are bannedin 2035.

"Someone like me, who has been doing this for 15 years, I'm going to have to keep up on my side of training to keep up," said Snider.