The team at XS Training explain more about why a flexible approach to training will benefit electrical professionals that want to make the transition to EV.
As the UK aims to become the fastest G7 country to decarbonise its roads by ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, electric vehicles are seen as their natural replacement. It is estimated that this year, 27% of all new vehicles registered will be battery powered. As technology improves range and reduces charge times, EVs are becoming more usable on a day-to-day basis for their users.
In order to keep these vehicles running, the UK needs to continue to expand the EV charging network. In February of this year, it was reported that 1,250 new charging points were added to the Zap-Map website for publicly available charging, and this figure doesn’t consider the amount of new private chargers installed in homes and offices around the country. EV charging is potentially big business for any electrical contractor.
Standards need to improve as the network expands
As with any rapid growth area, potential for disaster also comes hand-in-hand. A OZEV audit, detailed by the IET website, highlighted that almost 18% of the 371 installations checked were shown to have dangerous or potentially dangerous issues. Unfortunately for an industry that prides itself on quality, only 32% of the charge points sampled were deemed to be ‘satisfactory’.
Options and opportunities for qualified electricians
In order to improve the standards of installations, City & Guilds has updated its Level 3 Electric Vehicle Charging Installations qualification to include more depth than before with regards to designing EV equipment and selecting appropriate protection for the safety of the user.
There is also a focus on the innovations made within the new Prosumer Installation chapter of BS 7671. A major change to the entry requirements for this qualification, unlike previously, is the need to be a qualified electrician in order to undertake the course.
XS Training is looking to provide a more flexible approach to achieving the City & Guilds 2921-31 Design and Installation of Domestic and Small Commercial Electric Vehicle Charging Installations qualification by offering an online version of the course.
This development will allow delegates to work at their own pace, with up to six months from the time of registration to complete the course. Upon completion, one day of attendance to the XS Training Centre in West Yorkshire will be required so that participants can complete the online exam and written assignment in order to gain the certificate.
This modern approach to course delivery and completion will be of particular benefit to electricians that want to upskill without a need for time away from site. XS Training’s expert team of qualified staff are on hand along the way to offer help and advice to make the process of completing the course as smooth as possible.
This qualification has been approved by ECS (Electrotechnical Certification Scheme), allowing existing gold card members to add it to their card in order to showcase their recognised ability to carry out EVC installation services across domestic and small commercial sites.
Get more details and dates for the XS Training EV course here
