Ryan FowlerA shortage of qualified electric vehicle technicians could inhibit the uptake of cleaner vehicles across the logistics sector, according to Logistics UK, which says operators will be reluctant to invest without confidence that fleets can be maintained reliably.
The warning follows new figures from the Institute of the Motor Industry showing that only one in four UK technicians is currently qualified to work on electric vehicles.
Arthur Gribbin, engineering policy lead at Logistics UK, said vehicle downtime remains a critical concern for operators.
He said: “Every minute a vehicle is off the road costs operators money, and commercial viability is the overriding factor that influences an organisations’ decision to invest in electric vehicles.
“Anything that introduces doubt that operational requirements and customers’ needs will not be met using an electric fleet means operators will take the only financially viable decision: wait until these doubts are removed.”
Logistics UK said the skills gap risks becoming a practical barrier to decarbonisation, particularly for operators running time-sensitive and high-utilisation fleets where maintenance delays can quickly impact service levels and costs.
Gribbin said Government action is needed to address both infrastructure and skills challenges if decarbonisation targets are to be met.
He added: “If the Government is serious about meeting its decarbonisation objectives, it needs to create an environment that makes switching to electric vehicles an easy win.
“This means investing in charging infrastructure so logistics operators have access to the power they need both now and, in the future, but also investing in the skills that allows operators to keep their vehicles on the road.”
