SEPTEMBER 2023 AFTERMARKET 61 www.aftermarketonline.net the South East. However, it is a concern that there are also some big gaps in much of the central part of England as well as a number of London Boroughs.” The study also considered access to EV-qualified technicians in relation to the greatest concentration of charge points, and gaps were found here too, as Emma observed: “While the top two local authorities for public charge points – Westminster and City of London – probably don’t have a huge demand for technicians, the fact that all other local authorities with the most public charge points have less than 2% of their automotive workforce qualified to work on electric vehicles could seriously damage public confidence and undermine the transition to zero. However, this issue can be addressed. There are more than 235 centres in the IMI network that can deliver EV qualifications, providing a significant opportunity to fill the skills gap and keep technicians safe.” The IMI expects 77,000 IMI TechSafe-qualified technicians will be needed by 2030, which will rise to 89,000 by 2032. To read the report, visit: https://tide.theimi.org.uk/industr y-latest/research/electricevolution UK automotive sector calls for EV industrial strategy The launch of Manifesto 2030: Automotive growth for a zero emission future at the annual SMMT International Summit in London in June saw the body, on behalf of the UK automotive sector, call on all UK political parties to get behind five pledges as part of an overall strategy with a view to turbocharging the move to EVs, including creating the conditions to increase EV production by a factor of 10 between now and the end of the next parliament. The pledges are as follows: 1. A Green Automotive Transformation Strategy for a stronger economy 2.Net zero mobility for everyone 3. Green skills for a greener future 4.Made in Britain – Made for the world 5.Powering the UK clean tech revolution According to the body, there is also a need to increase the reach of the EV supply chain in order to tackle global competition, with other countries also looking to entice attract green manufacturing. Tariffs are another issue, with more strict local content rules under the UK-EU trade deal set to apply in six months’ time. These could render British-made EVs uncompetitive on the continent, while also increasing EV prices for UK buyers. Speaking at the Summit, SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: “The government has set the industry tough targets and we are committed to meeting them. But we are in the middle of the most fiercely competitive investment landscape of a generation and need a UK response, urgently, using every policy, every fiscal and regulatory lever, to make Britain the most attractive place to invest. The automotive industry rises to every challenge, so we set out today a challenge to all political parties: back us with the right conditions and we will turn our obligations into opportunities for our industry, for jobs, for the environment and for the UK.” To read Manifesto 2030: Automotive Growth and a Zero Emission Future, visit: www.smmt.co.uk/wpcontent/uploads/sites/2/SMMTManifesto-2030-Automotive-Grow th-for-a-Zero-Emission-Future.pdf Top-end EV study: Tesla Model S gets best average range Finally, a new study has shown that the Tesla Model S has the best range when compared with other high-end EVs, boasting an average of 395 miles. When it comes to EVs, it’s not just daily drivers where you need to worry about range – issues apply to higher performance vehicles too. With this in mind, the survey from Moneybarn has examined the stats from a number of electric vehicles, and come up with the following top five (see chart below). At the other end of the scale, looking at cars with the shortest range, the Mercedes SLS AMG Electric offers just 155 miles on average. For more information, visit : www.moneybarn.com/blog/latest -motor-news/supercar-mileage/ Model Battery size (kWh) Average range 1 Tesla Model S 100 395 miles 2 Rimac Nevera 120 342 miles 3 Lotus Evija 93 334 miles 4 Tesla Model 3 75 310 miles 5 Pininfarina Battista 120 295 miles
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