As heavy-duty battery-electric trucks proliferate, the need for qualified repair technicians is growing, and training programs and companies are rushing to adapt.

“In the last six months, the demand on the battery-electric side has just been crazy, the amount of growth that we’ve seen,” said Jason Shearer, VP for Service at the Velocity Vehicle Group, which operates heavy-duty vehicle dealerships and service centers in several states. “Even as much as we prepare, we’re seeing a huge amount of intake of these electric units, and we have been very much on the forefront of training and getting people experienced in this stuff.”

Velocity has partnered with Rio Hondo College, a community college in Whittier, California, to develop a two-year apprenticeship program to train workers to service heavy-duty EVs. Each entrant gets access to a toolbox, which will become their personal property when they finish the program.

Velocity is also reaching out to high school counselors to let them know about the training program, which can lead to a six-figure-paying job. “You could be part of this whole other industry that doesn’t necessarily always require a four-year degree,” said Shearer.

Rio Hondo’s EV servicing program dates back to the Volvo LIGHTS (Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions) project, which started in 2019, said John Frala, Coordinator of the college’s electric transportation program.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) allocates about $5 million per year for workforce training and development. “To date, the CEC has invested more than $44 million in workforce skills and capacity building through various institutions and partnerships for more than 32,000 trainees, faculty and trainers,” said Marc Perry, a Project Manager with the CEC’s Clean Transportation Program.

Source: Velocity Vehicle Group, GovTech