Skill-Up or Be Left Behind, The EV Movement Is Here to Stay!

ICE Vehicle Mechanic must re-skill to embrace EV 

A while back, we published our report, titled: EVs - The Future of Workshops and Mechanics. In this report, we highlighted the slow but inevitable shift in both consumers and the market towards embracing Electric Vehicles (EVs), and how this might soon leave the current breed of conventional workshop mechanics somewhat redundant.

Perhaps the only option left for them lay in the foreseeable boom in tyre consumption – EVs generally consume more tyres than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles thanks to their higher torque generation and heavier weight. We also spoke about the relatively absent support from the government in helping to re-equip local mechanics with the knowledge required to stay relevant.

EV work environment vs ICE work environment 

Thankfully, a loyal reader and follower of CariCarz.com, Steve Voo, reached out and enlightened us that such assistance programs have been made available, though indirectly, through private re-skilling centres. In fact, Steve himself was one of the lucky few who had undertaken such a course, and he pointed us in the direction of the Autotronics Centre of Excellence Sdn Bhd. We spoke with the person in charge there, one Mr Tan, who gave us details of such programs offered by the centre.

Through the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia (Kementerian Sumber Manusia Malaysia), the Subang Jaya-based Autotronics Centre offers both the SKM 2 and SKM 3 for Hybrid and Electric Vehicle System Management (HEVS) courses. These course sees participants taught the following:

1. Applying concepts and principles of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle safety precautions

2. Perform preventive and predictive maintenance related to hybrid and electric vehicles

3. Diagnosing mechanical, electrical and electronics system faults of various types of hybrid and electric vehicles

Participants who successfully completed these SKM 2 and SKM 3 for HEVS Car Servicing courses receive accreditation from the UK’s City and Guilds certification body, as well as a Level 3 Malaysian Skills Certificate in Hybrid and Electric Car Service (G452-007-3:2019) by the Department of Skills branch of the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia.

Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Course Structure

This, in turn, aligns with the National Occupational Skills Standards as set by the Ministry, thus making it suitable for working adults in the automotive industry, as well as university and college graduates or existing workers undergoing a career transition.

The fee for the SKM Level 3 Certification stands at RM4,999. However mechanics who already hold an SKM Level 2 certification enjoy a full subsidy of said fee by the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia.

Those without an SKM Level 2 certification, on the other hand, fret not. You only need to produce RM500 to register and enrol into any centre – i.e. Autotronics Centre – offering the SKM Level 2 course. After which,  you will be eligible to complete the SKM Level 3 course with a full subsidy from the Ministry.

The SKM Level 3 course lasts for about three months in total, whereas individuals undergoing both SKM Level 2 and 3 courses require a slightly longer term of four months. Though the courses for each level actually only takes up about four days, the total completion time stands longer due to available examination dates as scheduled by the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia. 

Sample SKM Certification

In short, this is indeed good news, and we hope all mechanics, as well as other existing members of the local vehicle after-sales market space, would seize this opportunity to upskill and future-proof themselves.

By the way, those keen to enrol with the Autotronics Centre, and those who wish for more details on the courses it offers, can do so by reaching Mr Tan at +6012-324 0366.