TAFE NSW is delivering the automotive workforce of the future, working with industry to ensure mechanics have the skills needed to support the growth of electric vehicles in the light truck market.
After launching a full battery-electric truck in Australia, Hyundai Motor Company Australia reached out to TAFE NSW to deliver training for their Technical Service team, to upskill their workers in maintaining and servicing these new vehicles.
In response, TAFE NSW created and delivered a customised half day course in air brakes to Hyundai’s national technical team, using one of the new Mighty EV trucks to facilitate training.
TAFE NSW Automotive teacher Chris Isaac says partnerships between industry and training organisations are essential to ensuring there are enough qualified mechanics available to service these electric fleets in the future.
“TAFE NSW has been preparing for a shift to electric vehicles for some time and our EV courses are designed to meet industry need. With the huge growth in the sales of electric vehicles in the last 12 months, as the sales volume increases, so too does the service volume,” he said.
“This means we need competent technicians to carry out the work to the required standard. With a primary focus on safe disconnection and reconnection of high-voltage componentry, along with service and maintenance protocols, our courses support the industry in these efforts.”
“We are committed to supporting the industry, and we are constantly adapting courses to reflect industry changes and demands.”
Hyundai have also agreed to loan TAFE NSW one of the Mighty EV trucks to facilitate future training in this area.
Hyundai Motor Company Australia Technical Service Manager Abdel Dabboussi says the staff found the training to be invaluable, and the company looks forward strengthening the partnership with TAFE NSW.
“Hyundai Motor Company Australia has a long-standing partnership with TAFE NSW dating back to 2011,” he said.
“This partnership includes the donation of ex pre-production Hyundai vehicles, which the TAFE NSW network put to good use by mechanical apprentices as part of their hands on training.”
“With the recent introduction of our brand’s first EV truck, the MIGHTY Electric, we realised the need to upskill our Hyundai technical teams on commercial systems specific to heavy vehicles, which is why we reached out to TAFE NSW.”
