Hybrid/Electric Car Awareness Course

This wednesday, the boys took part in an awareness course on hybrid and electric vehicles, and the safety protocols that must be followed when managing these vehicles.

Tom, Alfie, Matt and myself, attended the Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Awareness and Safety Course given by the Retail Motor Industry Federation. 

The course started going into detail describing the multiple types of hybrid/electric vehicles, including what engines and/or batteries they have, what current they use and what differentiates each type of vehicle from each other, which is important in vehicle identification. Safety protocol was then covered, with much importance on putting up safety signage around the car, communication when working on the car, wearing specific clothing, using gloves and visors and utilizing insulated tools when dealing with hybrid/electric cars.

After this, the course then involved looking at a hybrid car, specifically under the bonnet, where parts of the engine such as the battery, switches and points to measure the voltage were identified. Then tests involving a multimeter were used to show the voltage of the recently turned-off car to show the importance of the safety process, emphasising leaving the car to fully turn off before handling.

For us, this course isn’t box-ticking, it’s practical safety. We spend our days tracing water into cabins, boots and bulkheads, and on hybrids and EVs that can put us close to high-voltage components and orange-cable runs. Knowing how to identify the system, let it power down, isolate it correctly and set up clear signage means we can inspect, dry and decontaminate without risking the car or our team. It also helps us make the right call if we find moisture near inverters, DC-DC converters or battery vents – stabilise the area, document it and refer to the manufacturer or an EV specialist where appropriate. That’s how we keep leak repairs safe and professional on modern electrified cars. 

In conclusion, the course was very informative and helped to emphasise the absolute importance of prioritising safety when handling and identifying hybrid/electric vehicles.