GTG is offering a range of courses on alternatively fuelled vehicles – and we’ve heard from one learner on how he hopes the training will drive his career forward.
GTG is stepping up its commitment to an alternatively fuelled automotive future by offering a range of electric and hybrid vehicle awareness courses.
Both courses are accredited by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), guaranteeing the highest training standards for automotive learners.
This drive to improve the uptake of electric and hybrid vehicle courses is at the heart of automotive training in Scotland and across the UK, with Glasgow’s hosting of the COP26 global climate summit taking place during this month.
IMI Level 2 Award in Preparing Heavy Electric/Hybrid Vehicles
Firstly, GTG Glasgow is offering the IMI Level 2 award in Preparing Heavy Electric/Hybrid Vehicles for Repair, which is aimed at giving training providers and employers an introduction to the knowledge, understanding and practical skills required for working on electric and hybrid vehicles, including larger vehicles such as buses and coaches.
This award-level course is aimed at automotive technical learners in both the 16-18 and 19+ age categories and will involve working on electric and hybrid vehicles in a multitude of operational environments, such as in a workshop, or out off-site providing assistance.
The course is also suited to those wishing to work with potentially damaged electric and hybrid repair systems.
There is one mandatory unit, covering:
- Heavy electric and hybrid vehicle system components and operation
- Hazards surrounding heavy electric/hybrid vehicles
- Reducing the risks to yourself and others when working on heavy electric/hybrid vehicles
- Making a heavy electric/hybrid vehicle high-energy system ‘safe’ to work on
- Reinstating a heavy electric/hybrid vehicle high-energy system
Technicians achieving their IMI Level 2 Repair award can then move on to the next qualification, bolstered by picking up the essential introductory knowledge for working on electric and hybrid powertrains on a diverse range of vehicles – from city car batteries to the greener buses and coaches of the future.
IMI Level 3 Award in Preparing Electric/Hybrid Vehicles
This Level 3 vocational qualification gives those already working in the automotive industry with the upscaled knowledge, understanding and practical skills – and building on what has been learned in the Level 2 IMI qualification – to work on heavy electric and hybrid vehicles, including buses and coaches.
Aimed at learners in the 16-18 and 19+ age groups, those undertaking the course will have an interest in gaining the knowledge to carry out 'safe’ reinstating work and replace components on heavy electric/hybrid vehicles.
The Level 3 course, much like the Level 2, is designed for those learners who may encounter heavy electric/hybrid vehicles within an operational environment. It’s also set up to provide the knowledge and skills required to work safely around a vehicle that may have had damage to its high-energy or electrical system.
This course would be best suited to:
- Vehicle maintenance and repair technicians
- Vehicle damage repair technicians
To take this course, prospective candidates will need to possess appropriate heavy vehicle operation and repair skills at Level 3.
The main learning objectives in this course are:
- Preparing heavy electric/hybrid vehicles for repair
- Heavy electric/hybrid vehicle system repair and replacement
And by the end of the course, a candidate should have knowledge of the following aspects:
- Making a heavy electric/hybrid vehicle ‘safe’ to work on
- Reinstating a heavy electric or hybrid vehicle
- Working safely on a heavy electric or hybrid vehicle
- Using the correct information, tools and equipment according to the task
- Removing and replacing (non-live) high-energy electrical system components
- Recording information, and making suitable recommendations
Once candidates have gained this qualification, they can progress to further study or to manufacturer training on heavy electric/hybrid vehicle diagnosis and repair.
John McCulloch, automotive training specialist at GTG, outlined the importance of the centre offering training courses for both trainee technicians and experienced industry professionals.
He said: ‘There has been a silent growth in electric vehicle sales and automotive businesses need to have trained professionals in place to support the maintenance of the increasing number of alternatively fuelled cars on the road.
‘At GTG we offer training courses delivered to the highest industry standards, which are IMI-accredited, and delivered by experts in the field of automotive.’
Find out more about hybrid & electric training at GTG here or contact us at info@gtg.co.uk.