VACC: Don't Let a Death Be the Spark for Electric Vehicle Training

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – Aug 17, 2010: VACC, the peak Automotive Industry body in Victoria, has called on the Federal Government to urgently address concerns about hybrid and Electric Vehicles (EVs), before there is a death in a workshop.

VACC represents 5,500 small businesses in Victoria and Tasmania in the automotive retail, service and repair (RS&R) sector. With support from the newly formed Australian Automotive Industry Association (AAIA), VACC has called for immediate action to address critical issues relating to hybrid and electric vehicles:

Repair and service information to be made available to repairers immediately;

National standards to be discussed, implemented and enforced;

National training packages to be discussed, implemented and enforced;

A national forum called to provide all interested parties with an opportunity to share information and develop a coordinated approach for these vehicles.

“Cars know no boundaries. That is why any discussion on hybrid and electric vehicles has to be national,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.

“The Victorian Government has made some progress with an EV trial, but the next Federal Government has to take the lead on safety and standards. In our ‘Issues for the 2010 Federal Election’ we have called for a high level national conference to discuss this matter.”

“Repairers are crying out for the appropriate hybrid and EV training. They are professionals who regularly retrain in order to keep up with developments in the automotive industry. But they are being held back because their role in this issue has been underestimated.

“If we do not address these issues, consumers will be limited in their choice of which repairer they can use and mechanics, panel beaters, auto-electricians, towing operators, dismantlers and recyclers will not be able to do their jobs properly.

“We are concerned that if these matters are not addressed there could be a death in a workshop. And if that happens, the Federal Government will not be able to say VACC, you did not warn us, because we have,” Mr Purchase said.

To view VACC’s Issues for the 2010 Federal Election, go to vacc.com.au.