Metropolitan Police technicians have begun training to work on electric vehicles (EVs) as the organisation plans an EV fleet.

The first 12 technicians from the Metropolitan Police completed the IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry) EV 2.2 course at Hayes Engineering in Erith.

The technicians then went on to complete EV Level 3 at Babcock Critical Services, Park Royal, London, to become fully qualified to work on and repair electric or plug-in electric vehicles.

Training is provided by Alliance Automotive Group UK’s technical training partner Steve Carter.

The IMI EV/PHEV training courses are broken down into levels 1, 2/2.2 and 3. The EV 2.2 course is the awareness and knowledge-based training for those that will encounter damaged or broken down electric or plug-in electric vehicles. The EV Level 3 course is an additional day of training which builds upon the knowledge gained from EV 2.2 and on completion delegates are qualified to repair damaged or broken down electric or plug-in electric vehicles.

By the end of 2018 the Metropolitan Police will have at least 300 electric vehicles on the road, so the need for specific EV training was high on the agenda.

A further 40 technicians are booked to attend the EV Level 1 awareness qualification, which will take place on in August 2018.