The UK is at risk of 44,000 shortages of EV mechanics as the electric car revolution gathers pace.

Britain is facing a severe shortage of mechanics trained to service electric vehicles, raising concerns that the country’s transition to clean transport may outstrip the number of workers needed to support it.

New analysis from the Institute of the Motor Industry suggests that the UK could be short of 44,000 EV-trained specialists when petrol and diesel car production closes, under current government policies.

While ministers have reaffirmed plans to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine cars by 2035, only around a quarter of UK mechanics are trained to work on electric vehicles. The gap between policy desire and workforce readiness is widening, especially among small independent garages.

The main concern is the uneven distribution of EV technology. A limited number of trained professionals are employed by large national chains such as Kwik-Fit, which have the scale and resources to invest in training and benefit from service contracts with corporate EV fleets.

In contrast, many small, independent garages, which make up the bulk of the UK’s car repair network, remain reluctant to invest in EV training. Owners cited a lack of local demand, high training costs and uncertainty over the pace of change.

In areas where adoption of electric vehicles remains low, especially outside major urban centers, garage operators say the business case for staff development is not compelling.

For many workshop owners, the decision comes down to economics. Regular maintenance work – such as servicing engines, clutches and fuel systems – is still a source of income, but these parts are less common in electric vehicles.

EVs generally require less maintenance and fewer moving parts, reducing both the frequency and amount of repair work. Even routine inspections such as MoTs tend to involve fewer staff, further destroying the income of independent garages.

This structural change creates uncertainty across the sector, as some operators worry that investing in EV capacity may fail to deliver sufficient returns in the short term.

The transition is also created by regional disparities in EV adoption. In some parts of the UK, particularly in rural areas, demand remains limited, reinforcing reluctance among small businesses to invest.

Consumers are already experiencing the results. In some cases, EV owners have been forced to travel long distances to access suitable repair facilities, as local garages do not have the necessary expertise or equipment.

This highlights the growing disconnect between national policy and local infrastructure, both in terms of charging networks and service capacity.

Wider uncertainty over global EV policy adds to the uncertainty. Changes in international markets, including changes in electric vehicle trends in the United States and Europe, have made some business owners wary of committing to long-term investments.

At the same time, the UK government has introduced measures such as expanded charging infrastructure and new road pricing proposals for EVs, but these have not yet fully translated into strong consumer demand.

Despite these challenges, industry analysts believe that the transition to electric vehicles is ultimately inevitable.

Even if policy times change, manufacturers are already investing heavily in electrification, and EVs are expected to dominate new car sales over the next decade. Quentin Le Hetet of motoring analysts GiPA suggests that electric cars could outnumber petrol and diesel cars on UK roads by the mid-2030s.

However, the pace of that change will largely depend on whether supporting industries, including repair and maintenance, can continue.

Experts warn that without targeted support, independent garages may be left behind, with large operators and manufacturer-authorised service centers taking an increasing share of the market.

Peter Wells, of the Center for Automotive Industry Research, said the change could reshape the industry, as manufacturers continue to control access to maintenance data and systems.

The trend raises concerns about the competitiveness, prices and long-term viability of the small businesses that form the backbone of the UK car repair industry.

The Institute of the Motor Industry has called for increased funding to support workforce training and development, warning that without intervention, the skills gap could become a major obstacle to the UK’s ambitions.

For policy makers, the challenge is clear: to ensure that the transition to electric vehicles is not only technologically feasible, but also economically and operationally sustainable.

In thousands of garages across the country, the message is equally loud; adapt to an electric future or risk being left behind as the auto industry undergoes its most profound transformation in decades.