Automotive Technology

What Qualifications Do I Need to Work on Electric Vehicles?

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By: Lincoln Team
Learn the details about the specific qualifications a traditional auto mechanic needs to become an EV mechanic.

To become an electric vehicle mechanic, you need to thoroughly understand how EVs operate and what it takes to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair their systems. You need basic knowledge of lithium-ion batteries, and the electrical and mechanical systems that make an EV run. But before you acquire the technical skills, you need to have a passion for the cars, the technology, and the industry. Do you? Check out what you need to work on electric vehicles:

Personal Qualities that Will Make You a Good EV Mechanic

Curiosity About Electric Vehicles

Were you that kid taking things apart and putting them back together? Did your toys have gears, switches, and resistors? Maybe you were on the road to work as an EV mechanic your whole life! That innate curiosity will help you keep up with a rapidly evolving industry. EVs continually develop with new updates, components, and systems. Your curiosity will help keep you up to date.

Problem Solving Skills for EV Technology

While electric vehicles have some components that are common to traditional internal combustion engines, they definitely are not the same. Your problem-solving skills will help you navigate new terrain, identify issues, diagnose problems, and find solutions.

Analytical Thinking

Closely related to problem solving, analytical thinking helps you dive more deeply. When you’re analytical, you don’t settle for a good enough solution to an issue; you make sure you choose the best option. As an analytical thinker, you’re creative, innovative, and adaptable. Your analytical mind also helps you accurately assess how long a service will take so you can relay the info to coworkers and customers.

Manual Dexterity

Manual dexterity enables you to precisely handling the delicate electrical components, intricate wiring, and specialized tools of EV technology. You work in tight spaces and perform detailed tasks like soldering or connecting circuits, so you need a keen eye, steady hands, and fine motor skills. These skills ensure repairs and maintenance are performed accurately and safely.

Technical Skills Needed To Be An EV Mechanic

Knowledge of EV Mechanics and Tools

To qualify for a job as an automotive mechanic, you need to know about cars and how to use a variety of tools like wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, ratchet and socket sets, jacks, multimeters, brake bleeders, and engine hoists. To work on EVs, you need to use all those tools and more. EV equipment and tools need to allow for high voltage electricity and sophisticated diagnostic equipment. Among the tools you might use are:

  • Insulated Wrenches, Screwdrivers, and Pliers
  • Torque Wrenches
  • Electrical Connector Tools
  • Pin Extractors
  • Connector Crimpers
  • High-Voltage Safety Gloves
  • Advanced High Voltage Multimeters
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Battery Diagnostic Tools
  • Battery Analyzers and Cell Balancers
  • Circuit Tracers
  • High Voltage Probes
  • Thermal Imaging Cameras
  • Cooling System Tools
  • Software Diagnostic Tools
  • EV-Specific Diagnostic Software
  • Insulation Resistance Tester

Understanding of EV Batteries

Electric vehicle mechanics must thoroughly understand the safety procedures for working on batteries.

Electric vehicles run on lithium-ion batteries, the same batteries used to power electronics like your cell phone or laptop, but obviously a lot bigger. Lithium-ion batteries are built to last longer than the batteries used in traditional vehicles and usually require only maintenance and repairs, not replacement. Like your electronics, an electric vehicle will need to be charged to power up the battery again. You also need to understand how the battery and braking system work together. Braking systems in an electric vehicle are regenerative, which means that the kinetic energy they generate is also used to power the battery.

EV Industry Software

Electric vehicles are like giant computers—they rely on software to make various systems function. Many of the internal components, such as steering and navigation, safety and security, and the entertainment and connectivity console, are all powered by software. As an electric vehicle mechanic, you need to know how to navigate this software and how to make updates. And although EV manufacturers have similar onboard toolkits and connectivity software packages, they’re different enough so you need to be able to pivot from one to another.

System Diagnostics of EVs

There are several issues that might affect the performance, safety, and longevity of electric vehicles. To be an EV technician, you need to know how to diagnose them. Using diagnostic tools, you check on battery health and capacity. You ensure that all cells in the battery pack are balanced for voltage and capacity. You also regularly check on the safety and integrity of high-voltage components like wiring, connectors, and insulation. And you measure the resistance of insulation materials to make sure there aren’t any short circuits. Some additional tests you might run include:

  • Inverter and Motor Performance Test
  • Drive System Diagnostics
  • Battery Management System Diagnostics
  • Software Diagnostics
  • Electrical Circuit Continuity Test
  • Regenerative Braking System Test
  • Thermal Management System Test
  • Charging System Diagnostics
  • HVAC System Diagnostics
  • Leakage Current Test
  • Communication Network Test

Credentials for EV Technicians Through ASE

To enhance your qualifications for an electric vehicle technician job, you could also earn Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) EV certifications. These credentials indicate to potential employers that you’ve put your time and effort into learning about the repair and upgrade of electric vehicles. For a part of the industry that is new and developing rapidly, this can help you stand out from other candidates during the job search.

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