EV, hybrid servicing and repairs set to cost more, take longer under new laws
New regulations for technicians working on electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids in New South Wales could cause delays and see service costs rise due to a shortage of technicians meeting the new qualifications.
The proposed rules would require mechanics to complete additional battery tech and safety courses before they can legally work on EVs and hybrids.
The regulations have been proposed as part of a new Act to replace the current Motor Dealers and Repairers Regulation which expires on September 1, 2025.
Should these pass into law, the rules will be applied to new mechanics and the 49,000 existing mechanics in NSW – which make up one third of the total number across Australia – even those having already worked on EVs.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
The regulations extend to technicians carrying out 'steering, suspension and wheel alignment work' meaning tyre fitters may also be required to take the course in order to legally perform a wheel alignment on an EV.
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) estimates only around 10 per cent of technicians in NSW have completed any EV training.
The AAAA also argues it's more challenging for technicians in regional areas to access the training and take the time out of their workshop to complete it.
The regulations have been proposed by New South Wales (NSW) Fair Trading, which provides the regulatory framework for the buying, selling and repair of motor vehicles across the state.
There are around 7.4 million cars on NSW roads, according to Fair Trading's data. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
The official course is the AURSS00064 Battery Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set.
It costs between $1500–$3000 and takes six days to complete, with some education providers advertising it over a four-day period.
It's not just EV servicing and repair work affected, with hybrids – which also feature a high-voltage battery – also impacted.
The proposed laws state that a tradesperson with certificates in three repair classes, such as electrical accessory fitting work, radiator repair work, and steering, suspension, and wheel alignment work, will also be prohibited from working on hybrid vehicles until they complete a mandatory course, dubbed Depowering and reinitialising BEVs – AURETH101 Depower and reinitialise battery. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
According to the AAAA the regulations, revealed in a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS), are 'deeply flawed' and need to be reviewed.
'This is not just a workforce issue — it's a consumer issue,' AAAA chief executive officer Stuart Charity in a statement.
'This rushed approach will reduce access to essential repair services and increase costs for NSW motorists.'
Mr Charity suggests the 'rushed approach' included a lack of consultation with industry groups such as the AAAA, which recommends 'transition plans' for EV training in NSW.
'We agree that technicians working on high-voltage vehicles must be trained and competent — and that's already happening,' Mr Charity added. 'But this proposal creates a legislative barrier that will drastically reduce the number of qualified service providers overnight. It will drive up costs for consumers and cause serious delays in repair and servicing.'
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It is the 10th annual concept designed by the company's academy school students, and honours the company's 130th anniversary. The students transformed from the Superb Combi wagon into a ute by shortening the roof and roof rails, modifying the B- and C-pillars, and reinforcing the body. Naturally, there's a new wall and windscreen behind the rear seats to separate the tray from the cabin. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. There's also a new tailgate that, at the push of a button, slides out via a rack-and-pinion system to extend cargo tray. When extended, the two bikes housed in the tray-mounted rack slide down from 35 degrees to nearly horizontal to make loading and unloading easier. Overall length, at 4901mm, is unchanged from the regular Superb wagon. Another bike can stored on the roof rack, while the right rear door has sprouted an extra door handle as it slides back, like on a people mover, rather swinging outwards on the standard wagon. To keep track of movements of the bike racing team there are tablet displays on the dashboard and ahead of the passenger's seat, and a permanent internet connection. A radio for communication with the team is installed at the front of transmission tunnel, and a speaker is placed near the rear air conditioning vents. The seat behind the driver has been removed and replaced by a chilled esky, and the roof lining contains storage nets for snacks and bandages. The car's strong bike focus has been done to celebrate the company's history. Skoda began life as a bicycle manufacturer in 1895 as Lauren & Klement, named after founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement. Car making began a decade later, and the company was bought by Skoda, an arms manufacturer, in 1925. Both the interior and exterior are finished in red, gold and black trim that's inspired by the original L&K emblem. 3D printed L&K badges are used both inside and out in place of Skoda's fast-disappearing winged arrow logo. The Superb's plug-in hybrid drivetrain is left untouched, and makes a combined 150kW and 350Nm from its 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor combo. The 25.7kWh battery pack has WLTP range rating of 100km. MORE: Everything Skoda Content originally sourced from:
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We obviously haven't played in the performance market before at commercial vehicles, but from a Volkswagen perspective, in GTI, we are one of the top markets globally, and always have been in that space, so we always get a lot of attention from the global guys when it comes to performance models." Volkswagen Australia says about 20 per cent of its initial annual allocation of ID. Buzz vehicles is already spoken for, but its sales ambitions are relatively low for what is a relatively niche model, at a minimum of 100 per month – much less than the traditional volume of other VW commercial vans including the small Caddy, mid-size Transporter and large Crafter. First released in Europe in June 2022 and previously due on sale in Australia in 2024, the ID. Buzz was finally launched here in December, initially in short-wheelbase rear-wheel drive Cargo commercial van and both SWB five-seat and LWB seven-seat Pro people mover guises. Initial customer deliveries were held back until April to ensure all vehicles received a software update bringing wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so to May this year fewer than 100 have now been registered. Volkswagen projects 55-60 per cent of buyers will opt for the Pro people movers, with the remaining 40-45 per cent going for the Cargo van. And of the almost 8000 expressions of interest it has received, most prospective buyers are keen on SWB vehicles and 70 per cent of orders are for people movers with a trademark two-tone paint scheme. The range-topping, long-wheelbase GTX is not only quicker and more powerful than all other ID. Buzz variants, thanks to its dual-motor powertrain that makes it the only all-wheel drive version, but it offers a higher 1600kg braked towing capacity and scores almost every option as standard in a 300mm-longer body with the practicality of seven seats. "The GTX has the benefit of being 4Motion [AWD] as well. This is very much a lifestyle vehicle that leans into some of those specific elements, and whether they go to the snow or the beach or so on, customers in Australia do have a preference for all-wheel drive," said Volkswagen Group Australia acting general manager of corporate communications, Daniel DeGasperi. "The GTX's higher towing capacity of up to 1.6 tonnes also means that while we're not talking about something that tows 3.5 tonnes like our Amarok, people do tow jet skis and small boats and vans." The GTX employs the same 86kWh lithium-ion battery as all other ID. Buzz variants, but adds a front-mounted electric motor to offer not only AWD, but total outputs of 250kW of power and 590Nm of torque. This results in a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.4 seconds and 450km of electric range under the WLTP cycle. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from: At least 20 per cent of Australian customers for the Volkswagen ID. Buzz electric van and people mover range are expected to choose the more powerful, dual-motor all-wheel drive GTX performance flagship – more than in almost any other market – despite its near-$20,000 price premium at a hefty $109,990 before on-road costs. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia director Nathan Johnson said local demand for the GTX will reflect the popularity of GTI hot hatch versions of the venerable VW Golf in this market. "With GTX, one in five [ID. Buzz sales] is our expectation – so roughly 20 per cent – and that will be one of the highest penetration rates for GTX in any market," he said at the recently launch of the ID. Buzz GTX. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "We're confident that it'll be quite high. We obviously haven't played in the performance market before at commercial vehicles, but from a Volkswagen perspective, in GTI, we are one of the top markets globally, and always have been in that space, so we always get a lot of attention from the global guys when it comes to performance models." Volkswagen Australia says about 20 per cent of its initial annual allocation of ID. Buzz vehicles is already spoken for, but its sales ambitions are relatively low for what is a relatively niche model, at a minimum of 100 per month – much less than the traditional volume of other VW commercial vans including the small Caddy, mid-size Transporter and large Crafter. First released in Europe in June 2022 and previously due on sale in Australia in 2024, the ID. Buzz was finally launched here in December, initially in short-wheelbase rear-wheel drive Cargo commercial van and both SWB five-seat and LWB seven-seat Pro people mover guises. Initial customer deliveries were held back until April to ensure all vehicles received a software update bringing wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so to May this year fewer than 100 have now been registered. Volkswagen projects 55-60 per cent of buyers will opt for the Pro people movers, with the remaining 40-45 per cent going for the Cargo van. And of the almost 8000 expressions of interest it has received, most prospective buyers are keen on SWB vehicles and 70 per cent of orders are for people movers with a trademark two-tone paint scheme. The range-topping, long-wheelbase GTX is not only quicker and more powerful than all other ID. Buzz variants, thanks to its dual-motor powertrain that makes it the only all-wheel drive version, but it offers a higher 1600kg braked towing capacity and scores almost every option as standard in a 300mm-longer body with the practicality of seven seats. "The GTX has the benefit of being 4Motion [AWD] as well. This is very much a lifestyle vehicle that leans into some of those specific elements, and whether they go to the snow or the beach or so on, customers in Australia do have a preference for all-wheel drive," said Volkswagen Group Australia acting general manager of corporate communications, Daniel DeGasperi. "The GTX's higher towing capacity of up to 1.6 tonnes also means that while we're not talking about something that tows 3.5 tonnes like our Amarok, people do tow jet skis and small boats and vans." The GTX employs the same 86kWh lithium-ion battery as all other ID. Buzz variants, but adds a front-mounted electric motor to offer not only AWD, but total outputs of 250kW of power and 590Nm of torque. This results in a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.4 seconds and 450km of electric range under the WLTP cycle. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from: At least 20 per cent of Australian customers for the Volkswagen ID. Buzz electric van and people mover range are expected to choose the more powerful, dual-motor all-wheel drive GTX performance flagship – more than in almost any other market – despite its near-$20,000 price premium at a hefty $109,990 before on-road costs. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia director Nathan Johnson said local demand for the GTX will reflect the popularity of GTI hot hatch versions of the venerable VW Golf in this market. "With GTX, one in five [ID. Buzz sales] is our expectation – so roughly 20 per cent – and that will be one of the highest penetration rates for GTX in any market," he said at the recently launch of the ID. Buzz GTX. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "We're confident that it'll be quite high. We obviously haven't played in the performance market before at commercial vehicles, but from a Volkswagen perspective, in GTI, we are one of the top markets globally, and always have been in that space, so we always get a lot of attention from the global guys when it comes to performance models." Volkswagen Australia says about 20 per cent of its initial annual allocation of ID. Buzz vehicles is already spoken for, but its sales ambitions are relatively low for what is a relatively niche model, at a minimum of 100 per month – much less than the traditional volume of other VW commercial vans including the small Caddy, mid-size Transporter and large Crafter. First released in Europe in June 2022 and previously due on sale in Australia in 2024, the ID. Buzz was finally launched here in December, initially in short-wheelbase rear-wheel drive Cargo commercial van and both SWB five-seat and LWB seven-seat Pro people mover guises. Initial customer deliveries were held back until April to ensure all vehicles received a software update bringing wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so to May this year fewer than 100 have now been registered. Volkswagen projects 55-60 per cent of buyers will opt for the Pro people movers, with the remaining 40-45 per cent going for the Cargo van. And of the almost 8000 expressions of interest it has received, most prospective buyers are keen on SWB vehicles and 70 per cent of orders are for people movers with a trademark two-tone paint scheme. The range-topping, long-wheelbase GTX is not only quicker and more powerful than all other ID. Buzz variants, thanks to its dual-motor powertrain that makes it the only all-wheel drive version, but it offers a higher 1600kg braked towing capacity and scores almost every option as standard in a 300mm-longer body with the practicality of seven seats. "The GTX has the benefit of being 4Motion [AWD] as well. This is very much a lifestyle vehicle that leans into some of those specific elements, and whether they go to the snow or the beach or so on, customers in Australia do have a preference for all-wheel drive," said Volkswagen Group Australia acting general manager of corporate communications, Daniel DeGasperi. "The GTX's higher towing capacity of up to 1.6 tonnes also means that while we're not talking about something that tows 3.5 tonnes like our Amarok, people do tow jet skis and small boats and vans." The GTX employs the same 86kWh lithium-ion battery as all other ID. Buzz variants, but adds a front-mounted electric motor to offer not only AWD, but total outputs of 250kW of power and 590Nm of torque. This results in a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.4 seconds and 450km of electric range under the WLTP cycle. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from:
