Staying relevant: Mohd Shazwan setting up a tyre for a customer at the workshop in Kepala Batas, Penang. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
KEPALA BATAS: Old-school mechanics are facing the winds of change as they are increasingly confronted with cars that have no engine.Instead of a typical internal combustion engine, electric vehicles (EVs) sport either two or four electric motors that power the wheels.
Workshop chief mechanic Mohd Shazwan Ariffin, 37, readily admits that he is stumped by this, and as such will not be able to offer much assistance if owners of these vehicles seek his help.
While time may be on his side, he said vocational training institutions in the public and private sectors need to start developing training programmes for mechanics to upgrade themselves.
The sale of electric cars in Malaysia has more than doubled in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year.
Based on figures from the Statistics Department, 10,663 electric cars were sold between January and June 30, compared with 4,409 in the first half of last year – which saw a total of 13,301 EVs sold the whole year.
That is a sign to Mohd Shazwan, who has been a car mechanic for 10 years, that change is coming and mechanics have to adapt.
Workshop owner Mohd Faizul Husain, 40, who has been running auto workshops for more than 15 years, expects the increasing electric vehicle population will first affect independent car workshops in the coming decade.
If nothing is done to help them transition to the new landscape, he says the independent workshop industry may cease to exist.
“One thing that we can do is to improve ourselves, like getting new skillsets on how to repair electric vehicles” he said, adding that the automotive repair industry must adapt to the evolving technology of EVs.
He said by investing in training and upskilling, local workshops can secure their future and continue to serve the community when EVs proliferate.
“We as mechanics may not feel threatened now, but we need to find ways to learn before it is too late,” he said.
Car workshop owner Chan Kok Hoe said he has begun studying EVs, up to the point of buying one himself and test driving numerous other models.
“I think I can only change the tyres and give EVs a new paint job.
“I found out that many EVs use electro-magnetic brakes and suspension, so they don’t need brake pads, shock absorbers or suspension coils,” he said.
He was also taken aback upon learning that the service interval for most electric cars can be up to 20,000km.
In the service centres of EV carmakers, Chan said he had observed the mechanics using entirely different tools.
“They wear thick gloves and suits to protect themselves from potential electric shocks from the EV batteries,” he said.
While new electric car owners are likely to use authorised service centres to preserve their warranty, he feels that these car owners are open to visiting independent workshops after the warranty period is over.
Chan believes this is why independent mechanics must start upskilling now or risk being left behind.
