Electric Vehicles Provide New Opportunity for Automotive Technicians

Electric Vehicles Provide New Opportunity for Automotive Technicians

Posted in #LetsBFRANK: The College Admissions Blog on June 21, 2021

This post was written by Marie Gendron

Since the day the horse and buggy gave way to the first motor car, the auto industry has been constantly disrupted by change. This trend continues into the 21^st century as automotive juggernauts like Volvo and GM announce plans to have all cars go pure electric by 2035. Industry predictions are correctly identifying a huge ripple effect that new electric vehicles will have on the repair industries. However, this shift can and should be seen as a positive one—not only for the environment, but for auto technicians.

The statistics from the latest automotive trends show the auto repair industry is in a good position for the future. As published by Market Trends:

1. Research shows in 2021 there will be an estimated 76 million vehicles aged 16 years or older in the United States.
2. The number of vehicles 5 years old or less is predicted to increase by almost 25%.
3. It is estimated that by the end of 2021, 18% of American households will use an auto repair service at least once a year.
4. Automobiles that are age 12 years or older are anticipated to increase by 15%.
5. In the past decade, the average length of time new and used automobiles are owned has increased 60%.

It would be foolish to deny that the electric vehicle is coming. As home to one of the country’s first auto repair programs, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology has long realized that this field can be a rewarding and financially stable career opportunity. We understand that soon we will not be training Automotive Technicians, we will be training Automotive Electricians. Our programs are already adapting to position us as a leading educator in this growing, state-of-the-art industry—as proven by recent placements of graduates in careers at Tesla and other leading companies in the Electric Vehicle (EV) space.

Though the days of picking up a wrench and fixing your own vehicle may soon be over, this shift paves the way for automotive technicians with even more advanced electrical, computer, and other skills.  As the skill level goes up, the pay will go up. For the many young people that may not have the financial resources or interest in a traditional four-year education, this field will continue to evolve as a path to greater economic opportunity.

Aisha Francis is Chief Operating Officer of Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology.