South Korea is planning to retrain automobile mechanics who have lost business to manage and maintain public electric vehicle charging stations. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 28 (Korea Bizwire) – With electric vehicles rapidly gaining popularity, South Korea is planning to retrain automobile mechanics who have lost business to manage and maintain public electric vehicle charging stations, as part of a “just transition” policy aimed at protecting workers potentially impacted by the country’s shift toward carbon neutrality.
According to the Ministry of Environment and industry sources, the ministry and the auto repair industry have been in discussions since the beginning of this year to train mechanics through educational programs offered by the Korea Automobile Environmental Association, equipping them with skills to manage and repair electric vehicle chargers.
One option being considered is assigning public rapid charger maintenance and repair tasks to the retrained auto mechanics.
This initiative falls under the “just transition” concept outlined in the country’s Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality, which calls for protecting workers, farmers, and small business owners in high-carbon industries or regions, ensuring a socially shared burden during greenhouse gas reduction efforts, and minimizing harm to vulnerable groups.
The automotive repair industry has been significantly impacted by the rise of electric vehicles, which require far fewer components and less maintenance compared to internal combustion engine vehicles.
Signs of financial distress among auto repair businesses due to the growth of electric vehicles are already emerging.
Statistics from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport show that as of September 2023, there were 36,192 auto repair shops nationwide, an increase of 1,036 from December 2014.
However, the number of repair shops decreased in five provinces, with the most significant declines observed in Seoul, Jeju, and Daejeon – areas with higher proportions of registered electric vehicles.
EV chargers under maintenance (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The crisis facing auto repair businesses is expected to intensify as electric vehicle adoption increases. A survey conducted by the Korea Automobile Research Institute in April 2023, involving 886 repair shops, found that only 29.7% of respondents were preparing to transition their businesses to accommodate future vehicles.
Currently, fewer than 1,600 repair shops can service electric and hydrogen vehicles, with only 170 capable of repairing all components, including batteries.
On the other hand, the demand for electric vehicle charger management and maintenance is set to rise, making the acquisition of skilled personnel an urgent priority.
While retraining auto mechanics for electric vehicle charger maintenance and repair may seem like a “perfect solution,” given the circumstances, several challenges remain unresolved.
First, the auto repair industry questions whether the investment required for this transition will yield adequate returns.
To manage and repair electric vehicle chargers, mechanics would need access to electric vehicles for testing purposes after maintenance or repairs. Additionally, rapid chargers are high-voltage equipment, requiring electrician qualifications to handle them.
Reactions within the repair industry vary based on business size. While companies providing emergency roadside repair services anticipate additional revenue from electric vehicle charger management and maintenance, small one-person repair shops are skeptical, as they cannot leave their shops unattended to service chargers.
An official from an auto repair industry association emphasized, “Our internal review showed that entering the electric vehicle charger management and repair business may not be profitable compared to the investment required. Government support is necessary to enable a just transition.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
