LKQ Academy, the UK aftermarket training provider, has partnered with battery manufacturer Varta to launch a new alternative fuel battery course for the independent sector.
The new course is for servicing hybrid, pure electric and hydrogen low voltage batteries.
Suitable for all garage staff including technicians and front of house teams, the course seeks to unpack the science and technology behind the 12-volt battery – the ‘living component’ which plays an integral role in the performance of hybrid, pure electric and hydrogen vehicles.
This comes as new data from GIPA shows that 29% of workshops would like to learn more about servicing hybrid and electric vehicles, making it the most sought-after topic for training for 2024.
The new course includes an overview of what comprises a battery and the quality control practices employed by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as well as details on how vehicle manufactures use Intelligent Battery Sensors (IBS) for complex battery management.
This comes as LKQ Academy continues to expand its support for the independent aftermarket.
Last year saw the training provider grow its customer base to include more than 21,000 registered technicians, as well as opening its flagship site at its West Midlands HQ in Tamworth and further sites in Glasgow and Manchester.
Lee Chapman, head of support and LKQ Academy, said: “The importance of battery health in determining vehicle performance is often overlooked.
“However, with uptake of hybrid, pure electric and hydrogen vehicles continuing to increase, technicians should see it as essential that they’re able to diagnose and service battery issues.”