As commercial fleets transition from diesel to electric vehicles (EVs), the industry often focuses on the vehicles themselves: range, cost, charging, and availability. While those are important considerations, South Africa needs the skills to support EV fleets once they are on the road.
In my work with commercial EV fleets, I see how practical operators are. Before they commit to new vehicle technology, they want to know who will service it, who will diagnose faults, how downtime will be managed, and whether the support network can keep up. If those answers are not clear, even a strong financial case can feel risky.
The workshop is changing
The first skills gap sits inside the workshop. Traditional automotive training was built around internal combustion vehicles. EVs have changed that way of work.
EVs have fewer moving parts and less frequent lubrication maintenance, no exhaust systems, no clutches, or many of the service items technicians are used to seeing. Routine maintenance can be simpler, and regenerative braking can reduce wear on brake components and reduce replacement intervals.
But when something does go wrong, the work is different. Technicians need to understand high-voltage systems, battery pack management, inverters, onboard chargers, power electronics and strict safety protocols. These systems can operate at 400 to 800V DC, so training cannot be informal or improvised.
EVs are also increasingly software-defined vehicles. Some faults are resolved through diagnostics, calibration, software updates, or over-the-air changes rather than mechanical repair. Workshop teams need stronger skills in diagnostic platforms, Controller Area Network (CAN) communication, battery health monitoring, thermal management, and motor or inverter fault detection.
Fleet skills now include energy skills
The skills question extends beyond the vehicle. EV fleets create new demands around charging infrastructure, energy management, and data.
Fleet operators need people who understand AC and DC charging infrastructure, including installation, maintenance, and fault resolution. They also need energy skills: load balancing, time-of-use tariff optimisation, charging schedules, grid demand management, and integration with solar or backup power where appropriate.
Telematics is becoming part of day-to-day fleet management. Fleet teams need to interpret real-time data on battery state, range, driver behaviour, charging efficiency, and vehicle utilisation. That information helps reduce the total cost of ownership and maximise uptime. Supporting an EV fleet is about managing vehicles, chargers, energy, and data as a single operating system.
Training is not keeping pace
South Africa’s training pipeline could move faster. The formal TVET and artisan training system remains heavily focused on internal combustion technology. EV-specific curricula are only beginning to emerge. Most of the current EV training is delivered by OEMs or private providers, often on a proprietary basis. This helps, but many skills remain brand-specific and are not easily transferable.
Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (MERSETA) has begun to acknowledge the need for updated qualifications. However, curriculum development still lags behind the pace at which commercial fleets are transitioning to EV fleets. The skills base needs to move before the gap becomes a constraint.
This cannot be left to one part of the market. OEMs need to open training ecosystems and provide broader access to diagnostic tools and technical content. Fleet operators should invest in upskilling their workshop teams. TVET colleges need industry partnerships, equipment, and funding. Government also has a role in formalising qualifications and aligning skills development with South Africa’s broader energy transition priorities.
Skills will shape adoption confidence
The skills gap directly affects fleet confidence. When fleet managers consider EVs for the first time, they ask hard questions about service access, downtime risk, technician availability, and safety. Fleet confidence depends on visible, accessible support. Without trained technicians, clear service pathways, and proper diagnostic capability, the perceived operational risk remains high.
There is also a real upside. EV skills can open career paths for high-voltage technicians, charging infrastructure specialists, energy system integrators, fleet data analysts, telematics specialists and battery second-life technicians.
For young South Africans, this is a chance to build credentials in a growth sector that links automotive, logistics, energy, and technology. These are practical, local skills that cannot simply be outsourced.
Vehicle availability will only take the market so far. South Africa also needs technicians, safety standards, diagnostic capability, charging skills, and fleet support systems to keep EVs operating safely and efficiently in real fleet environments.
Written by Jan-Willem Pelser, Head of Operations at Everlectric