March 2022 saw the welcome return of the Electric ELVES in-person hybrid and electric vehicle training. The March training was delivered at Plunket College (Dublin), Nissan Academy (Naas) and at the Waterford Wexford Training Centre (Waterford).
The training is designed to provide car recyclers with the knowledge and skills they need to safely receive and recycle electric and hybrid vehicles when they reach end-of-life. Electric ELVES also introduced the first offering for ATFs in Ireland of a more advanced City & Guilds Level 3 qualification in Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Repair and Replacement alongside the programme’s original Safe Handling of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles awareness course.
Elena Wrelton, Environmental Compliance Manager at ELVES said:
“It’s fantastic to be back out there offering our Electric ELVES training once again and seeing the trainees face-to-face. It’s also great to be able to welcome Andy and his expertise back to deliver the training for us. There is nothing like hands-on demonstration and classroom interaction to bring a topic to life.”
The Electric ELVES programme was rolled out in mid-2018, with the training component on offer to ATFs since 2019. In addition to awareness training, the Electric ELVES programme provides free collection and recycling of electric vehicle batteries, access to dismantling guides, and health and safety information to support the safe handling of electrified vehicles. The supports offered through the programme are provided free of charge to all ATFs in the country.
To date, over 135 people have been trained under the programme from over 60 different ATFs. Online training on safety and awareness was provided during the restrictions, but in March training was in-person with the content designed and delivered by Andy Latham of Salvage Wire Ltd. Also launched was the delivery of a more advanced City and Guilds course, which is a Level 3 accredited qualification.
Robbie Sweeney from Autotowing Ltd, a participant on the City and Guild’s course said:
“The small group size and more in-depth content really helped me expand my knowledge of electric and hybrid vehicles and how they should be handled when they come into our yard. I completed the introductory Safe Handling of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles course with Electric ELVES two years ago and this new City and Guilds course, both refreshed and built my knowledge in this increasingly important area.”
Future Electric ELVES training for ATFs is planned for June 2022.
For further information please see www.electricelves.ie.
About ELVES
ELVES (ELV Environmental Services CLG) is the compliance scheme for End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) in Ireland.
ELVES is a non-profit company set up by vehicle manufacturers to help deliver on their obligations under the European Union (End-of-Life Vehicles) Regulations.
ELVES received approval to operate as the compliance scheme for the vehicle sector from the Minister for Climate Action, Communications and Environment from 1st January 2017.
ELVES mission is to improve the processing of scrap cars and small vans and to help Ireland meet the 85% reuse and recycling and 95% reuse, recycling and recovery rates for ELVs. The most recent national figures (2019) show current levels of ‘reuse and recycling’ and ‘reuse, recycling and other recovery’ at 87.43pc and 95.21pc respectively.
ELVES enables its members, vehicle producers, to meet their responsibilities under the Regulations for the sector.
ELVES promotes, on behalf of its members, a Network of public drop off points (also known as Authorised Treatment Facilities, ATFs or permitted scrapyards) that provide free ELV take-back to the public. ELVES also works to improve public awareness of the correct way to scrap a vehicle, namely using an ATF and getting a Certificate of Destruction (CoD).
ELVES takes a lead on best practices in training through its Electric ELVES programme, which is available to all ATFs, not just those in its Network. The programme provides for ATFs free training, designed to help ensure ATFs have the expertise and know-how to safely and effectively manage electric and hybrid vehicles, when they arise at their sites and free collection of the waste electric vehicle batteries.
The training provided under the Electric ELVES programme is delivered by Salvage Wire Ltd, a training provider that specialises in electric and hybrid vehicle training for ATFs.
