![](https://emergencyservicestimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ESS-Button-resized.png")
Autotech Training unveiled a new IMI-accredited safety course for emergency responders at this year’s The Emergency Services Show, co-located with The Emergency Tech Show. The Level 2 Award in Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Hazard Management for Emergency and Recovery Personnel is designed to prepare frontline crews for the growing risks posed by electric and hybrid vehicles (EVs).
Having already supported organisations including the London Ambulance Service, Thames Valley Police and West Midlands Fire Service by upskilling their vehicle technicians, Autotech Training is now extending its expertise directly to first responders and recovery teams.
With more than two million electric and hybrid vehicles now on UK roads, emergency services are increasingly confronted with unfamiliar and complex hazards. These include high-voltage electric shock, battery fires that can reignite, thermal runaway leading to toxic fumes or explosions, and difficulties in safely accessing casualties. Autotech Training’s new course equips responders with the knowledge and confidence to manage these risks safely, protecting both crews and the public.
Delivered on-site at emergency service facilities anywhere in the UK, the one-day course can be tailored to the specific vehicles and equipment each service uses. It goes beyond traditional vehicle response methods, dispels common misconceptions about EVs, and promotes a collaborative approach across fire, police and recovery teams.
A vehicle technician with Thames Valley Police who recently completed EV training with Autotech Training said: “While vehicle technicians need to understand how to safely repair and maintain electric vehicles, it’s just as vital that first responders know the risks they face at the scene of an incident. Even understanding the basics – like recognising the signs of thermal runaway and knowing how to respond safely – can make a huge difference.”
Alistair McCrindle, Operations Director at Autotech Training, commented: “As EV adoption accelerates, frontline crews need confidence in how to manage incidents safely. By delivering IMI-accredited training directly at their facilities, and tailoring it to their vehicles, we make sure emergency teams are fully prepared to meet these challenges.”
To read similar articles, check out our People & Skills channel
