The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has called on the Victorian Government to immediately abandon a proposed change to electric vehicle (EV) safety regulation, warning it would disrupt fleet operations, increase servicing costs, and undermine nationally recognised automotive standards.
The proposal, outlined in the Victorian Government’s Energy Safety Roadmap, would require licensed electrical workers to de-energise electric vehicles before qualified automotive technicians are permitted to carry out service or repair work. VACC has described the measure as fundamentally flawed and unworkable for the automotive industry.
Conflict with national automotive standards
VACC argues the proposal contradicts how EVs are designed by manufacturers and ignores existing national training and safety frameworks already in place for EV servicing.
“This proposal represents a fundamental misunderstanding of how electric vehicles are designed and how they should be serviced,” said Peter Jones, CEO of the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce.
“Vehicle manufacturers design EVs specifically for automotive technicians to de-energise them safely. This isn’t electrical infrastructure work, it’s a core automotive safety function.”
The industry body highlighted that nationally endorsed arrangements already exist to manage EV safety, including the AURETH101 competency for EV de-energisation, Australian Standard AS 5732:2022 for EV maintenance and repair, and the Motor Vehicle Information Scheme (MIVIS), which restricts high-voltage repair information to appropriately qualified automotive professionals.
Operational and cost impacts for fleets
For Fleet Managers planning to add EVs to their fleets, VACC warned the proposal would create unnecessary delays and additional costs in routine servicing and repairs. Requiring an external electrical worker to attend workshops would add complexity to maintenance scheduling and could be particularly problematic in regional and rural Victoria.
“The automotive industry has invested heavily in developing rigorous, nationally consistent training pathways specifically for EV service and repair,” Jones said.
“No evidence has been presented showing that current automotive safety systems are failing. This appears to be policymaking in a vacuum, developed without meaningful consultation with the sector actually responsible for EV service and repair.”
VACC also raised concerns about a related proposal to impose a new licensing regime on automotive workers servicing light passenger vehicles, arguing it would further fragment regulation and undermine confidence in nationally recognised automotive qualifications.
Risk to EV adoption objectives
From a fleet and sustainability perspective, VACC said the proposal directly conflicts with government objectives to accelerate EV uptake and support small businesses.
“This proposal directly contradicts the Victorian Government’s stated objectives of accelerating EV adoption and supporting small businesses,” Jones said.
“You can’t encourage EV uptake while simultaneously making it more difficult and expensive to service them.”
VACC is calling on the Victorian Government to abandon the proposal and establish proper consultation with the automotive industry before developing any further EV safety policy.
“We’re not opposed to safety regulation—we’re leaders in it,” Jones concluded. “But effective policy must be informed by those who design vehicles, develop service procedures, and train technicians.”
