ELVES, the End-of-Life Vehicle compliance scheme in Ireland, hosted some very well attended training for Authorised Treatment Facilities at three college venues in January. The courses concerned the safe handling of end-of-life hybrid, electric and mild hybrid vehicles and took place at Plunket College Dublin, Cork Institute of Technology and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology.

The Electric ELVES programme is the first classroom-based course of its kind in Ireland and is free of charge to attendees. It was developed in response to the increasing popularity of electric and hybrid cars, from full electric vehicles (600volt+) to mild-hybrids (48volt+).  The course content addresses new health and safety risks which vehicle dismantlers face in handling electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as helping to provide solutions to the challenging environmental reuse, recycling and recovery targets set out in End-of-Life Vehicle Regulations.

The training programme is open to all ATFs in Ireland, not just those in the ELVES ATF Network and is delivered by award winning leading industry professionals Salvage Wire.

ELVES Environmental Compliance Manager Elena Wrelton, commented, “ELVES is very much committed to ensuring that all Irish ATFs have access to the best industry resources available, including relevant expertise, support, information and training programmes that are industry specific and pro-actively address key issues impacting the sector.” 

Feedback from the latest events was very positive, both from those attending and the host venues. Further courses covering this subject matter of growing importance are planned for later in the year with venues selected to meet nationwide demand. The training forms a key element of a multi strand approach developed under the Electric ELVES programme in supporting all ATFs in developing competence in the handling of this new technology.

ATFs interested in future course and other services should contact ELVES at www.elves.ie where they can register their interest for future training days.