LKQ Academy partners with Varta for battery vehicle training
LKQ Academy has partnered with battery manufacturer Varta to launch a new course on servicing hybrid, pure electric and hydrogen low voltage batteries.
Suitable for all garage staff including technicians and front of house teams, the course seeks to unpack the science and technology behind the 12-volt battery – the ‘living component’ which plays an integral role in the performance of hybrid, pure electric and hydrogen vehicles.
The new course includes an overview of what comprises a battery and the quality control practices employed by OEMs, as well as details on how vehicle manufactures use Intelligent Battery Sensors (IBS) for complex battery management. Participants can also benefit from guidance on how to best test 12-volt batteries and understand the results with confidence.
This comes as LKQ Academy continues to expand its support for the independent aftermarket. 2024 saw the training provider grow its customer base to include more than 21,000 registered technicians, as well as opening a flagship site at its West Midlands HQ in Tamworth and further sites in Glasgow and Manchester.
Slots are already available on the first set of courses, which launched on January 22nd. For more information, visit www.lkqacademy.co.uk. Dates have been populated within the LKQ Academy calendar from January.
Lee Chapman, head of support and LKQ Academy, said: “The importance of battery health in determining vehicle performance is often overlooked. However, with uptake of hybrid, pure electric and hydrogen vehicles continuing to increase, technicians should see it as essential that they’re able to diagnose and service battery issues.
“We have a long-standing relationship with Varta centred around a shared passion for supporting the development of the independent aftermarket. This partnership represents the natural next step, and we look forward to continuing to work together to provide technicians with the resources and skills they need to thrive in the changing automotive landscape.”
Andy Cook, key account manager at Varta, said: “The development of a low-voltage battery’s performance throughout its lifecycle means that it’s often labelled a ‘living’ component, and technicians that fail to identify potential issues or quirks that arise during this lifecycle risk sending vehicles out onto the road with performance issues.
“Through our new training course with LKQ Academy, we hope to help reinforce the importance of battery maintenance and give technicians the skills they need to thrive.”