14 DAY TRIAL // What is believed to be the first driver training course aimed specifically at the drivers of hybrid and electric powered vehicles has just been in launched in the UK by the AA DriveTech Academy.
Initially the course will be offered to business drivers and their employers to help fulfill duty of care obligations.
The workshop-based course reportedly lasts three and a half hours and covers the differences between driving a conventional petrol or diesel-powered vehicle and an electric or hybrid model.
It will thus teach drivers specific techniques that allow them to maximize economy and stay safe, refuel and recharge the vehicles, and plan the journey so that they can maximize economy and overcome range anxiety.
In addition to that, participants will also be taught how other road users interact with such vehicles and the potential hazards this could create.
“Clearly the market for these vehicles has some way to go before it is considered firmly established within the UK fleet market but we felt it was important that AA DriveTech was in a position to support early adopters and assist them in adapting their driving styles to both remain safe and get the best out of their vehicles,” said Paul Holmes, AA DriveTech’s fleet director.
While many schools have started using hybrid vehicles to contribute to a cleaner environment, none has so far focused on teaching their students peculiar aspects in handling these types of vehicles.
AA DriveTech reportedly annually re-trains over 23,000 employees of various organizations who drive for work purposes through its FleetSafe division.
The company provides many types of risk management services for business drivers, such as online and in-vehicle driver risk assessments, group workshops, driver license checking and ‘permit to drive’ programs.
In total over the past two years well over 300,000 UK drivers have attended some form of AA DriveTech course.