The Rise of EV Mechanics in Belize?

Belize’s push toward electric vehicles has reached a new milestone. The country has officially opened its first Electric Vehicle Laboratory at the Orange Walk ITVET.

The facility is designed to train the technicians who will maintain the next generation of cars and buses in Belize. Fifteen Belizeans have already received a two-day training session, and beginning in September, it will offer training in electric vehicle diagnostics, maintenance and repair.

The laboratory was funded by the European Union and implemented by the UNDP. Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP, Michael Lund, said the lab completes a much larger pilot project. “This project has delivered the city buses in Belize City, the inter-district buses, some of the charging stations, some of the legislation… and now of course the training.”

The facility holds US$95,000 in equipment, and fifteen Belizeans have already completed training there. Belize City Council E-Transit Coordinator Neil Hall said the lab answers the question holding people back from buying electric. “The biggest concern of people… is ‘Oh, but if something goes wrong, who gonna fix it?’ And this completely negates that.”

Until now, most electric vehicle servicing in Belize was handled by Caribbean Motors. The new facility aims to expand that expertise across the country.