An electric vehicle does not need spark plugs or engine oil. That does not make it maintenance-free, and it does not make it a conventional vehicle with the engine removed.
Electric and hybrid vehicles introduce high-voltage batteries, power electronics, electric drive units, specialized cooling systems and software that coordinates the entire powertrain. Some familiar components remain, including brakes, tires, steering, suspension and air conditioning, but they may operate differently or interact with systems that are unique to an electrified vehicle.
The people working on those vehicles need training that reflects those differences.
At Curry Auto Center, our technicians currently hold three Gold General Motors certifications in Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Systems. That achievement is part of a larger training program encompassing 43 GM factory certifications and 43 ASE certifications across our mechanical service team.
What Gold certification represents
GM factory training is organized by area of vehicle service. A technician first completes the requirements for Silver certification, demonstrating that the technician is trained and qualified in the applicable system. Gold certification requires further achievement, including the related ASE credential, advanced GM instruction, hands-on technical training and manufacturer testing.
In other words, Gold status is not a one-hour introduction to electric vehicles. It represents a progression through foundational and advanced requirements.
That distinction matters because high-voltage work requires both technical understanding and respect for the procedures involved. A technician must know how the system is constructed, how to determine its operating state and how to follow the manufacturer’s safety and service instructions.
An EV still has systems that wear
The conversation about EV maintenance often begins and ends with oil changes. It is true that a fully electric vehicle eliminates many traditional engine-maintenance items. Yet plenty of components still require inspection or service over the vehicle’s life.
Depending on the model and its maintenance schedule, those areas can include:
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Tires and wheel alignment
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Brake components and brake fluid
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Steering and suspension
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Cabin air filtration
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Heating and air-conditioning systems
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Low-voltage electrical components and the 12-volt battery
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High-voltage battery thermal-management components
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Software and electronic control systems
Regenerative braking can reduce use of the conventional friction brakes in some driving. It does not eliminate the brake system. Tires also deserve attention because vehicle weight, torque, alignment and driving style all affect wear.
The correct maintenance schedule is the one published for the particular vehicle. EVs are not all built alike, and service recommendations should not be borrowed from a different model simply because both vehicles plug in.
Hybrids bring two kinds of powertrain together
A hybrid vehicle adds another layer. It has electrified components as well as an internal-combustion engine and the systems needed to support it. Diagnosis may require knowledge of how the gasoline engine, electric motor, battery and control electronics work independently and together.
A symptom that appears to involve the engine may be connected to a hybrid control strategy. A cooling concern may involve more than the radiator arrangement familiar from a conventional vehicle. The technician must understand the whole system before isolating the cause.
Curry technicians’ training is not limited to one corner of the vehicle. In addition to three Gold electric and hybrid credentials, the team holds GM certifications in engine performance, engine repair, electrical systems, automatic transmissions, brakes, steering and suspension, and heating and air conditioning. That breadth is useful when a concern crosses the boundary between traditional and electrified systems.
Why manufacturer information matters
Electric-vehicle technology is developing quickly. Battery construction, drive systems, charging equipment, software and diagnostic procedures can differ significantly from one vehicle platform to another.
As a GM dealership, Curry Auto Center technicians have access to GM service information, diagnostic software, technical publications, repair procedures and special service tools designed for GM vehicles. Those resources allow the technician to work from information applicable to the exact Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac being serviced.
That vehicle-specific access is particularly important when software, control modules or high-voltage systems are involved. A generic description of how EVs operate cannot substitute for the procedure written for a particular model and configuration.
EV service is also conventional vehicle service
Specialized training should not obscure an ordinary truth: an EV is still a vehicle traveling over potholes, making tight turns, carrying passengers and stopping in traffic.
Southern Indiana roads do not make an exception for an electric vehicle. Tires can lose pressure. Wheels can go out of alignment. Suspension components can wear. Wiper blades age, and air-conditioning systems can develop problems. These concerns require the same careful inspection expected on any other car or SUV, together with an understanding of how the EV’s systems may affect the repair.
Curry Auto Center’s technicians hold ASE credentials in brakes, steering and suspension, electrical and electronic systems, and heating and air conditioning, among other categories. Our EV capability is supported by that broader automotive background.
Preparing for the vehicles already arriving
Electrified vehicles are no longer a distant service-department issue. Chevrolet drivers already have choices that include electric cars, SUVs and trucks, while hybrid technology continues to appear across the industry.
For Curry Auto Center, preparation means more than installing charging equipment or adding “EV” to a list of services. It means developing technicians who can safely and competently work with the technology.
Three GM Gold certifications in Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Systems are a meaningful part of that preparation. They also reflect the larger habit we value in our shop: technicians continuing their education as the vehicles change.
You can see the complete figures in Curry Auto Center’s 2026 Technician Certification Report, review our team’s GM factory certifications or schedule service in Bloomington, Indiana.