Abstract
The study assessed the readiness of automobile workshops for electric vehicle (EV) maintenance in Kano State, Nigeria. The study was motivated by the increasing global transition to electric mobility and the need to determine whether automobile workshops possess the technical competence, equipment, and awareness required for effective EV maintenance. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised 350 registered automobile workshop owners and technicians in selected Local Government Areas of Kano State. Using the Taro Yamane formula, a sample of 187 respondents was selected through stratified, proportionate and simple random sampling methods. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire titled Automobile Workshop Readiness for Electric Vehicle Maintenance Questionnaire (AWREVMQ), which had an overall Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.84. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data, with a cut-off mean of 2.50. The findings revealed that respondents perceived automobile technicians to possess adequate overall technical competence (Grand Mean = 2.63), although this competence was largely limited to conventional vehicle maintenance rather than electric vehicle systems. The study further revealed that specialized EV diagnostic tools and equipment were generally unavailable in automobile workshops (Grand Mean = 2.18), indicating low infrastructural readiness. In addition, respondents perceived technicians to have a moderate level of awareness and knowledge of electric vehicle technology (Grand Mean = 2.61), but with limited practical skills and formal training in EV maintenance. The study concluded that automobile workshops in Kano State are not adequately prepared for electric vehicle maintenance due to deficiencies in specialized technical skills, diagnostic facilities, and practical training. It recommended regular capacity-building programmes, integration of EV technology into technical education curricula, increased investment in modern workshop equipment, and stronger collaboration among government, industry, and educational institutions to enhance workshop readiness for the emerging electric mobility sector.