Electric Vehicle Training for Automotive After-Sales Professionals Through Virtual Reality

Abstract

This paper demonstrates that the application of innovation methodologies and business models, such as Design Thinking (DT) and the Business Model Canvas (BMC), enables virtual reality (VR)-based training to address a training need that is difficult to cover through conventional hands-on approaches alone. The transition towards vehicle electrification is increasing both the complexity of repair operations and the importance of safety procedures, making effective training solutions an increasingly strategic requirement for the automotive aftersales sector. Despite the growing demand, the application of VR in non-formal training environments, as well as its evolution, remains comparatively underexplored. The study describes how these tools support the progressive design of a VR-based training environment focused on electric vehicle (EV) safety procedures. Furthermore, the evolution of the project and the insights gained from its initial development in 2016 to the present are presented, during which it has been maintained as a practical component integrated into a broader in-person training course. Based on the experience accumulated throughout the project, a transferable methodology for VR-based training solutions is formalized. Following the implementation of successive redesigns driven by technological obsolescence and the continuous evolution of EV technologies, the results obtained are analyzed in terms of learning outcomes and user experience (UX) across different learner profiles. To this end, a Net Promoter Score (NPS) question is incorporated to assess participants’ recommendation intention. The analysis not only shows high levels of acceptance and effective learning associated with this practice-based approach but also reveals a rapid adaptation to VR technology among younger professionals without prior experience. This finding is particularly relevant, as it suggests the potential for large-scale implementation of VR in the autonomous training of EV repair technicians.