Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_September_2020 - 8

EDITOR'S NOTE

What's your

Brittany Vincent
Managing Editor

electric IQ?

Now is the time to get curious about
the tooling and best practices associated
with hybrid and electric repairs.

Emily Markham
Assistant Editor

By Sara Scullin, Editor
Sara@VehicleServicePros.com

lectric vehicles are still intriguing
consumers, and in this hybrid-electric
market Tesla leads the pack. U.S. consumers purchased an estimated 70,000
Tesla electric vehicles in the first half of
2020. While Elon Musk's illustrious brand
reportedly owns 80 percent of electric
sales in the country, it isn't the only one
in the game. Toyota, GM, BMW, and others continue to forge ahead with hybrid
and electric vehicle development. That
means these vehicles are hitting repair
bays - with mixed reviews.
Some consumers and aftermarket professionals alike are hesitant to get onboard
with electric, perhaps rightfully so. A lack
of charging infrastructure is one reason why
consumers might think twice before breaking from their internal combustion engines
(ICE), in addition to concerns with driving
range and cost.
Technicians, too, are sometimes hesitant
to tackle this type of service simply because
there isn't much information out there to
reference. Historically it hasn't been easy
to find trustworthy guidelines or communities to inform on best practices or standards for maintaining electric vehicles. I
was somewhat surprised when I learned
there are currently little to no requirements or standards in the U.S. for electrified
vehicle work.

The good news is more information on
this topic comes to light each day, and training standards are a work in progress. Read
Scott Brown's take on hybrid and electric
vehicles, or as he calls them, "the future of
all progressive shops," on page 38. Brown
notes that while hybrid and electric vehicles
are showing up in repair bays regionally,
this is an area of service that all futurefacing technicians should keep tabs on. He
includes some resources that anyone can
tap into to learn more about these vehicles
and their service requirements.
Like their ICE counterparts, electric
vehicles are still comprised of tires, brakes,
and suspension components, but it's important that repair pros understand how their
drivetrains differ as well as how to conduct
safe and competent service on electrified
models. When it comes to electrical repairs,
tooling is important, too. Things like CAT
rated products for electrical work, insulated
hand tools, and gloves are designed to keep
technicians safe during repairs. In addition,
tools that help the vehicle's HVAC system
run at peak performance become even more
essential when maintaining electric models.
Do you have customers who are proud
owners of electric vehicles? If so, how has
your business evolved to serve this niche,
and what lessons are you learning along
the way?

Kayla Oschmann
Assistant Editor

Barry Hoyland
Contributing Editor

Scott Brown
Technical Editor

PTEN Editorial Advisory Board
Technicians
John Harris,
Brooks-Huff Goodyear, Timonium MD
Eric Moore,
DeMary Trucks, Columbus, OH
Lou Fort,
K.A.R.S. Inc., Huntingburg, IN
Shop Owners
Phil Fournier,
Phil's Auto Clinic, Hemet, CA
JD Goad,
Goad's Body Shop, Lexington, VA
Edwin Hazzard,
Southeast Mobile Tech, Goose Creek, SC
Barry Hoyland,
VSSCA, Camarillo, CA
Pete Rudloff,
Pete's Garage Inc., Newark, DE
Equipment Manufacturers
Chad Schley,
Schley Products/SP Tools
Jim O'Hara,
Clore Automotive

PTEN

SEPTEMBER 2020

VehicleServicePros.com

http://www.VehicleServicePros.com

Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_September_2020

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