Aftermarket September 2022

W ith the 2030 deadline just eight years away and sales rising, the spotlight is now firmly put on EVs. Garages that get in now will see the investment pay off. You don’t have to start big though. Commenting on the necessary investment, Bob Wiffen, Workshop Solutions Director at LKQ Euro Car Parts said: “There is a perception that becoming EV and hybrid-ready is a big financial commitment. But actually, a £2,000 one-off cost can equip one technician with the necessary training, tools and equipment. And with an average EV or hybrid service typically costing £300, garages can quickly generate a significant return on that investment. Before they can start to sell specialist EV and hybrid services, garages will need to invest in the right safety equipment. Our specialist safety pack includes essentials like high voltage floor matting, an insulated rescue pole and safety clamp, safety signage, an insulated face shield and gloves, extra-long hex keys and a 22-piece insulated toolkit. Hybrids are arguably more complex than EVs, because they feature a combustion engine alongside a high voltage system. This means that all the usual filters, lubricants and other internal consumables are needed. They can only be changed when the high voltage system is discharged, to make sure that it doesn’t start itself unexpectedly, which is dangerous for the vehicle and technicians alike. “EVs, though, require relatively little maintenance, because their engines contain far fewer moving parts. The 54 AFTERMARKET SEPTEMBER 2022 ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES www.aftermarketonline.net TOWARDS 2030: WORKING WITH EVS AND HYBRIDS EVs and hybrids represent a major opportunity for garages, but investment in the right equipment and training is vital main things to be aware of are checking battery health, which can be done from the driver’s seat, ensuring the charging point is working correctly and topping up the reduction gearbox’s oil level.” On the training side, LKQ Euro Car Parts provides a number of courses to get techs up to speed on EVs and hybrids, Bob said: “The courses we offer through our LKQ Academy cover both hybrids and EVs. Level 2 is our most popular course and covers routine maintenance activities and terminology. Level 3 builds on this to cover system repair and replacement, as well as more advanced electrical regeneration, rectification and regulation skills. Level 4 extends further into diagnostics, testing and advanced repairs.” Bob added: “Our 2022 course schedule includes more hybrid and EV course dates than ever before, helping to upskill 1,500 technicians by the end of this year.” As Julian Goulding, Marketing Manager Northern Europe, Delphi Technologies Aftermarket observed, VMs are already looking to move away from internal combustion engine vehicles: “2030’s ban on the sale of ICE vehicles in the UK may still be several years away, yet it’s now more obvious than ever that manufacturers are taking no chances when it comes to being prepared. “Electrified vehicles, whether pure electric (BEV), hybrid (HEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV), are rapidly increasing in manufacturers’ model line-ups, with June 2022’s SMMT data confirming that registrations of BEVs alone were up by 56%