Aftermarket March 2023

MARCH 2023 AFTERMARKET 49 ‘ForceMatching’ recommendation which matches the stiff spot on the tyre with the low spot on the wheel rim, minimising any vibrations to give a smoother ride. Where LF is identified due to the conicity of the tyres, the RFE even advises of the best position on the vehicle to counteract it for a straighter drive.” Clive added: “These vibration issues aren’t exclusive to electric vehicles as ride quality continues to improve on all cars. Thankfully though, we’re delighted that once again, the insightful engineers at Hunter have been among the first to identify this future problem and develop a solution that will help workshops provide their customers with the very best levels of service.” For more information, visit www.pro-align.co.uk Unavoidable Then there are tyres. Sean Maddocks, Sales Director for UK and Ireland for Davanti Tyres commented: “While demand for EVs remains high – with a current market share of 21% – the cost of maintaining them is set to become more expensive in the next few years. As most of these costs are unavoidable, it’s never been more important to look after your vehicle to prevent paying out even more for repairs, and that includes the tyres. It’s important you fit appropriate tyres for an electric vehicle to ensure the user gets the best out of its performance. Primarily, they must be able to withstand the additional weight that comes from the battery. When compared to traditional combustion engines the weight of an EV can put added pressure on the tyres, accelerating wear, so it’s important to select tyres with a heavier load carrying capacity. Also, the weight of EV’s can affect stopping distances, putting further strain on the tyres. So again, tyres need to be able to handle these characteristics.” Sean continued: “Choosing the right tyres for an electric vehicle is not only an important consideration for passenger car owners, but van drivers too, and Davanti’s DX440 light commercial van tyre is the kind of solution fleets will be looking for. The DX440 offers an all-purpose tyre solution – not only is it a popular choice for delivery drivers and tradesmen driving traditional combustion engine vans, but it is also the 100% OE tyre for the electric VN5 van from LEVC. Key design features which make the DX440 versatile and suitable for EVs include heavy duty shoulder construction which delivers a responsive drive under heavy loads and on demanding surfaces. There is also an offset outer block section which actively contains noise and provides superior drainage, and three deep longitudinal grooves for greater water dissipation and traction in highway conditions. Meanwhile, an inner block section designed to provide traction in dry conditions, both on the road and in demanding off-road conditions.” Sean added: “Electric vehicles have a greater load with differing weight distribution to the traditional commercial van. However, the DX440 was always designed to be versatile and through extensive testing it maintains the quality and reliable performance transport operators need.” For more information visit: https://www.davanti - tyres.com/ Increasing priority Another crucial aspect of the EV picture is charging, as Ben Thompson, Corporate Development Director at mobility and connectivity provider Radius noted: “With plug-in vehicle sales making up nearly 40% of new car registrations in December 2022, there’s no doubt EV infrastructure is becoming an increasing priority and that includes garages where a growing number of EVs will be serviced. One element which garages will need to review to ensure they are able to support customers and their EVs or hybrids, is their charging infrastructure. Radius offers an end-to-end EV solution for business and is well-positioned to help garages prepare for this shift.” On what should garages be considering, Ben observed that a site survey was a great starting point: As part of the transition to making a garage EV friendly, understanding where and how long cars will be parked for, and the power available to your property are important things to consider before implementing. Working with a company, such as Radius, makes this process incredibly simple with a full survey, allowing them to advise on fundamentals such as quantity and location of charge points.” Then you need to consider the kind of set-up you want: “There are two main types of chargers on the market – AC and DC. AC chargers usually provide up to 22kW of power for slower charging, whereas DC chargers provide up to 350kW, allowing for rapid charges of vehicles which need to be turned around quickly. For a garage where electric vehicles may be visiting for a couple of hours to a couple of days, there’s certainly value in looking at a mix of AC and DC chargers to make sure customer cars are charged to allow for all maintenance checks prior to collection.” Looking ahead to future proof your business is key here: “Although installing chargers may seem like a big step for garages today, knowing the growing demand for EVs, it is important to look at the bigger picture. Not only could this be about the number of chargers, but it’s also about the management of the EV charge stations, too. Solutions, such as Radius’ EV software, will be key in unlocking insights such as how often the EV chargers are being used, who by, and the amount of power used – and the real-world business cost of this.” Ben added: “As hybrid and EVs become more popular for businesses and personal vehicles, the infrastructure needed in locations, will become increasingly important.” High voltage electrical compressors The shift to EVs and the growing prevalence of hybrids means a wide range of components are evolving to fit the new paradigm. Commenting on the growing presence of high voltage (HV) electrical compressors within vehicle heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, Nissens Marketing Manager Jan Zieleskiewicz said: “HV electrical compressors have already been on the market for a while as they currently power most HVAC systems in hybrid and electric vehicles. There are several advantages to the application of electrical compressors, and there are a couple of special features that differentiate them from a traditional belt-driven compressor.“ “HV electrical compressors are compact devices that circulate refrigerant efficiently in the A/C or heat pump loop, powered by an electrical motor capable of high torque operation.” “Automotive applications employ scroll-based technology where the refrigerant is compressed by rotation of a set of While demand for EVs remains high…the cost of maintaining them is set to become more expensive in the next few years ”