The first modern electric car was sold in Britain in 2002. With the millionth UK EV hitting the road during January, according to the SMMT’s new car sales figures for that month, the market has hit a major milestone, and this means garages need to be ready to take on the segment. Bob Wiffen, Workshop Solutions Director at LKQ Euro Car Parts, said: “EVs continue to take up a greater share of the used car market as more enter their fourth and fifth years of ownership. Garage owners that invest in retooling and reskilling sooner rather than later will be best placed to attract and retain plug-in business, despite the ICE ban delay seemingly affording the industry more time to transition.” First step Kit is key here, as Bob went on to say: “Investing in the right protective equipment is the first step for garages offering specialist EV and hybrid services. We’ve put together a specialist safety pack, which includes safety posts and chains, signage and vehicle lockout products, protective face shields and gloves and a selection of insulated tools and testers. EVs are largely operated by software, which needs to be monitored and updated to ensure optimal performance. Our Becoming an EV Garage course provides all the knowledge needed to establish a specialist EV garage, including practical steps on how to build the digital skills that come with servicing modern vehicles like plug-ins. Hybrid vehicles require slightly more complex maintenance as they feature a combustion engine ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES alongside a high voltage system. The usual filters, lubricants and consumables are required, and can only be replaced when the system is discharged, to prevent unexpected – and unsafe – starts.” On the technical and staff training being provided by LKQ Euro Car Parts, Bob observed: “In our mission to close the EV and hybrid skills gap, we decided to double down on LKQ Academy’s plug-in training rather than stepping back after the delay to the ICE ban was announced. Garages can be best placed to work on EVs by upskilling in digital servicing and maintenance tasks – from diagnostics and troubleshooting, to air con servicing. As such, we currently offer 11 specialist EV and hybrid courses. We recommend the IMI Level 2/3 Hybrid and EV training as a priority, with data showing that 72% of technicians are yet to be trained to this level. “Beyond garage technicians, we also believe it’s imperative to train each garage’s non-technical staff. Our new EV Explained course gives customer facing staff the confidence to engage, support and reassure customers on all things EV and hybrid. By giving front of house staff the knowledge and language, they need to communicate with customers, garages can ensure that their investment into upskilling and equipping technicians pays off. Staff confidence also means that customers can rest assured their money has been well spent, and are likely to return and recommend the garage in the future.” Bob added: “Health and safety form a core component of all of our programmes, and it’s important that technicians are aware of the risks associated with electric vehicle WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? Despite the ICE deadline rollback to 2035, plug in vehicles, EVs and hybrids still represent an opportunity for garages www.aftermarketonline.net MARCH 2024 AFTERMARKET 45 Above: Everrati's electrified Land Rover Series IIA and GT40 at Delphi Academy in Warwick
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