One of the main disincentives for drivers to choose an electric car is the difficulty in finding specialised workshops, which also affects the scarce availability of repair workshops included in the insurance coverage for these vehicles. Despite this, 13,000 hybrid and electric vehicles were registered in Spain in 2017.
To help workshops adapt to this new technology, the ‘Choose quality, choose confidence’ initiative outlines the main changes they need to make.
1. Install an electrical box
Experts explain that it is necessary to have a space specifically equipped to work on these vehicles with its own equipment and tools, such as:
- A category III 1000 volt multimeter. To safely measure the vehicle’s voltage.
- A battery charger.
- Equipment to move the car around the workshop without pushing it. Although it may not seem particularly important, it should be noted that if it is pushed, the turning of the drive wheels can stress the inverters and damage the electrical system.
- Non-metallic workbenches These are essential for safety reasons, as contact with high voltage parts can lead to electric shock. Plastic is recommended, as even wood can conduct electricity if stained with oil or grease.
- Specific equipment for mechanics: they must have class 0 gloves with a capacity of 1000 volts, anti-spark and anti-explosion goggles, insulated tools and a waterproof protective suit. An important detail to remember is not to work with any jewellery on the body to avoid the risk of electrocution.
2. Installation of charging points
Since the deregulation of the number of charging points promoted by the government, workshops can install charging points for electric vehicles. In this way, in addition to covering repair needs, it can act as an incentive for users to visit the repair workshop.
3. Training of professionals
It is very important both to update knowledge and to adapt it to these new technologies. Experts say that: “the most important thing is to provide basic training so that mechanics understand how the components of hybrid and electric cars work and the main safety measures”. This training must teach specialists how to locate specific parts of these vehicles, such as the inverter, the high-voltage battery and the service disconnect system, and include practice on how to disconnect and work with high-voltage parts.
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