February 2020

wish you had. It is all very educational. He started with the basics, explaining the definition of hybrids and EVs, how a fuel cell works and the differences when comparing with an internal combustion engine vehicle. The more efficient use of energy by a hybrid or EV was covered, including the advantages of regenerative braking. The disadvantages were also looked at, including the dependence on rare and expensive elements in the manufacturing process. The benefits resulting from increased electrification was covered too, as was the future of the two vehicle types within the overall drivetrain mix. Delphi Technologies expects a strong increase of cars by 2025, with the trend increasing as time moves on. Types Mihai took us through the different types of vehicle, too, including series hybrids, parallel hybrids and series parallel hybrids. We then moved onto W hen you are dealing with electric and hybrid vehicles, safety is paramount. What you don't want is to be soaked, with dripping wet hair that could lead to you getting a shock . Unfortunately, I arrived Delphi Technologies' training centre outside Warwick on a day that saw torrential rain lashing the country from top to bottom. In the few seconds it took to get from the car to the door I ended up looking as if I had swum up from the south coast, not driven. Luckily, once the top layers came off, and I shook most of the water out of my hair, I was more or less ready to go. Popular Explaining what we had in store for us, Philip Mitchell, UK Technical Services Manager for Delphi Technologies said: "It is a two-day course. It is so popular that there is actually a waiting list to get on it." Philip went on to explain that the day we were on had been put on to address the demand. "We are running quite a few per year. It is currently one a week, on average. The demand is climbing. This is Level 3. We are ready to start Level 4. That is available to book." It's not just independent garages that are looking at this area either, explained Philip: "We are also doing courses with the Metropolitan Police. They have serious crash investigators who have to investigate accidents for these vehicles. We are doing that courses with them in London, here in Warwick and all round the country. “We are also doing some custom courses as well. We recently created a custom course for a company that makes electric road sweepers. They told us they wanted a Level 3 course, but they wanted it about their machines. We went last week, took all the photos, went through all the procedures, got all the tech specs and created a course for them. They had the road sweeper under lock and key – 'nobody is touching it until they 52 AFTERMARKET FEBRUARY 2020 TRAINING www.aftermarketonline.net THE SHOCK OF YOUR LIFE Above: The Editor getting hands-on with EVs and hybrids Aftermarket sends its Editor to take the EV and hybrid course being run by Delphi Technologies have been trained' was the attitude." This is a common attitude said Philip: "A lot of places are like that when it comes to electric and hybrid vehicles, it is about the liability. They don't want anyone to touch it, as if anything was to happen, although the chance is small, they are left liable." The course Leading the course was Technical Trainer Mihai Lazar, who has worked for Nissan/Renault and Mercedes- Benz, providing training on the dealer side, before bringing his experience over to Delphi Technologies. "The goal of the course," explained Mihai, "is for you to obtain a IMI Level 2 and 3 qualification, and so have the ability to work safely and efficiently with hybrid and electric vehicles." Sitting in front of myself, and the other delegates was a meaty course book. There is a lot to get through in two days, but luckily Mihai kept in interesting. If you enjoyed science at school, you will enjoy going on the course. If you didn't you might soon