March 2020

42 AFTERMARKET MARCH 2020 ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES www.aftermarketonline.net T he government’s recent announcement that 2032 will, for now, be the date at which the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles ends will be a cause for alarm at some garages. Having perhaps got used to the idea of 2040 being the cut-off for ICE, having the deadline roll forward five years could be a bit of a blow. The average garage could have many questions. What will they do in a much-changed vehicular world? Do staff have the right training? Are people going to be shifting over to EVs in greater numbers? With hybrids also facing the chop now, what else might happen? Of course, 2032 is still 12 years away, so there is still time to mull over your options. Which way to turn though? If you are looking for a roadmap, there is a market, there is opportunity, and there is also support out there. No nasty shocks With vehicle manufacturers investing heavily in EV technology, the amount of pure-electric and hybrid vehicles on our roads has seen rapid growth. For the independent garage, there’s concern, however, that only franchised dealerships will be able to service and diagnose these high- tech vehicles. On the contrary, there’s ample opportunity for standalone workshops to add EV expertise to their skillset and take advantage of this fast-growing market. “Electrification is nothing new, first-generation cars, such as the Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf, have been around for many years, but it’s only now that investment in developing all-electric and hybrid vehicles, plus the increasing take-up by car buyers, is causing independent garages to question how it will affect their operations,” said Julian Goulding, Delphi Technologies Aftermarket UK Marketing Manager. “The reality is that they shouldn’t be afraid of this change, but instead view it as a great chance to tap into a fresh and profitable revenue stream. The rewards can potentially be very high, with the level of success dependable on how adaptable an independent is and how well prepared they are.” According to Julian, Delphi Technologies’ experience and knowledge of pure-electric and hybrid vehicles works to independents’ advantage: “As a supplier to the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers, our sophisticated propulsion technology is fitted at the heart of many of these vehicles. Importantly for you, we can transfer our understanding of these technologies to the aftermarket. “As an example, our DS diagnostic software can read fault codes and view live data for key modules such as the invertor, charger, motor and battery management system, and perform special functions, for over 85% of the mainstream EV and hybrid parc. That adds up to over 60 electrified models, including all popular ranges from vehicle manufacturers such as Audi and BMW, to Volkswagen and Volvo. This makes diagnosing a faulty pure electric or hybrid vehicle a relatively straightforward job, for workshops who know-how to work safely and efficiently on them.” He concluded: “With such a monumental change in the cars they are working on, and safety very much a concern, it’s only natural for independents to be cautious in their approach to tackling electric vehicles. What they need to understand is that the relevant training and technical back- up isn’t only reserved for franchise dealers. Delphi Technologies also provides staff with structured training SENSIBLE PRECAUTION With pressure on petrol and diesel growing, hybrids and particularly EVs offer growing opportunities for garages