March 2020

www.aftermarketonline.net MARCH 2020 AFTERMARKET 43 and all the technical assistance they need, allowing independents to fully explore the potential that the growing EV parc presents.” Relevant and competitive Hybrids are still with us too, and with most independents still shying away from them, there is money to be made. Commenting on the opportunity, Adam White, Director of Workshop Solutions at Euro Car Parts said: “Hybrids have been on the road since 1996, but service, maintenance and repair tasks are still performed mainly by dealers, rather than the independent aftermarket. Only 5% of technicians in the UK are hybrid-trained, which is why in most towns, if you search online for ‘hybrid garages’, it’s only dealers that come up. “It’s essential that independent garages invest in training and equipment to ensure they remain relevant and competitive, and to help them maximise revenue as low and zero-emission vehicles become more common. What’s more, vehicles that use the newest, cleanest engine technology are also likely to feature ADAS and automatic gearboxes, which means garages must upskill across the board.” Of course, it is EVs too. Training is vital here said Adam: “When it comes to working with electric and hybrid vehicles, health and safety are as important to consider as technical expertise. Hazards associated with electric and hybrid vehicles include the presence of high voltage components that could lead to electric shocks, the manual handling of battery replacements and the potentially- harmful liquids and gases that would be released in the event of any battery damage, and the magnetic forces that could interfere with medical devices like pacemakers.” On how ECP can help, Adam observed: “We offer awards in hybrid and electric vehicle maintenance through our AutoEducation Academy, at Levels 2, 3 and 4. All of them cover safety management essentials, before going into various levels of technical detail. Level 2 is our most popular course and covers routine maintenance activities, Level 3 builds on this to cover system repair and replacement, and Level 4 extends further into diagnostics, testing and advanced repairs. “There are more than 130 hybrid and electric vehicle courses in the AutoEducation calendar for 2020, which will take place all over the UK. Signing up for AutoEducation is free, and technicians can complete nine free skills assessments to help them identify which courses to take. These can be completed and paid for on a one-off basis, or unlimited access for 12 months costs £1,499. Then there’s equipment: “Before they can start to sell specialist services for hybrid and electric vehicles, garages will need to invest in technical and safety equipment. We’ve created a specialist starter pack which includes essentials like high voltage floor matting, an insulated rescue pole and safety clamp, safety signage, an insulated face shield and gloves, extra-long hex keys and a 22-piece insulated toolkit.” Adam added: “In the short term at least, offering hybrid and electric vehicle maintenance will be a key differentiator for many independent garages, so it’s important that they’re easy for drivers to find online and on social media. Marketing is an important area to consider for staff training, and is something we can support through AutoEducation.”