MAY 2023 AFTERMARKET 61 www.aftermarketonline.net According to the study from BookMyGarage, an EV service will set its owner back an average £103. EVs are at least a third less expensive to service compared to diesel, hybrid, and petrol vehicles. Meanwhile, the owner of a diesel car, will pay £163 on average, while a hybrid motorist will pay £159, with petrol owners paying £151. The study also suggested that general maintenance and MOT costs will be 43% lower. Jessica Potts, Head of Marketing at BookMyGarage.com, said, “The nature of EV powertrains not requiring engine oil changes, fuel filters, air filters or spark plugs means that servicing an electric vehicle requires less labour and fewer replacement parts and fluids, helping to lower costs for motorists. “That said, servicing is still essential for EVs from a safety perspective, so the throughput of vehicles in workshops and the business opportunity for garages should remain similar to ICE vehicles – much of the cost saving is from fewer replacement parts rather than a reduction in labour.” Jessica added: “As ICE vehicle drivers begin to move over to EVs in the coming years, and the infrastructure of the UK for electric vehicles on the road continues to improve, opportunities for EV-qualified garages will grow rapidly. Garages that are not qualified to service EVs will miss out on vital business and be faced with a shrinking market.” For more information, visit: https://bookmygarage.com/blog /servicing-costs-by-fuel-type-evcheaper-than-ice/ IMI Approved Centre status for Point S Point S Tyre & Autocare has received IMI approved centre status, which it sees as a vital step on the road towards becoming Europe’s largest certified network for electric vehicle maintenance by 2026. Point S UK and European Training Manager Jon Taylor said: “I am extremely proud of the progress that we have made in a relatively short space of time. Building a comprehensive training offering needs to be done methodically, and this is a critical milestone in the process.” He added: “Naturally, the IMI has high standards for its Approved Centres, but we’ve ensured that our training proposition goes above and beyond the required level, right from the start. I’m really looking forward to welcoming Point S members to our first training courses later in the year.” Turbocharge UK competitiveness to win Race to Zero says SMMT report The UK’s capacity to compete as a leader in EV production could be at risk if government does not immediately react in the face of an increasingly competitive international market, the SMMT has warned via a new blueprint. Race to Zero: Powering Up Britain’s EV Supply Chain points to what it defines as the UK’s inherent strengths in advanced automotive manufacturing, low carbon energy and R&D, but indicates the need for a rapid response to initiatives worldwide including the $370 billion Inflation Reduction Act in the USA and the EU’s Green Deal Industrial Plan. The blueprint sets out a Green Automotive Transformation strategy that could place Britain as one of the world’s most competitive locations for advanced automotive manufacturing, with investment, regulation and trade as the key pillars to anchor future vehicle production in Britain. Commenting on the report, SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: “Britain boasts a firm foundation of EV production, backed by low carbon energy, outstanding R&D and a highly skilled and productive workforce. We must not squander these advantages. With other parts of the world turbocharging their support for the zero-emission vehicle transition, we need to step up to compete in this global race. Every part of the country has a stake in the switch and with fast, decisive action we can deliver for Britain the growth, jobs and green prosperity this country deserves.” To download the report, visit: www.smmt.co.uk/wpcontent/uploads/sites/2/SMMTRace-to-Zero-report.pdf Innovative EV fleet charging system installed by council A bi-directional EV charging solar and battery energy storage system has been installed at Nottingham City Council’s fleet depot. Two E-STOR battery energy storage systems, running 40 vehicle-to-grid (V2G) bi-directional chargers with three solar arrays made from second life Renault batteries have been installed at the Council’s Eastcroft Depot. The system will power the council’s 200vehicle fleet, and was made by Connected Energy Commenting on the innovative approach at play, Connected Energy CEO, Matthew Lumsden said: “When fleet and estate managers install EV chargers at thousands of premises across the country, many will discover that their energy supply is insufficient. Others are likely to find that EV charging brings unmanageable peak charges. The energy ecosystem for Nottingham City Council overcomes all these challenges and shows a path ahead that others can follow.” The site will be mean the Council can use its own energy send it back into the grid, and manage costs as Nottingham City Council’s Principal Energy Projects Officer Steve Cornes, observed: “By using intelligently managed BESS and V2G, on-site solar energy can be maximised and the depot will effectively be able to isolate itself from the grid. The systems will allow us to ensure production costs of electricity will be negligible, allowing us to peak shave so that we can avoid high electricity tariffs and give us the opportunity to trade electricity back to the grid.” The installation is part of Nottingham’s goal of being the first carbon-neutral city in the country by 2028. With other parts of the world turbocharging their support for the zero-emission vehicle transition, we need to step up to compete in this global race ”
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