So, number one, what do I mean by ‘Make a decision’?
All garage businesses/owners need to make this decision if you haven’t already. You need to decide which is the best route for you and your business, make a plan, and go for it. There are three simple choices:
- Don’t work on EVs at all, carry on as you are and, arguably, specialise more in ICE as the years go by
- Carry out normal service and repairs to the low voltage side of high voltage hybrid vehicles
- Specialise in high voltage EVs
Arguably there is a fourth, which is a combination of 2 and 3, where part of your business does one aspect and a different part does the other. Over time this may move closer to just option 3.
But why should you consider EVs as a specialism? These SMMT figures (accessed end of June 2022) show a significant trend in the sales of EVs. They are coming, like it or not!
Change in our industry is nothing new and depending on your age, you will remember a number of significant changes. I remember quite a lot… For example, going back a bit, many in our trade started to consider their future when electronic ignition started to become popular, when electronic fuel injection started to replace carburettors, they were apoplectic! Then there was full engine management, ABS, TCR, ESC, catalytic converters and lambda control, service lights, and more up to date, ADAS and, well I could go on. At many of these times in quite recent automotive history, some business chose to embrace what was new, and others chose not to.
Here is some more useful information from the IMI showing the predicted gap between the number of EVs on the road and the number of qualified technicians. This means there will be a significant demand for ECV work – and if you can do it, it puts your business in an advantageous position.
To me, a key part of deciding on your future plans is being realistic about what can be achieved. I think the days when one workshop could do everything are already over – and the need to specialise has become even more important.
Whatever you decide is correct. Just make sure you do decide quite soon. If EVs are going to be a part of your future, then you need to start learning more, which we will cover next time.