Electric Vehicle Revolution: How This Affects Your Shop

Car Battery

Now, we have talked about how electric vehicles are affecting the big companies and the government but now let’s tie it all together how this all boils down to affect your shop. New vehicles require new tools and more training, this is not a secret. What you may not be aware of however is the magnitude of the changes these electric vehicles pose for you and your shop. As I mentioned previously both the corporations and countries around the globe all plan on going electric and it will be up to you to make sure you are prepared.The first thing you need to do is make sure that you are properly trained to work on these new battery powered vehicles. While you may believe that you are skilled enough vehicle technician and do not need additional training that is most likely not the case. According to the UK’s Institute of the Motor Industry 97% of active mechanics are not qualified to work on electric cars. This is a staggering number and just reaffirms what we have been discussing, this is not the end of the world however as there is a numerous training programs you can take part in for little or no cost to you. Even if you decide against taking these courses here are some things that the new wave of mechanics in the industry are going to be trained in:Advanced Energy Storage
Advanced Energy Storage is an introduction to energy storage systems for electric vehicles. It covers the fundamentals of energy conversion including thermodynamics, chemical energy storage in fuels and hydrogen, electrochemical systems for storing energy, battery chemistry in charging and discharging batteries, and the sustainability of advanced energy storage systems. This course also compares the environmental effects of current fossil-fueled energy systems and conversion processes with more sustainable systems using renewable energy and more efficient conversion processes.
Advanced Energy Storage is an introduction to energy storage systems for electric vehicles. It covers the fundamentals of energy conversion including thermodynamics, chemical energy storage in fuels and hydrogen, electrochemical systems for storing energy, battery chemistry in charging and discharging batteries, and the sustainability of advanced energy storage systems. This course also compares the environmental effects of current fossil-fueled energy systems and conversion processes with more sustainable systems using renewable energy and more efficient conversion processes.
Automotive Systems
Automotive Systems is an introduction to today’s automobiles, including Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Topics include exposure to various pieces of automotive shop equipment and details of the automotive service business. A working knowledge of basic automotive components and general maintenance necessary for vehicle operations will be emphasized. This course also promotes a basic understanding of alternative fuel and HEV vehicle technology.
Automotive Systems is an introduction to today’s automobiles, including Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Topics include exposure to various pieces of automotive shop equipment and details of the automotive service business. A working knowledge of basic automotive components and general maintenance necessary for vehicle operations will be emphasized. This course also promotes a basic understanding of alternative fuel and HEV vehicle technology.
Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology
Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technology provides an overview of electric and gas-electric hybrid vehicle fundamentals. It describes the fundamentals of the operation, diagnosis, and repair of electric and hybrid vehicles. Topics covered include EV and HEV batteries, fuel cells, electric motor controllers, invertors, and auxiliary accessories.
Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technology provides an overview of electric and gas-electric hybrid vehicle fundamentals. It describes the fundamentals of the operation, diagnosis, and repair of electric and hybrid vehicles. Topics covered include EV and HEV batteries, fuel cells, electric motor controllers, invertors, and auxiliary accessories.
Electric Vehicle Data Acquisition, Sensors and Control Systems
Electric Vehicle Data Acquisition, Sensors, and Control Systems emphasizes the sensors, microprocessors, and digital communications systems used in modern vehicles to optimize vehicle performance. Topics include a review of electrical and electronics theory, transistors, gates, vehicle network theory, vehicle embedded controllers and communications protocols, sensors, actuators, the major systems in internal combustion and electric drive or electric assist vehicles, vehicle emissions and emissions control systems, and selected topics in power control. Using network analysis tools, the student will gain a broad knowledge of the networks and communications used in modern automotive systems.
Electric Vehicle Data Acquisition, Sensors, and Control Systems emphasizes the sensors, microprocessors, and digital communications systems used in modern vehicles to optimize vehicle performance. Topics include a review of electrical and electronics theory, transistors, gates, vehicle network theory, vehicle embedded controllers and communications protocols, sensors, actuators, the major systems in internal combustion and electric drive or electric assist vehicles, vehicle emissions and emissions control systems, and selected topics in power control. Using network analysis tools, the student will gain a broad knowledge of the networks and communications used in modern automotive systems.
Electronic Technology
Electronic Technology is an entry level course on the theory of series, parallel, and series-parallel D.C. Circuits. It is the first part of a two-part electronics course. Topics included in this course include using meters to measure and evaluate signals and voltages, identifying basic electronic components of actual and schematic symbols, and analyzing and solving circuits using the Superposition Theorem and Ohm’s, Watt’s, and Kirchhoff’s Laws.
Electronic Technology is an entry level course on the theory of series, parallel, and series-parallel D.C. Circuits. It is the first part of a two-part electronics course. Topics included in this course include using meters to measure and evaluate signals and voltages, identifying basic electronic components of actual and schematic symbols, and analyzing and solving circuits using the Superposition Theorem and Ohm’s, Watt’s, and Kirchhoff’s Laws.
Introduction to Electric Vehicle Propulsion Systems
Introduction to Electric Vehicle Propulsion Systems is an introductory course that provides practical training in the theory and design of battery-powered electric vehicle propulsion systems. Topics include the rationale for electric vehicles, safety, battery technologies, basic battery testing, electric machine (motor) types, electric machine operation, power management, power inverters, DC to DC converters, and accessory systems. This course also covers potential future technologies in electric vehicle propulsion systems.
Introduction to Electric Vehicle Propulsion Systems is an introductory course that provides practical training in the theory and design of battery-powered electric vehicle propulsion systems. Topics include the rationale for electric vehicles, safety, battery technologies, basic battery testing, electric machine (motor) types, electric machine operation, power management, power inverters, DC to DC converters, and accessory systems. This course also covers potential future technologies in electric vehicle propulsion systems.The new wave of electric vehicles coming in is far different than other big changes in the industry lately. These fixes aren’t just about new tools like when power steering was introduced rather it is a pivot from less physical tools and more diagnostic tools on your computer/ mobile device. The reasoning behind this logic is think about what jobs electric vehicles do not require, there’s no fluids drain, no oil to change, no transmission system to fix, and no spark plug to change. They have far less moving parts than a vehicle that runs on fossil fuel which changes what your shop will focus on to thrive as a business. For instance there was a test done where a Tesla Model S, Mercedes S-Class, and a Lincoln Town Car all drove 300,000 miles and then tallied the maintenance costs after the fact. At the end of the trip the Tesla only needed $6,900 worth of work while the Mercedes and Lincoln needed $52,000 and $28,000 respectively. While a lot of your usual jobs would be cut down significantly there are still a bunch of jobs that would need to be done (brakes, tires, axles, framework) and on top of that opportunity for new jobs like replacing damaged batteries and control circuit boards, and performing diagnostics on a vehicle’s control panel. This means you are going to have to train yourself to be more like an IT person with a car lover’s mind.My last issue I would like to bring up is the threat of these electric car companies boxing out local repair shops from working on their vehicles. Not only does Tesla claim that 80% of all repairs can be done without having to go to a service center but they are doubling down and have hired and trained their own technicians within their company that can go and repair their customer’s vehicle right from their driveway! As I mentioned earlier there has been a pivot from having to repair the hardware to focusing in on the software. These vehicles are beginning to have solutions to problems available from “over the air” updates meaning issues can be solved the same way your phone fixes a bug.
This is not an article to tell you that your business is in danger but rather it is to let you know that we are at a turning point in the automotive industry and it is time to prepare your staff and yourself for the new set of problems you will be faced with. Over the next 20 years someone won’t come in complaining their exhaust pipe is making a strange noise or their engines making a pinging sound but rather they will be asking about their battery cells or will need help boosting their transformer converters.The question isn’t about whether cars will need to be repaired anymore, people still are going to find ways to create problems with their car the question is will you be ready to offer them a solution.Check out the rest of this series to find out how your shop will be affected by this new wave of vehicles.Government 
Industry 

Electric Vehicle Revolution: Industry

Tesla Charge Point

It has become clear that since the beginning of the new millennium there has been a shift in the automotive industry. The first big change came when the assembly line was created leading to more vehicles on the road for much cheaper. Then there was the electronic fuel injection which improved vehicle’s engine efficiency. Now, since the start of the 2000’s, the newest big wave in the auto industry is electric vehicles. We have seen this shift coming for a while, from the introduction of hybrids to touch screens being standard equipment, you would be naive to think it’s a passing fad. Both the businesses and consumers are pouring money into these new vehicles because they understand that now is the time to go electric!Growing Investments by International Brands
Over the course of the next 20 years you will begin to see a lot more electric vehicles on the streets and this can be seen now with the investments that are going into this technology today. It isn’t a secret that the heavy hitters in the business are dumping billions of dollars into the electric market to not only keep up with their consumers needs, but also because of pressure from the government. Ford for instance is investing $11 billion by 2022 to convert 40 of their models to either be hybrid of fully electric. It isn’t just Ford that is pouring money into these vehicles; Mercedes looks to spend $11.7 billion to try and have 10 purely electric vehicles and 40 hybrids while Volkswagen looks to invest $40 billion by 2030 to build electric versions of its 300-plus global models! According to Bloomberg’s “Electric Vehicle Outlook” they are projecting that by the year 2040 55% of all new car sales and 33% of the global fleet will be electric compared to the current less than 1%.
This is not only going to increase the output of electric vehicles on the road but also increase the amount of money being pumped into this market as well. Within the next ten years the global electric vehicle market is going to increase to $912 billion. With this amount of money being spent on the production of electric vehicles, it is obvious that there is a ton of business opportunity as well. According to Reuter the electrification of vehicles has attributed to the creation of 250 startups that are attracting more than $20 billion in venture capital. On top of these, there are an additional 50 electric vehicle startups that are trying to strike while the iron is hot and while people are still dumping money into this industry.
Over the course of the next 20 years you will begin to see a lot more electric vehicles on the streets and this can be seen now with the investments that are going into this technology today. It isn’t a secret that the heavy hitters in the business are dumping billions of dollars into the electric market to not only keep up with their consumers needs, but also because of pressure from the government. Ford for instance is investing $11 billion by 2022 to convert 40 of their models to either be hybrid of fully electric. It isn’t just Ford that is pouring money into these vehicles; Mercedes looks to spend $11.7 billion to try and have 10 purely electric vehicles and 40 hybrids while Volkswagen looks to invest $40 billion by 2030 to build electric versions of its 300-plus global models! According to Bloomberg’s “Electric Vehicle Outlook” they are projecting that by the year 2040 55% of all new car sales and 33% of the global fleet will be electric compared to the current less than 1%.
This is not only going to increase the output of electric vehicles on the road but also increase the amount of money being pumped into this market as well. Within the next ten years the global electric vehicle market is going to increase to $912 billion. With this amount of money being spent on the production of electric vehicles, it is obvious that there is a ton of business opportunity as well. According to Reuter the electrification of vehicles has attributed to the creation of 250 startups that are attracting more than $20 billion in venture capital. On top of these, there are an additional 50 electric vehicle startups that are trying to strike while the iron is hot and while people are still dumping money into this industry.
Increasing Interest by Consumers
On top of businesses spending billions of dollars on electric vehicles many consumers are looking to invest in electric vehicles as well. According to Consumer Report 31% of Americans are going to be looking to purchase an electric vehicle next time they are in the market for a new car. It is no mystery that it is much cheaper to own a hybrid vehicle as you eliminate the need to fill up your car regularly with gas. For example take a 2019 Nissan Leaf, its average rated efficiency at 99 mpg would cost you $4.08 in kilowatt/hours to go 100 miles vs. a car that is 25 mpg that would run you $10, since the average price of gas in the United States is $2.50. This is why ⅔ of the people that said they would be purchasing an electric vehicle said they would be getting one for the long term return on investment. While this increased demand has resulted in the amount of tax incentives going down a bit, you have to think of the bigger picture. You have to think about the amount of money you will save when more and more of these vehicles go on the market for resale. On top of the money that you will be saving on purchasing one of these vehicles as used, you can still get tax credits on top of the incentives the government offers. These government incentives are due to them trying to reduce the amount of carbon emissions being produced (we get into this in the “Government” addition of this series).
On top of businesses spending billions of dollars on electric vehicles many consumers are looking to invest in electric vehicles as well. According to Consumer Report 31% of Americans are going to be looking to purchase an electric vehicle next time they are in the market for a new car. It is no mystery that it is much cheaper to own a hybrid vehicle as you eliminate the need to fill up your car regularly with gas. For example take a 2019 Nissan Leaf, its average rated efficiency at 99 mpg would cost you $4.08 in kilowatt/hours to go 100 miles vs. a car that is 25 mpg that would run you $10, since the average price of gas in the United States is $2.50. This is why ⅔ of the people that said they would be purchasing an electric vehicle said they would be getting one for the long term return on investment. While this increased demand has resulted in the amount of tax incentives going down a bit, you have to think of the bigger picture. You have to think about the amount of money you will save when more and more of these vehicles go on the market for resale. On top of the money that you will be saving on purchasing one of these vehicles as used, you can still get tax credits on top of the incentives the government offers. These government incentives are due to them trying to reduce the amount of carbon emissions being produced (we get into this in the “Government” addition of this series).
Investing in Your Electric Vehicle
Once you own one of these vehicles, the last thing you need is to install a charging station in your home and you will have an unlimited power source for your vehicle. A Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charger will cost you around $350-$700, and then a couple hundred extra to have the device installed into your home by an electrician. This part is up to you, the more money you spend on the charging station and installation, the less time you will spend charging your car at charge stations and save yourself time and money.
Once you own one of these vehicles, the last thing you need is to install a charging station in your home and you will have an unlimited power source for your vehicle. A Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charger will cost you around $350-$700, and then a couple hundred extra to have the device installed into your home by an electrician. This part is up to you, the more money you spend on the charging station and installation, the less time you will spend charging your car at charge stations and save yourself time and money.If you personally are still not a believer in the electric vehicle movement let the money give you all the proof you need. Hundreds of billions of dollars are being poured into producing and improving electric vehicles, if these big companies like Ford and Volkswagen did not believe in this movement than trust me, they would not be putting tens of billions of dollars on the line trying to beat out their competitors. Not only are the big companies spending money on electric vehicles but you can see for yourself the staggering increase of electric vehicles hitting the road everyday on your commute to work. A few snowflakes are beginning to turn into an avalanche; a small trend turning into an entire industry of its own and is beginning to make headway as the future of transportation.Check out the rest of this series to find out how your shop will be affected by this new wave of vehicles.Government 
Service Facility 

Electric Vehicle Revolution: Government

Charge Point with U.K Flag

With the importance of carbon emission reduction in the spotlight, you are sure to have come across several news stories or articles within the last five years. But, what does that actually mean for the US and the future of transportation and vehicles? According to the EPA, in 2016, the biggest culprit of CO2 emissions was transportation, accounting for over 28% of 2016 greenhouse emissions. Governments around the world are implementing laws and increasing incentives to encourage people to purchase more environmentally friendly vehicles. With advancements in technology and an increase in popularity, people now have access to electric vehicles with longer battery life and convenient public charging stations. If we follow the lead of other countries who have forward-thinking rules and policies, such as Norway and Netherlands, it is clear where this road will take us.North America Making Strides
For starters, let’s take a look at some of the policies in North America. Two out of the three countries (Canada and Mexico) have begun implementing a tax on carbon; a way to encourage a transition to more environmentally friendly means of operating vehicles. Not only does it raise awareness and help the environment, it also increases the country’s tax revenue. In an article published by C2ES, a 2017 study by the US Department of Treasury, estimated “a tax of $49 per metric ton of carbon dioxide could raise about $2.2 trillion in net revenues over 10 years” for the US. Adding a carbon tax can be an effective way to dissuade people from continuously purchasing fuel guzzling vehicles. In the United States, tax credits for the purchase of electric vehicles range from  $2,500-$7,500 , depending on the size of the vehicle and its battery capacity. Even though the United States is viewed as a powerhouse in the automotive industry, Europe and China are actually are ahead in electric vehicle sales.
For starters, let’s take a look at some of the policies in North America. Two out of the three countries (Canada and Mexico) have begun implementing a tax on carbon; a way to encourage a transition to more environmentally friendly means of operating vehicles. Not only does it raise awareness and help the environment, it also increases the country’s tax revenue. In an article published by C2ES, a 2017 study by the US Department of Treasury, estimated “a tax of $49 per metric ton of carbon dioxide could raise about $2.2 trillion in net revenues over 10 years” for the US. Adding a carbon tax can be an effective way to dissuade people from continuously purchasing fuel guzzling vehicles. In the United States, tax credits for the purchase of electric vehicles range from  $2,500-$7,500 , depending on the size of the vehicle and its battery capacity. Even though the United States is viewed as a powerhouse in the automotive industry, Europe and China are actually are ahead in electric vehicle sales.
How Europe Measures Up
When you think of Europe’s involvement in the automotive industry, your mind may initially go to the U.K or Germany. In reality, Norway and the Netherlands lead the European nations in their transition to becoming fully electric and eliminating the need to import or use any fossil fuel based vehicles. Norway has had a huge influx in its electric vehicle market, having sold more electric than gas powered vehicles, making the government’s plan to go “zero emission” by 2025 very likely. In a similar fashion, the Netherlands is pushing to go emission free in a few years, leading the pack in electric vehicle sales. The Netherlands waives registration fees for those purchasing electric vehicles. France, another EV friendly European country, offers a $6,500 bonus for purchasing purely electric vehicles and a $4,500 incentive for anyone bringing their diesel-powered vehicle to be scrapped. On top of these incentives, they are doubling down and aim to have 100,000 public charging stations by the year 2020. Lastly, one of the global giants of the automotive industry, the U.K, has been going all in on electric vehicles over the past few years. The U.K plans on spending $530 million in funding for companies that install charging points, helping them further establish a solid electric-car infrastructure. These policies have led to a huge upswing in EV sales as Europe doesn’t want to be left behind.
When you think of Europe’s involvement in the automotive industry, your mind may initially go to the U.K or Germany. In reality, Norway and the Netherlands lead the European nations in their transition to becoming fully electric and eliminating the need to import or use any fossil fuel based vehicles. Norway has had a huge influx in its electric vehicle market, having sold more electric than gas powered vehicles, making the government’s plan to go “zero emission” by 2025 very likely. In a similar fashion, the Netherlands is pushing to go emission free in a few years, leading the pack in electric vehicle sales. The Netherlands waives registration fees for those purchasing electric vehicles. France, another EV friendly European country, offers a $6,500 bonus for purchasing purely electric vehicles and a $4,500 incentive for anyone bringing their diesel-powered vehicle to be scrapped. On top of these incentives, they are doubling down and aim to have 100,000 public charging stations by the year 2020. Lastly, one of the global giants of the automotive industry, the U.K, has been going all in on electric vehicles over the past few years. The U.K plans on spending $530 million in funding for companies that install charging points, helping them further establish a solid electric-car infrastructure. These policies have led to a huge upswing in EV sales as Europe doesn’t want to be left behind.
World Leader in Electric Vehicle Production
We’ve looked at North America and Europe, but the country leading the world in the shift to electric vehicles is China.  China is producing more electric vehicles than every other country in the world combined! As one of the most highly polluted countries in the world, China is looking to electric vehicles as a necessity in combating this problem. A $17,000 subsidy for each vehicle purchased seems to do the trick, convincing people to buy electric.  Not only are they selling electric vehicles at an impressive rate, they also make up about 35% of the world’s electric vehicle production. As China continues to climb the electric vehicle ladder, other countries around the world are sure to follow.
We’ve looked at North America and Europe, but the country leading the world in the shift to electric vehicles is China.  China is producing more electric vehicles than every other country in the world combined! As one of the most highly polluted countries in the world, China is looking to electric vehicles as a necessity in combating this problem. A $17,000 subsidy for each vehicle purchased seems to do the trick, convincing people to buy electric.  Not only are they selling electric vehicles at an impressive rate, they also make up about 35% of the world’s electric vehicle production. As China continues to climb the electric vehicle ladder, other countries around the world are sure to follow.With a shift to electric vehicles well under way and generous government incentives being offered, fossil fuel based vehicles will likely be phased out over the course of the next 10 years. A few European nations have already vowed to be “zero emissions” in the next decade and it is only a matter of time before others follow suit. We predict that by the year 2025 every household in America will have at least one electric vehicle and by the year 2040 you will need a special license to drive a non-autonomous vehicle.
Check out the rest of this series to find out how your shop will be affected by this new wave of vehicles.Industry 
Service Facility