Hybrids and EV Sales Are Electric. Is Your Shop Prepared?

When it comes to traditional combustible engines, there are about 2,000 parts that are tasked with performing a job in a harsh environment that strains even the best-engineered systems. The daily heat, pressure and strain on those parts are brutal. Eventually, something is bound to fail. And that means those 2,000 parts are 2,000 potential repair jobs for your shop.

Then there are electric vehicles, also known as EVs. Do you know how many parts an electric engine has? About 20. And none of them are performing their tasks in the sweltering, explosive environment of a combustible engine, so their failure rates are greatly reduced.

This is good for car owners, but it should make shop owners take a look at how to prepare their shop for the increasing number of EVs and hybrids on the road. How much of an increase? The numbers tell the story. In just one year, the surge in sales has been remarkable. When compared to last year’s sales, sales for 2017 have grown in every category:

• Hybrid vehicles: +40%
• Plug-in vehicles: +89%
• Fully electric vehicles: +134%

In fact, close to 4% of all vehicle sales for 2017 are hybrids. That’s more than all of Kia’s sales for the year. And it’s more than all BMW and Audi sales combined.

Then, there’s Volvo. The company recently announced every vehicle it makes in 2020 and beyond will either be a hybrid or an EV. And let’s not forget about Tesla. They’ve taken reservations from 325,000 people who want to purchase a new Tesla Model 3.

When you let those Volvo and Tesla numbers sink in, you’ll start to realize that no shop is immune. This isn’t just an issue for states with more robust Green Initiatives or more environmentally conscious car buyers. This is a universal shift.

Electric cars are coming. How you prepare for that inevitability will decide whether those electric cars are coming to your business. Start preparing now so that your shop will be on the leading edge of EV maintenance and repairs.