Electric Vehicle Service Requires Specially Trained Technicians

Company Succeeds at Electric Vehicle Service

What does it take to run a successful business in the electric vehicle service sector? In the case of Extreme Garage: core values of integrity, perseverance, and teamwork. In the field of mechanical services, this agile company covers several fields at its licensed facility, including:

• Mechanical repair and service
• Service on light to heavy duty diesel and electrical engines
• Commercial trucks and buses
• Air conditioning repairs

Central to the success of this business is its team of Heavy-duty equipment mechanics, who repair, overhaul, and maintain a wide variety of mobile units. Included in that is expertise in one of the fastest expanding sectors of heavy equipment repair – the servicing of electric vehicles, including buses.

Demand is Increasing for Electric Service Vehicle Mechanics and Technicians

Servicing electric vehicles requires utilizing the skillsets of qualified professional mechanics. The shift to electric cars is perhaps the most visible sector, but electric buses and trucks are also coming to the forefront. An increasing number of jurisdictions are mandating that an increasing portion of their bus fleet be electric – if not all.

Canada’s goal is 5000 battery-electric buses in use over the next five years – and a complete move to all new buses being electric by 2040. Montreal and Vancouver are committed to 100 per cent zero carbon emission transportation fleets by 2040 and 2050, respectively. The city of Toronto already has North America’s largest fleet of electric buses – 60 – with another 300 on order.

The electric engine is simpler than its internal-combustion counterpart. However, Electric vehicle service also requires specific skills, most importantly as knowledge of high voltage system safety. The battery in an electric vehicle is large and powerful. If not disarmed properly, it can injure or even kill a person.

Refurbishment Necessary for the Health of Buses

The refurbishment, repair and diesel engine service are important elements in keeping bus fleets at peak efficiency. A full refurbishment – returning a bus to active duty – costs about half that of buying a new vehicle. This cost efficiency can assist a municipal transit authority to maintain and increase its ridership, by having more vehicles available

In Canada’s climate, buses take an incredible amount of abuse, from both the elements and corrosion-causing road salts. A full refurbishment can take up to 8 weeks and is a labour intensive process. Some of the steps in the process include:

• Removal of all fixtures on the bus – essentially a full stripping of the vehicle
• Identification and repair or replacement of all the corroded areas
• Repair and overhaul of mechanical fixtures – such as heaters, defrosters, and air conditioners
• Rebuilding of the internal components including seating, often involving new upgrades
• Painting, adding signage, and test driving

The process of repairing a vehicle in the case of collision is not the same as a refurbishment and can be more specific and event-related. But it also involves evaluation, repair, refinishing, reassembling and test driving.

Upgrades and modernization of fleets are also part of the process, and can often include new branding, seat overhauls and other modernization features, such as fare collection. This is true of both diesel-powered buses and servicing their electric vehicle counterparts.