November/December Issue 64 - Flipbook - Page 7
varying situations and what are
their expectations of the industry?
Further to that I will throw open the
crucial question which all roadside
recovery operators must ask –
what are work providers going
to pay operators for dealing with
these vehicles? Before answering
that question, I would strongly
implore you to consider the
following points:
TRAINING
At present there is industry wide
awareness training, but this is
awareness training, not in depth
as I understand it, but training
which covers the basics of electric
and hybrid vehicles.
There is available training which
includes becoming qualified to
isolate a high voltage vehicle – but
again there is substantial cost to
this, and it is not a clear fit solution
for our industry.
RISK OVER REWARD
The vast majority of electric and
hybrid vehicles are similar to
standard vehicles, in ways they
are recovered and the process for
this – but there is a vast proportion
of these vehicles which are not
straight forward to recover and
each manufacturer has different
guidance on how their vehicles
are to be recovered but with that
comes expense.
Some of these vehicles are
heading towards £100K in value
and with the weight these vehicles
run at, due to the high voltage
batteries it is certainly not a case
these vehicles can be recovered
on a 7500KG recovery vehicle and
will likely need to be recovered
with a recovery vehicle of a GVW
in excess of 10000KG – can this
be done at a stagnant mileage
rate of circa £1.00 per mile?
STORAGE
Guidance for storage of these
vehicles, in particular when they
have been damaged or involved
in collisions is that they need to
be stored in isolation – away from
other vehicles or other sources of
ignition or what can spread fire in
case the EV ignites – so how does
that factor in with work providers
who insist on free storage – not
only do these vehicles take up
the space of one vehicle, but
potentially several due to the
requirement to be separated – so
again it comes back to cost and
the return for the operator.
INSURANCE
Where does the operator’s
insurance stand on these vehicles
– will they insure an electric or
hybrid vehicle that is damaged to
be stored inside your premises
or even in your compound
segregated? How is the insurance
industry viewing this – because if
they are viewing it as a risk, then
guess what – we are back to costs
again and cost on the operator.
So again, I ask the question – is
the risk over reward worth it for the
roadside recovery operator?
On this I am very keen to hear
your views and opinions on this,
the above is my personal view
from my dealings on the matter –
but I want to hear from you as the
operator – so please feel free to
e-mail me your thoughts on the
matter at graham@avrouk.com.
I may sound negative on this
subject thus far – that is not my
intention, but my concern is, and
is shared by many others, that
this industry is once again being
walked up the garden path to a
destination none of us really know
– as I have said the industry is
more than capable of rising to this
challenge and will get the job done
– but we need the information to
allow us to do this, we need the
knowledge to make sure we are
safe in doing it and importantly we
need the right revenue from it to
justify the investment required.
As always, individual operators
are best positioned to know what
is good or bad for their business,
but I encourage everyone to
ensure you are preparing now for
the onset of electric and hybrid
vehicles. Make sure you factor
in the risk over reward – are you
being paid at the right level of
return to justify the necessary
investment.
You will see within this edition of
AVRO News we have an article
from HSE on current guidance
in respect of electric and hybrid
vehicles and I am aware that
my colleagues within AVRO are
involved in dialogue with HSE and
industry stakeholders through the
Motor Vehicle Repair Forum and
the ambition is that we will soon
be provided with new updated
guidance.
This is certainly a high priority issue
for AVRO as well as the industry,
and we will continue to push
forward with our discussions with
all from Government departments
through to work providers to
ensure that the interests of our
members and wider industry are
heard and represented on this
crucial matter.
As always, I am here to help where
I can – so please do not hesitate
to be in touch with me and I will
endeavour to do my best and what
I can to assist. Stay safe and stay
positive.
All the best,
Graham
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