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September/October Issue 63 - Flipbook - Page 17


ERY INDUSTRY AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES?
encompass EV training costs. EV
basic training is already available,
but the level of training required to
disconnect the power is being sold
for £1,400.00 per delegate. This is
not sustainable to any recovery
operator, especially when they
are only receiving c£81.00 out of
the £150.00 statutory charge to
recover an EV car.
however this presents us with
route planning challenges in
London because low bridges don’t
like dust carts on low loaders so
long re-routing is necessary. As
a result the cost to recover these
EV trucks has shot up 45% in the
last year. I bet the manufacturers
never discussed this with the
purchasers when they ordered.
to prepare suggested answers
for our members after a regional
consultation exercise so if you
agree with the general consensus,
all you need to do is complete your
contact details for submission.
Already, regular recovery and
roadside repair of EV’s has
changed drastically, it’s becoming
common practice to employ
specialist equipment, such as
dolly wheels etc. to recover an
EV as they tend to generate
dangerous amounts of voltage if
they are rolled, and/or they can’t
be rolled anyway because wheels
are locked in drive.
We also need to talk about storage.
EV’s have a higher probability of
a thermal event (catch fire to you
and me) so a larger and separated
storage area is required to isolate
the vehicle. Do the math, one
EV can take up nine spaces, yet
motoring organisations and Police
still want free storage days.
It is our view that the recovery
industry has been short changed
since 2008 despite The minister
stating: “charges should not be an
income generator for the police,
but should be set at such a level
as to make removal operations
viable….the new higher charges
are necessary because otherwise
it is likely to become uneconomic
for contractors to continue these
operations. If contractors decided
to stop work for the police, this
would have a detrimental effect on
the police’s ability to enforce the
law”.
Many lorry loaders built for car
lifting can’t lift EV’s as they are
too heavy, as a result we have to
employ larger trucks and heavier
lifting equipment, this comes
at additional cost. The risk to
damage is a larger concern as
EV’s are more expensive, yet we
are still having to argue with the
motoring organisations to consider
a relatively small EV premium.
An increased statutory charge
(that is actually received by the
recovery operator rather than
being paid to a call centre) is
absolutely necessary in order
for the industry to deliver a
professional and reliable service
to the Strategic Road Network.
Recovery of EV cars is just the start
of the transition we find ourselves
in, EV dust carts are becoming
common place in London. When
they breakdown, they cannot be
‘lift and towed’ conventionally, a
low loader is normally required,
Presently, The UK is behind our
European partners on this aspect.
During my talks with the Dutch
equivalent to Highways England
I found that they have agreed
a general policy and practice
document for their national
recovery network for EV recovery.
This policy includes the integration
of watertight containers that have
been distributed throughout the
network in case EV’s that are
suspected of an imminent thermal
event can be immersed in water to
contain the fire.
I should mention Dutch recovery
operators receive an EV premium
and also receive a bonus on every
job for a quick ETA.
AVRO are working on the public
review for recovery and removal
charges and will be communicating
to our members how we intend
to contribute, however we will
also be asking that each member
contributes
independently
to
drive the message home. To help
save you some time we intend
We will need to be focused on this
consultation and make sure we
drive our message home.
Even though statutory recovery
and removal charges were
increased in 2008, we have
witnessed how the authorities and
various management companies
syphon the proceeds meant for
the core industry, so we have
ended up with less than before the
increase.
Therefore, we will be demanding
that collected fees are enshrined
so that recovery operators pay
is protected. We expect it will be
another 15 years before we get an
opportunity like this. In that time
EV’s and their increased costs will
be ever more prevalent.
There is lots of work to do, join
AVRO, show your support for
the conversation to support your
industry.
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