Meeting the EV Challenge MAKING EVS WELCOME HELPS ENSURE CONTINUITY FOR ‘TRADITIONAL’ WORKSHOPS
T
he recent fuel price hike is accelerating the demand for EVS, and while they are still a tiny percentage of the vehicle fleet in New Zealand, workshops can maintain a relationship with customers who have added an EV to the family fleet by adding EV services. Workshops will naturally be wary of the new technology and will want to avoid undertaking work on systems they have not been trained on, but Blackfern Cooperative director Roger Castleton says they are encouraging workshops to look at the
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Auto Channel Issue #48 July 2022
opportunities they present — much like the growing opportunities in gaining expertise in ADAS systems. And he encourages them to move with their customers who often have a foot “in both camps”. “Most families with two vehicles will retain a fossil fuel car, so EV owners should by virtue of their history still want to deal with the team they trust at their local garage.” As a first step, Blackfern recommends workshops look at installing a universal EV charger in the workshop and offer free or low-cost charging
as part of the vehicle service. Blackfern partner YHI Energy has a number of options in this field. Roger says most workshops will find a hard-wired 7kW AC charger, like the EO Mini Pro 2, is enough to provide a decent add-on service and customer perk. With a charge rate of 30km–50km per hour (vehicle dependent) and a universal socket, this one unit will charge any PHEV/EV on the road both now and in the future. With the ability to reduce its charging power based on what electricity is being consumed elsewhere on the property, workshops will never exceed a site’s energy supply. For workshops with EV customers already, or even planning upgrades, Blackfern recommends an entry level 30kW DC charger. Available in wall-mount or mobile, this solution provides fast charging — which EV owners seek out — at a rate of 100km to 150km per hour (vehicle dependent). “It is an excellent addition to a busy workshop,” says Roger. “DC charging is also a great way to attract customers, in particular if there are things to do close by, such as dining or shopping. “Talk to the experts at YHI Energy supplies about EV charging,” he says. “They will find a solution that works for your workshop today and well into the future.” Blackfern members will go in the draw to win 10,000 reward points by just enquiring during July. “Should you purchase a charger, you can divide your payment into three months, no interest, no fee,” says Roger. For more information on Blackfern Cooperative, see www.blackfern.coop.
