With consumer interest in electric and hybrid vehicles growing, an exclusive GW reader survey reveals the trends when it comes to alternatively fuelled vehicles in the workshop.
Just over half of independent garages questioned in the GW reader survey said that they don’t currently have a trained technician to work on hybrid or electric cars.
However, 19 per cent of these workshops added that they plan to invest in training within the next 12 months and, with 52 per cent considering the installation of an electric vehicle charge point in the near future, it seems independents are keen to keep pace with industry change.
34 per cent of respondents said that they see an electric and/or hybrid vehicle in their workshop at least once a month.
Coincidentally, 34 per cent also said that they actively promote servicing and repairs for electric and/or hybrid vehicles.
AA Garage Guide
The findings have prompted AA Garage Guide, provider of online bookings, patrol referrals and the ‘Certified Garage Programme’, to announce its partnership with electric vehicle charging provider, Chargemaster.
With 52 per cent of responses to GW’s survey and just under 50 per cent of those surveyed within the Garage Guide network answering that they would be interested in hosting a public electric vehicle charging station on site, the implementation of this unique partnership will roll out in the coming months.
Adding further benefit to becoming ‘AA Certified’, the installation of all Chargemaster public charging points on the POLAR network will be completely free to Certified garages.
Chargemaster
Chargemaster is the official UK charging partner for most electric vehicle manufacturers, and it has installed over 40,000 Homecharge units to date, with all products designed and manufactured in the UK.
Olli Astley, managing director of Garage Services at The AA, said: “The feedback we received both from our garage network and the GW readership shows the enthusiasm that’s out there for making sure that garages can cater to all of their customers’ needs.
“55 per cent of our garages are keen to offer electric car charging as an added service, and just over 58 per cent expressed interest in hearing more about the electric/hybrid vehicle training that we are arranging on their behalf.”
For more information about AA Garage Guide, click ‘more details’ below.