Surface World December 2019 Surface World December 2019 | Page 64

PRODUCTS & PROCESSES
Electric vehicles spark
new bodyshop challenges
We may think of electric
vehicles (EVs) as a recent
phenomenon. However,
the idea has been around
for about 180 years, when
Scotsman Robert Anderson
created an electric
carriage with crude non-
rechargeable batteries.
New power, new challenges
Of course, the popularity of EVs has
increased apace since then, with
environmental imperatives driving huge
growth in this sector. The International Energy
Agency (IEA) projects that 125 million such
cars will be on the road worldwide by 2030
- up from 3 million in 2017.
Electric batteries need to be treated with
respect because the powerful voltage
they contain can be life threatening if not
handled carefully.
Safety above all
The UK Government has issued its own HSE
guidance on the matter, which includes:
Remote operation keys should be kept
away from the vehicle to prevent any
accidental operation of electrical systems
and accidental movement of the vehicle.
Vehicles should be visually checked for
62
signs of damage to high voltage cabling
(usually coloured orange) or electrical
components before starting any work on
the vehicle.
Unless a specific task requires the vehicle
to be energised always isolate or disconnect
the high voltage battery in accordance with
manufacturer’s instructions.
What will this mean to bodyshops and paint
refinishers who increasingly have to deal with
EVs? Mick Finch, AkzoNobel Technical
Coordinator, explains how throughput could
well suffer from the
extra steps that
need to be involved
in the process. “In
the first instance,
before any work
begins, the
bodyshop will have
to think about what
procedures they
need to follow, like
a hospital’s triage
process,” says Mick.
“Dependant on the
repair, extra steps
will have to be
taken which may
involve having to
remove the battery
completely if the paint product requires a
bake cycle over specific temperatures with an
increased cycle time.”
Increasing turnaround time
The problem is that electric batteries don’t
react well to high temperatures. Battery
systems contain chemicals that can be
harmful if released. They also store
significant amounts of energy that can cause
explosions if not dealt with correctly. As a
consequence, manufacturers recommend
the removal of the battery if the paint
curing process requires heat over specific
temperatures. All of this takes time, which will
slow down productivity, something refinishers
have been successful in increasing over
recent years.
Once the battery has been removed there
are other knock-on effects. Where can you
store it so that it’s accessible but still safe?
How do you move the car with no power
and the engine management system out of
DECEMBER 2019
action? And what about courtesy cars? If
someone has invested in an EV they are
unlikely to want a diesel replacement. These
problems can all be solved but require some
thought – and potentially some investment.
Solutions at hand
Mick Finch offers an optimistic view of the
current situation with EVs. “The maximum
bake temperature is not as restrictive as it
could have been,” he says. “There are
products that work very effectively at low
temperatures, for instance AkzoNobel’s
Sikkens Autoclear Aerodry. This can be cured
at 60o C in just five minutes or ambient
cured at 20o C for a maximum of 45
minutes so is ideal to be used with the
battery in place – saving lots of time.”
AkzoNobel’s training video for this product is
available on the Sikkens website[inc link],
and the paint and coatings manufacturer is
providing training sessions on best practice
for incorporating Autoclear Aerodry into a
bodyshop’s workflow.
Facing up to the future
Another unanswered question at the
present time is the issue of certification. EV
manufacturers are offering guidance on how
to work on their vehicles without invalidating
the warranty or putting anyone at risk. So will
your bodyshop need certification from each
manufacturer in order to carry out specific
repairs? This would certainly be welcomed
by both customers and insurance companies
for the peace of mind it would bring.
There’s no denying the benefits that EVs will
give to the world at large, but they bring with
them a range of challenges for those having
to repair them. No doubt in the coming
years these questions will be answered and
bodyshops will adapt to new processes
and learn new skills as EVs become the
transportation of choice.
Find out more about how AkzoNobel
is working with electric vehicles by
watching this short video. Watch now:
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=VnmPc0-
mBYQ&feature=youtu.be
twitter: @surfaceworldmag