As the number of electric vehicles on our roads increases,
there is growing demand for support services for these vehicles. Traditional
physical infrastructure like petrol stations and electricity networks have been
forced to adapt but what about support services? We have mentioned before the
importance of mechanics developing new skillsets which allow them to work on
electric cars. The same applies to those who work in roadside assistance and
emergency response.
EVs are fundamentally different to traditionally fuelled
cars, particularly when it comes to the technology which powers them. However,
the way we use these cars has not changed. The main aim is still to get from A
to B. Like traditional cars, inevitably, EVs will occasionally encounter
difficulties such as running out of fuel (in this case power) or punctured
tires. This begs the question: are existing roadside assistance companies able
to provide the same level of service to EV drivers?
Last year, RAC announced that they are rolling out a new EV charging kit which will provide a ten-mile boost to batteries to get motorists on their way if they run out. The unit will be integrated into new vans purchased for their fleet and they are working on a way of adapting older models to include this new option as well. This service is designed to mirror the fuel top-up provided for petrol and diesel cars. The scheme has initially been made available in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh, and will soon be rolled out to other areas of high demand.
RAC head of roadside rescue innovation Chris Millward said:
“With nothing like it on the market the real challenge was to develop a mobile
EV-charge system which is compact and light enough to fit in to our normal
patrol vehicles without compromising on space so we can still carry all the
normal parts and tools to help our patrols continue to fix four out of five
vehicles at the roadside.”
The RAC EV-mobile charger works with all Type 1 and Type 2
connections ensuring it will charge 99% of electric vehicles on UK roads today.
That said, it is still important for EV drivers to take
extra precautions to make sure than minor issues can be fixed without the need
for assistance:
- A spare tire or run-flat kit should still be kept in the car for emergencies
- A charging cable should always be kept in the car so that it can be connected to available power sources
- You should always plan journeys around charging and make sure that you are able to make it to the nearest charging point
- Make sure that you have breakdown cover which covers your electric vehicle. If in doubt, get in touch with your provider
If you are thinking of switching to electric and you have questions about life with an electric car, please get in touch. A member of our technical team will happily answer any questions that you have. Call us on 0141 280 8890 or drop us an email at info@britetechnicalservices.co.uk.
We also have a variety of platforms available with extensive information about electric vehicles (brite-ev.com), EV chargepoints (evchargepoints.com) and EV accessories.