Toronto, Ontario — As surely every collision centre manager knows, but it always bears repeating, Mercedes-Benz’s Benito Cid reminded the industry that “a trained technician saves you a lot”, during a Thursday afternoon Guild 21 webinar.
This tip comes along with a promise that the EV training managers invest in today will pay off when major OEM model lineups, including Mercedes, are composed entirely of EVs.
“It’s not a matter of if you’re going to have them in the shop. It’s when you’re going to have them in the shop,” he said.
Cid was joined by longtime Guild 21 hosts George Avery and Micki Woods, as well as newcomer to the panel Holly Switzer-Pitts, to talk EV repairs, the OEM decisions that affect their repairability, and how to keep technicians safe in the process.
He said that as the method of EV design shifts away from simply creating electrified variants of ICE vehicles to the development of wholly EV-suited designs, adherence to proper safety procedures among technicians becomes increasingly important.
Cid says that his company is in the process of implementing a “battery specialist” training curriculum, wherein Mercedes Elite-certified technicians will be eligible for a 16 day online and in-person training course tackling some of the company’s most cutting-edge technology.
Mercedes, through its apps and emergency response offerings, can provide repairers and first responders with a visual map of a damaged vehicle’s internal electrical grid, as well as handling and voltage information, in order to maximize the safety of those interacting with a potentially compromised battery.
Additionally, addressing concerns about EV exposure to high temperatures, he said that Mercedes does not require the removal of a battery from any of their EV models prior to painting, for the sake of repairer ease and safety.
Looking toward the wider lifespan of EVs and their batteries, Cid said that his company has irons in the fire at nearly every stage.
“We’re pushing forward on the charging solutions, and we’re pulling forward on the sustainability solutions,” he said, pointing toward Mercedes’ plans to build its own battery plants, as well as facilitate the recovery, recycling and, when possible, remanufacturing of its vehicle’s batteries.
Regarding battery remanufacturing, Cid said that testing is currently being carried out to determine an acceptable threshold of degradation to determine which batteries are suitable for reintroduction into the supply chain.
UPDATE 10/2: A recording of Thursday’s webinar is now available. Click here.
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