Electric vehicles: EGEA is focusing on the challenge facing the automotive sector
It has been a done deal since October last year: the EU will allow registrations for climate-neutral vehicles only from 2035. The EU member states and the European Parliament have agreed that from this date manufacturers will no longer be allowed to sell new cars that emit greenhouse gases. Currently, the EU Commission is still examining whether the use of synthetic fuels, called e-fuels, should be permitted for cars. But, regardless of whether this marks the categorical end of combustion engines or whether a back door is being kept open, the EU has laid the groundwork for switching to electromobility: Electric vehicles are the future.
The switch to electric vehicles heralds a new era
The EU decision raises many questions for consumers, for example about charging infrastructure for e-cars or the performance of the electricity grid. For example, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) has criticised the slow pace of the expansion of charging infrastructure in an article in the news magazine "Der Spiegel". But the decision also means a change of times for the automotive industry and workshops, bringing considerable changes and new challenges in their day-to-day work.
Electric vehicles: New EGEA working group identifies gaps in information
According to the December issue of its newsletter EGEA inside, the European Garage Equipment Association (EGEA) has made it its mission to support the automotive industry and workshops in this change and make them fit for the future. To this end, a new working group has been set up with the aim of identifying gaps in information related to equipment, training and educational programmes and disclosing these to the EU Commission.
Some pressing issues have already been identified by the EGEA: over-the-air services, work on high-voltage systems and the safe handling of lithium batteries. "A major problem is that, with the new generation of electric vehicles, many more updates and diagnostics take place over the internet; EU legislation on remote access is still pending and some of the new vehicle manufacturers are still blocking the independent aftermarket," the EGEA publication says. In addition, the association believes that workshop employees are not always adequately protected during high-voltage work and when handling highly flammable lithium batteries because of a lack of information or specifications. Lifting platforms and equipment for the safe removal of underbody batteries from the vehicle are mentioned as examples. And tyre workshops also need the right information about contact points so that the battery is not damaged when the vehicle is lifted and so that it does not catch fire.
Here you can find the entire December issue of the EGEA inside newsletter.