The Impact of Electronic Vehicles

Luis Alvarez of Alvarez Technology Group Talks the Impact of Electronic Vehicles

Luis Alvarez of Alvarez Technology Group discusses the impact of electronic vehicles as it relates to a friendly neighborhood mechanic’s work becoming obsolete.  

These are, according to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, vehicles that meet specific technical standards to be classified as electronic, or more commonly called “electric.” There are two primary forms of electric cars or EVs. One is an all-electric vehicle (AEVs) and the other is a plug-in hybrid (PHEVs), which uses a combination of electronic capabilities and traditional gasoline. All-electric vehicles (AEVs) use either a battery or a fuel cell to operate.

So what is Luis Alvarez’s take on the impact of electronic vehicles? He mainly discusses how neighborhood mechanics are adjusting to fixing electric vehicles, as opposed to regular automobile maintenance systems with traditional combustion engines. The EVs don’t run in the same way. They need an entirely different set of skills to take care of their maintenance if there is a problem with the operation.

Tesla is the Dominant Player in the Market

Alvarez admits that traditional still outsells Tesla and other electric vehicles from mainstream car companies. That will probably change in the future as more and more automobile companies commit to developing EV models. But he’s concerned about what happens to a traditional mechanic’s work when EVs will in the future dominate the marketplace. All those mechanics aren’t needed because you don’t need typical stuff, like oil changes, or new brake pads with an EV. A Toyota Prius, for example, can go up to 100,000 miles without needing new brake pads, like old school models.

New Industries Will Arise

Alvarez thinks that in the wake of more EVs being made that new industries to fix these models will have to come into play. The smaller mechanics will figure out ways to stay in business though. Some of them will specialize in older internal combustion engine models that people will want to hang onto becoming classic cars in a sense.

Oil change places will have to alter their model of business, considering they won’t have cars to work on anymore. They will become obsolete in the wake of EVs taking over the roads.

It will also change the face of the dealership world as well. They won’t have mechanic shops inside their dealerships anymore to offset the cost of the cars they sell. More money will have to be made on the front end with sales on the vehicles, as opposed to back end money-making service work.