Collision Repair Association raising standards to deal with EVs, hybrids, safety technology

Whanganui's Larsen Collision Repairs is keeping up with changing standards though it only deals with a small number of EVs and hybrid vehicles.

The growing popularity of electric vehicles (EV), hybrids and cars with advanced safety systems is prompting a change in traditional panel beating work.

The Collision Repair Association (CRA), New Zealand's largest body of panel beaters, is introducing new standards to deal with increasingly complex vehicle repairs, spokesman Neil Pritchard said.

"While EVs are touted as having a reduced need for mechanical servicing, when it comes to collision repairs there is a significant increase in the risk and repair complexity to get them back on the road," Pritchard said.

"Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive and flammable and the risk associated with lithium-ion batteries found in EVs adds a high level of complexity to the repair process, including potential electrocution of the repairer."

Pritchard said the elevated risk of fire means an EV cannot enter a spray booth so the panel beater must introduce processes specific to that type of vehicle to complete the repair.

Many new models entering the market have advancements in safety technology which allow the vehicle to proactively mitigate or avoid collisions, Pritchard said.

"To accommodate this change, we are bringing in new international, service quality standards to the industry which will see repairers commit to ongoing training, equipment upgrades, annual inspections and audit processes before they can become a Licensed Collision Repairer in this market."

Modern vehicles are now made from high-strength steel, aluminium and other exotic materials which require special training and equipment for the repairer to replicate the factory join when replacing structural parts of the vehicle, Pritchard said.

The introduction of new internationally-recognised I-CAR standards would reassure vehicle owners that their panel beater had undertaken training and audit processes to keep up with the latest technology, he said.

According to Ministry of Transport statistics, Manawatu/Whanganui has the ninth highest rate of EV and hybrid ownership in New Zealand with 189 registered throughout the region.

Whanganui's Larsen Collision Repairs co-owner Melissa Hogg said their business had seen a small increase in EVs, hybrids and advanced safety technology and had done all the training currently available.

The business is a CRA Licensed Repair Shop.

"As we are in a provincial area we have to be equipped to handle the most complex of repairs," Hogg said.

"I don't think we will ever be in a position to pick and choose the small non-structural jobs like the new 'Smart' shops in the large centres that rely on massive volumes of work and don't need to incur the costs of advanced training and equipment.

"We have always stayed well ahead of any training requirements. We were the fourth shop in the country to achieve I-CAR Gold accreditation which is a whole shop training recognition.

"We are audited annually and have to meet standards across the whole business, not just having the latest up-to-date equipment and training to achieve this. We are very active within the Collision Repair Association and they have helped us enormously over the years to stay well ahead of changes in the industry."