Axalta Refinish has introduced a new electric vehicle (EV) repair package to the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) market, saying it designed the package to support refinishers and body shops with the repairs of electric vehicles.
With sales of electric cars accelerating, Axalta says refinishers and body shops need to be prepared to handle an increasing volume of EVs safely and efficiently.
“The prevalence of EVs is growing so refinishers must be prepared to repair them perfectly and safely, despite the challenges and new requirements they represent,” said Olaf Adamek, Axalta Refinish Brand Manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “The tools and knowledge in our EV repair package is the ideal way for body shops to adapt.”
The repair package currently consists of four important equipment kits that Axalta says every body shop should have for risk-free EV repair:
- An Electrical Safety kit which contains the “basic tools” needed when working on hybrids and EVs
- A Delimination set which offers refinishers equipment to mark the work area where the vehicle is being repaired
- A First Aid kit which consists of everything needed to safely give first aid should an accident occur while repairing an EV
- A Complete Workcart which contains all the accessories and tools for safely disconnecting a hybrid or EV’s battery.
In addition, the package is made up of three multimedia elements, including two information videos and several EV repair posters. The first video showcases Axalta’s patented Fast Cure Low Energy technology, which was specially designed for low temperature curing. The company says that when used as part of a complete system, the technology enables body shops to cut process times by up to 50 per cent and reduce energy consumption by up to 70 per cent while still achieving best quality repair.
“Body shops have been working with our Fast Cure Low Energy technology, supplied through Axalta’s premium refinish brands, Cromax, Spies Hecker and Standox, for several years, with outstanding results,” said Adamek. “And as this technology is the perfect fit for EV repairs, it was an easy decision to put a specific package together to help our body shops address the growing EV trend easily and cost-effectively.
“We’ve been able to draw on Axalta’s more than 150 years of experience and keen focus on innovation and sustainability to support our body shops through their everyday challenges.”
In the second video, an Axalta Refinish expert visits an EV-approved body shop in the UK to demonstrate how they correctly manage the repair process for EVs. In this real-life example, refinishers can learn what some of the biggest challenges are and how they can best handle them.
The final elements of the EV repair package are downloadable posters from Cromax, Spies Hecker and Standox which provide a quick visual guide on considerations to take before starting work, applicable to work while in the spray booth and on completion of the repair. For example, they outline what refinishers should check for during an initial risk assessment, what to think about for paint preparation and drying, and key points to remember during the process.
For more information and to download the different elements of the EV repair package, click here.