With more and more hybrid and electric vehicles appearing on our roads, workshops will be coming into increasing contact with them. However, they should not tackle any jobs before they have appropriate training and the right equipment, as they could be dealing with potentially lethal voltages of up to  800 volts. 

Seamus Ryan of Ryans Automotive, says that garages need to be aware of the dangers, but that the cost of equipment and training for hybrid and electric vehicles need not be prohibitive. He comments, “To get set up with the basic equipment to carry out standard servicing and general repairs is not a big investment, when compared to some other workshop equipment costs.”

Seamus offers a checklist of minimum basic requirements which are: 
•    Insulated gloves, Class 0 protection up to 1000 volts.  
•    Leather over gloves, to be worn over insulated gloves in certain cases to protection against cuts to the insulated gloves.  
•    VAT tester for checking for absence of voltage after a shutdown procedure. This must be CAT 3 or above and is more reliable than a multimeter. 
•    Danger high voltage signs. 
•    Lockout hasp and pad lock, used to lockout the service disconnect to prevent unauthorized reconnection 
•    Posts and chains for marking out restricted area around the hybrid or electric vehicle.  
•    Compatible diagnostic tool, which in most cases workshops already have.  

The above represents the basic minimum equipment to be able to safely shut down a vehicle and to take measurements to make sure it is shut down properly.
For enhanced safety and to tackle a wider variety of jobs, Seamus also recommends;
•    Pneumatic glove tester. 
•    Additional warning signs.  
•    Insulated matting and sheeting. 
•    CAT 3 multi meter, for other electrical tests. 
•    Rescue pole, for rescuing electrified victims in case of an accident when working on hybrid and electric vehicles.  
•    Arc flash helmet, to protect against electrical arcs.
•    Various insulated hand tools.  
•    Terminal imager.  

For more in depth diagnostics and repairs Seamus also recommends,  
•    Insulation tester, for checking for insulation issues in high voltage components, some workshops may already have such a tool as a similar tool is used to test insulation and resistance in common rail piezo injectors.  
•    Milliohm meter, for checking electric motors resistance and checking bonding straps. 
•    Battery lifting table, required to remove and install large EV batteries mounted underneath the car, these types of lifting tables are also very useful for lifting in and out engines and transmissions.  
•    EV charger, to be able to charge EV in you workshop. 
•    AC machine. The Air con is part of the EV terminal management system and can also be need for the heating system on cars with a heat pump design. The makes a properly function A/C essential. 

Seamus also points out that as well as basic equipment, the technician needs to be trained to work on hybrid and electric vehicles. He says, “There are many 2 to 3 day courses available that would bring a technician up to the electrical skilled person level, which will allow them to service, diagnosis and repair hybrid and electrical cars. Another very important factor is to have a good information system that will give you technical data and shut down procedures. Most workshops will have access to multi brand information systems. If this does not cover shut down procedures, then the necessary information can be sourced from the OE manufacturer’s portals.