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INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION BY RACONTEUR.NET #0753 29/07/2021 FUTURE OF TRANSPORT & MOBILITY ARE MECHANICS READY IMPROVING TRAVEL DECARBONISATION IN 03 FOR ELECTRIC CARS? 09 FOR DISABLED PEOPLE 10 THE AVIATION SECTOR 02 FUTURE OF TRANSPORT & MOBILITY RACONTEUR.NET 03 FUTURE OF ARE EVS THE CHEAPER CHOICE? The costs of running an electric car compared with those of a petrol equivalent, TRANSPORT based on three years of ownership and an annual mileage of 12,000 & MOBILITY 74p Monty Rakusen via GettyImages via Rakusen Monty per mile Distributed in Petrol BMW 318i Contributors Peter Crush Sam Forsdick £5,112 £445 £15,066 £824 £615 A freelance business Raconteur’s staff writer, Fuel Tax Depreciation Insurance Servicing and tyres journalist specialising with a particular interest in human resources and in technology. He has £1,336 £0 £16,707 £1,089 £565 management issues. previously written for (inc £354 home charger) He was deputy editor I-CIO, Press Gazette and of HR magazine. New Statesman. Sam Haddad Heidi Vella A journalist A technology writer with specialising in travel, bylines in consumer and with work published in specialist publications The Guardian, The Times including E&T Magazine 67p and 1843 magazine. and Global Data. per mile Electric BMW i3 If you’re Thatcham Research and Kee Resources, 2021 When it comes to breakdowns, EVs can suffer from many of the same looking at problems that afflict any car, says Sarah Winward-Kotecha, the RAC’s director of electric vehicles. These Brands such as include punctured tyres and other Vauxhall are saying S K I L L S wheel-related problems, or running this advert, down the 12V battery by leaving the that their entire lights on. These low-level problems fleet will be can be sorted at the roadside under the RAC’s regular membership; you electric by 2028. Electric vehicles pose challenge don’t need specialist EV cover. We haven’t got long “But it is important for drivers to then your realise that, unlike a conventionally Publishing manager Design Ellen Catchpole Pip Burrows powered car, you can’t just tow an Kellie Jerrard for automotive repairs EV, or a hybrid for that matter. It needs to be lifted, often with all Managing editor Celina Lucey Sarah Vizard Colm McDermott wheels off the ground,” she says. than the drivetrain of a convention- prospects Samuele Motta Normally, that would mean waiting ally fuelled vehicle, we’d expect Jack Woolrich As more British Sam Haddad for a flatbed truck, although the RAC fewer mechanical breakdowns, but Deputy editor Sean Wyatt-Livesley Francesca Cassidy is fitting more of its patrol vans with it’s too early to say this with confi- Illustration drivers switch to lectric vehicles are power- But this puts a whole chunk of of excellence, which has its own bat- a so-called all-wheels-up system, dence,” Winward-Kotecha says. Sara Gelfgren ing ahead in the UK, fuelled income at risk for the automotive tery simulator so trainees can learn which can recover most EVs. The EV revolution will be a learn- Sub-editor electric vehicles, E are too. by government support and repair industry, says Professor Peter safely without risking shocks. Thousands of drivers still manage ing experience for vehicle owners. Neil Cole Art director consumer interest. But what will the Wells, director of the Centre for But according to the RAC, only 5% to run out of petrol and diesel every For example, one of the challenges Gerrard Cowan Joanna Bird are garages and changing market mean for the auto- Automotive Industry Research at of the UK’s 200,000 mechanics are year. Could EVs suffer a similar of buying a used EV is knowing how Head of production Design director mechanics ready motive repair sector? Cardiff Business School. Although qualified to work on electric cars. problem, frequently running out of the battery has been treated. If Justyna O’Connell Tim Whitlock EVs have much in their favour. motorists must still put their car “We’re definitely behind the curve,” charge? It’s too early to say, accord- something goes wrong with it, driv- Advertise with Raconteur in The Times for the change? Their environmental benefits are through an annual MoT test, it’s says Wells, noting that mechanics ing to Winward-Kotecha. ers could face replacement costs of well known, while upfront purchase easier for an EV to pass, he says. require several courses to get up to “What we do know is that, sadly, about £5,000, according to Wells. and reach more senior business decision costs are set to tumble in the next “You’re doing away with the oil speed. “There’s not enough of these some drivers are reaching public “These are quite tricky issues to few years as battery tech improves. change, the filter change and ex- around, especially given that brands charge points and discovering that explain to consumers. This will be makers than any other national title. The sector also has official backing, haust changes. You’re not worrying such as Vauxhall are saying that they’re out of order and they don’t an interesting challenge for the with the government announcing about emissions, so that takes away their entire fleet will be electric by have enough charge left to get to a warranty companies,” he says. “I last November that petrol and diesel a big part of the problem. But it also 2028. We haven’t got long.” working one,” she says, noting that can imagine that there will be lots of Although this publication is funded through advertising and cars will no longer be sold in the takes away a big part of the revenue And it’s not only about training drivers have also experienced prob- disputes, as there is no way for the Email [email protected] sponsorship, all editorial is without bias and sponsored features country after 2030. Research by the potential for the garages.” mechanics; working on EVs also lems charging their vehicles at home consumer to know what the life of are clearly labelled. For an upcoming schedule, partnership energy watchdog Ofgem has found When batteries do fail, they can be requires specialist tools and equip- over night. that battery has been like.” to learn more about our calendar inquiries or feedback, please call +44 (0)20 3877 3800 or that 25% of British consumers are difficult to repair. Mechanics need ment. “You’ve got to be able to drop The RAC is planning to offer EV Manufacturers will have this data email [email protected] planning to buy an electric car in the specialist training, given the voltag- these battery packs out and they are chargers in about 20% of its patrol to hand, as they collect such infor- of over 80 reports in The Times. Raconteur is a leading publisher of special-interest content and next five years. es involved, although Wells notes big, heavy pieces of kit – much more vans next year. It has also started an mation each time their EVs are used. research. Its publications and articles cover a wide range of topics, But for garages and mechanics, that it’s more a different type of risk so than an engine,” Wells says. EV leasing scheme and partnered But it’s unclear whether they will including business, finance, sustainability, healthcare, lifestyle and technology. Raconteur special reports are published exclusively in there’s a great deal to consider. EVs than an increased danger. So will garages focus on EVs alone with British Gas to provide a new share this with owners or use it to The Times and The Sunday Times as well as online at raconteur.net have an electric motor instead of an “Petrol and diesel vehicles also or upskill for the growing sector while electricity tariff for EV drivers. encourage drivers to stick with their The information contained in this publication has been obtained internal combustion engine, which come with risks, especially of fire and offering their traditional services? A EVs still represent only a tiny frac- service network, rather than using from sources the Proprietors believe to be correct. However, no means they have far fewer moving fumes, which are extremely toxic. It’s bit of both, says Wells. Petrol and die- tion of the company’s 2 million-plus independent garages. legal liability can be accepted for any errors. No part of this parts that can go wrong. That’s great more a change of risk,” he says. sel cars will still be around, “although call-outs each year. While it’s too It’s clear, then, that this sector, publication may be reproduced without the prior consent of the news for consumers, as EVs cost at Training for mechanics takes the big debate is for how long. We’re soon to know for sure whether they from garages to used-car websites, Publisher. © Raconteur Media least 30% less to service and main- place in-house at manufacturers or already seeing specialist electric break down less, it certainly doesn’t will need to adjust to the EV age. As tain, according to research by data at technical colleges, such as Coleg used-car sales. I’d expect to see more appear they’re prone to more prob- Wells says: “The whole industry is @raconteur /raconteur.net @raconteur_london company KeeResources. Cambria in Wrexham, an EV centre of that on the servicing side”. lems. “With a lot fewer moving parts going to have to change.” raconteur.net /transport-mobility-2021 04 FUTURE OF TRANSPORT & MOBILITY RACONTEUR.NET 05 57%, while car journeys increased, as people regarded these as safer.

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