With the daily news giving the impression that the Electric Vehicle (EV) revolution has arrived en masse, one can be mistaken for thinking that the rise of the EV is a relatively new phenomenon.
The reality however is somewhat difference. Electric Vehicles have been in the UK car parc for quite some time now – and therefore in the salvage sector too – though the recent adoption rates (13.1% of new registrations were EV’s in 2021) have catapulted the EV to the front page.
With the existence of EV’s in the UK Car Parc being evident for many years, albeit relatively small volumes, our insurance customers have needed us to support the EV across the Total Loss process for quite some time.
Since EV’s are not new to Copart, (in fact we showcased our capability at our 2019 Advisory Board) we have steadily been building specialist facilities, skills, and processes around handling and remarketing EV’s, and now have UK wide capabilities.
When coupled with the fact that we operate right at the edge of the innovation curve, Copart has already established almost a decade of experience and expertise in this area.
What’s exciting is that we know the electric vehicle market is now rapidly growing, and so it remains paramount that we continue to remain ahead of the curve when it comes to handling and remarketing these vehicles safely, efficiently, and in a sustainable way for our customers.
Continuing to lead
Alongside the significant investment we have already made into specialist training for our people, we are also strongly focused on ensuring that our operational network is fully equipped and ready for the electric revolution ahead.
We are certainly seeing more complex vehicles, such as electric and hybrid, ending up in the Total Loss arena. So of course, we’ve made sure that our engineering force has received comprehensive training on to work safely with these vehicle types and that we have all the necessary equipment and infrastructure in place to handle increasing volumes in the future.
Protecting our customers’ valuable assets
The safety of our drivers and sub haul partners who collect vehicles is paramount. In addition to the provision of all the necessary upgraded PPE, our fleet of over 200 transporters all carry specific chemical and battery neutralisers for any potential leaks or spills that may occur on damaged electric vehicles.
All drivers have been issued with small signal blocking pouches known as Faraday pouches. These block electromagnetic signals from the key fob to the EV or hybrid vehicle, reducing the risk of the vehicle starting unexpectedly whilst being transported.
Drivers have also been issued with specialist equipment that takes the temperature of the vehicle battery, prior to collection, which alerts the driver to any potential fire risk.
And, our Operation Centres have been evolving to support electric and hybrid requirements, with hundreds of changes made to our operational processes and the implementation of dedicated storage areas.
“As we acquire and develop new Operation Centres, and/or improve and extend existing ones, we are adding enlarged areas for vehicles that require specialist handling, like EV’s and flood and fire damaged vehicles. This will become the blueprint as standard for all our future ‘Super Centres’.”
Jane Pocock – Managing Director of Copart UK & Ireland
All 15 Copart Operation Centres across the UK, have been issued with specialised safety equipment for the handling of Electric Vehicles. This includes hazardous spillage kits, laser tools 6150, Class 3 multi meter auto ranging, rubber mats for standing on, and high voltage Class 1 helmets with face shields.
Each Centre is also equipped with a high voltage emergency carbon fibre ‘hook’ boom in case of emergencies, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machines, and fully trained first aiders.
Alongside the training our Operation Centre teams have received, they will also have access to the EZI methods system, which allows our Vehicle Damage Evaluators to access and download any information they require on all makes and models of electric and hybrid vehicles.
“As with all technology, electric vehicles are changing continuously, therefore it’s vital that we keep up to date with all the latest procedures and safety guidance. This will involve ongoing refresher training for our drivers and Operation Centre teams, so they can handle our customers’ vehicles correctly and safely.“
Phil Briggs, Director of Operation Centres, Transport & Engineering
Geared up for an electric future
Copart is ready to support the changing demands in our industry as the electric vehicle market continues to develop and grow. The benefits provided by an electric future perfectly complements our Copart Cares campaign, which focuses on caring for communities, customers, teammates, and the environment.
We are committed to our role as a trusted partner to the vehicle remarketing and recycling industry and, going forward, we will continue to provide the necessary services and technology to our customers to support demand for more environmentally friendly solutions.