Automotive News Canada - December 2022 - F14

FIXED OPS JOURNAL
QA&
MICAH O'SHAUGHNESSY
KPA offers tips on repairing EVs safely
A
s the number of electric vehicles on
the road continues to grow, they will
eventually make their way into
dealership service departments
for maintenance and repairs.
Dealerships have been busy planning for this
work for months, if not years: buying specialty
equipment and tools, designing bigger bays for
EV work and safety training for everyone, from
the techs down to the cashier. Anyone who might
come in contact with an electric vehicle is receiving
some level of safety training.
Micah O'Shaughnessy, regulatory project
manager for environmental, health, safety and
work force compliance software and services
provider KPA, has been visiting franchised dealerships
to help them prepare for EVs.
O'Shaughnessy, 35, spoke with Fixed Ops Journal
Reporter Mark Elias about dealership safety.
Q: Who are some clients KPA works with?
A: We work with OEMs on special projects.
Th ose clients have included Toyota, Ford and
General Motors. Most OEMs keep their training
in-house. We deal with smaller dealerships and
suppliers like collision centers who are usually
left to fend for themselves.
What are some of the problems that crop
up as a result of the range of vehicles a
technician may work on?
Although it's unlikely Joe " Shadetree Mechanic "
will be working on an electric vehicle, a gas
station can and probably will be. Th ey need to
be aware of the hazards electric vehicles present.
Th ey may not be doing maintenance on the
EV circuit, but they need to understand they
have that car in there, and if a high-voltage component
has been compromised, they need to get
the car out of there into a safe area. Th ey need to
understand you can't push or pull an EV because
it will potentially charge the battery further.
Handling an EV is diff erent than an internal
combustion engine vehicle. You can't get the
pusher behind a vehicle to move it around the
shop. Even if they are not working directly on an
EV system, they need to be aware of the problems
inherent with them. Th at's where our general
awareness training comes in for aff ected
persons.
How does KPA's training work?
KPA is a nice to have, not a have to have. If they
PAGE 14 DECEMBER 2022
have our consultant services, then our training
services come along, too. We put a physical consultant
at the dealership several times throughout
the year depending on their service level.
Our EV team goes out to identify problems with
their EV workfl ow, developing a program and
making sure the training has been completed.
And we check their personal protective equipment
to make sure it's safe. We don't use contractors.
A KPA employee will generally have a
background in health, safety and environmental
disciplines. We continue to publish papers on
EVs. Battery assessments are one of the topics.
Is it recommended for technicians to have
specifi c tools if they work on EVs?
Yes. In addition to the insulated tools, we suggest
an infrared thermometer or a thermal imaging
camera. If you have a battery that is presenting
issues, you can point the thermometer to see
if there's a hot spot that should be checked. A hot
spot is a leading indicator of an exothermic reaction
such as thermal runaway, which can release
energy that further increases temperature. Th ermal
runaway is the major reaction following a
fi re. Once it is on fi re, it can put off fl ammable
and toxic gases.
How would a dealership deal with a case
of thermal runaway?
EV dealerships should have a service area designated
exclusively for EVs surrounded with barriers,
Class D fi re extinguishers and easy access
to an outdoor spot in case of fi re or other circumstances.
If an EV is on fi re, try to move it out
of the garage as quickly as possible. If you are
working on a car on the lift and it catches fi re,
push it out to await the fi re department because
it is very likely a case of thermal runaway. A dealership
needs to be prepared for fi re watch. Once
fi rst responders arrive, they can drown the fi re.
Do technicians need heavy-duty, utility-style
gloves?
Th ey need to be at least Class 00 (500 volt). We
will rapidly approach more than 1000 volts.
Electrician's gloves should be used anytime you
are above 50 volts. Proof testing needs to be performed
at regular intervals. Th e tests need to be
performed once a year. As soon as you begin using
the glove, you must proof test it again within
six months.
Techs should look for tears, punctures and
abrasions. Th ey also need air testing, too. It's all
crucial. 
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