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Louismark  
#1 Posted : 23 November 2020 10:09:59(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Louismark

Does anybody was or is invloved in the design of a workshop for repairs or maintenance on electric vehicles?

A client of mine asked me about what is required to design such a workshop. This is something fairly recent on the market and tried to ask around but there is quite little information. 

Roundtuit  
#2 Posted : 23 November 2020 10:38:45(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Moving heavy battery packs so more engine hoists (or similar)

Talk to the local brigade about fire fighting techniques as battery fires can be way beyond normal extinguishers

Consider how you move the vehicle - in some a dead battery (so disconnected for maintenace) and the drive motors are stopped (no free wheeling as with a combustion engine) - motoring organisations should be able to give pointers

Roundtuit  
#3 Posted : 23 November 2020 10:38:45(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Moving heavy battery packs so more engine hoists (or similar)

Talk to the local brigade about fire fighting techniques as battery fires can be way beyond normal extinguishers

Consider how you move the vehicle - in some a dead battery (so disconnected for maintenace) and the drive motors are stopped (no free wheeling as with a combustion engine) - motoring organisations should be able to give pointers

Louismark  
#4 Posted : 23 November 2020 10:54:14(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Louismark

Thanks for your reply. The issues that I am after are when repairs are carried out in the workshop. The fire aspect has been solved as a seperate enclosure will be built. The handling of batteries will be oviously by trained personnel with the right equipment. The issue is what kind of flooring is required, kit used for repair what rating does it needs to be etc.. 

John Murray  
#5 Posted : 23 November 2020 11:36:03(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
John Murray

These batteries are not the usual 12 volt car batteries. Their terminal voltage is around 300 volts.

Couples with their low internal resistance, you do not want to touch the terminals.

Mostly they come as a complete unit, with charging and management circuits contained.

They're usually not the property of the owner.

Acorns  
#6 Posted : 23 November 2020 18:25:45(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Acorns

You might want to have a broader search towards the transport industry for some of the wider safety related issues. AFAIR, there was discussion about there being 2 techs always on avehicle at a time and the tech basically can decide not towork if they have any welfare or other issues as there is a very high demand for attention to operational safety soif they are distracted  forany reason then they don't work on an commercial EV vehicle.    I don't recall too much about flooring types apart from aiming for the better type finish rather than a bit of rough concrete screed.I'veseenn EV bus workshop and the floor was visibly nicefinish but otherwise unremarkable

Edited by user 23 November 2020 18:27:20(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Roundtuit  
#7 Posted : 23 November 2020 19:16:37(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Manufacturers advise workshop routines and typical tooling. As to flooring a hard wearing epoxy finish leading to a sump laid over a sulphur resistant concrete. I have not kept pace with the state of art technologically but presume there are wet cells capable of leaking corrosive fluids - last thing you want is them running out the door or vanishing through the floor.
Roundtuit  
#8 Posted : 23 November 2020 19:16:37(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Manufacturers advise workshop routines and typical tooling. As to flooring a hard wearing epoxy finish leading to a sump laid over a sulphur resistant concrete. I have not kept pace with the state of art technologically but presume there are wet cells capable of leaking corrosive fluids - last thing you want is them running out the door or vanishing through the floor.
stevedm  
#9 Posted : 24 November 2020 09:49:48(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stevedm

Couple of links that might help...the vehicles are operating at voltages around 650 so fatal if mis-managed....fire and explosion assessments are also required for the hydogen generation during charging etc

https://everard.co.uk/what-do-workshops-need-to-service-electric-vehicles/

https://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/electric-hybrid.htm

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