I get numerous press releases from a variety of sources on a daily basis. Recently, I read several that highlighted what I love — and what I don't — about this industry. Bear with me as I offer a few observations and critiques...
GM commits to the future
GM has a corporate vision for the future of personal transportation — "Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, Zero Congestion." And based on recent announcements from the automaker, that vision is more than a sales pitch.
In May of last year, they announced the development of a new electrical architecture, the Digital Vehicle Platform. The new platform is necessary, in GM's eyes, to accommodate the ever-increasing electronic demands being placed on the automobile; ADAS, autonomous control and electrification of the powertrain are a few of the examples cited. The new architecture is not in prototype either, debuting on the 2020 Cadillac CT5. Here are some of the highlights of the new platform:
* The Digital Vehicle Platform powers an electronic system that is capable of managing up to 4.5 terabytes of data processing power per hour, a fivefold increase in capability over GM’s current electrical architecture.
* The new platform also enables smartphone-like over-the-air software updates, allowing remote functionality upgrades throughout the lifespan of the vehicle.
* The new architecture also provides more rapid communications within the vehicle itself and to outside sources utilizing Ethernet connections of 100Mbps, 1Gbps, and 10Gbps.
* Additional protective features at the hardware and software levels are incorporated in the interest of cybersecurity for the vehicle and its users.
In January of this year, GM announced a major investment in building all-electric vehicles, pledging to invest $2.2 billion at its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to produce a variety of all-electric trucks and SUVs. The plant will be GM’s first fully-dedicated electric vehicle assembly plant and the first project is slated to be an all-electric pickup truck with production scheduled to begin in late 2021. Under what nameplate the truck will be under has yet to be unveiled.
This will be followed soon after by the Cruise Origin, a self-driving EV unveiled in San Francisco earlier in the month. The Origin will be the first production vehicle built without driver controls of any kind — no brake pedal, no accelerator, and no steering wheel. Cruise is a subsidiary of GM tasked with the development of autonomous vehicles designed with ridesharing in mind. They must be on to something, as Honda is also a major investor in Cruise.
It should be no surprise that most automakers are pursuing EV design and production. Many industry observers have been commenting on it for some time now. But typically, their forecasts for the future led many to think that it was still decades away before we would see the technologies on production vehicles. Yet here it, and here it comes - a future (that may not be that far off) where we could very will see "Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, Zero Congestion."
And you thought diagnosing a U-code today was a challenge. Imagine what you'll need to know, the skills you'll need to hone and develop, over the next three to five years? That's when these cars fall out of warranty and will start to show up at your door!
And where do you stand?
The technologies that GM and nearly every other OEM is incorporating into their new offerings is advancing at a staggering rate. Today, the big word on everyone’s lips is "ADAS" — and rightfully so.
ADAS incorporates all the various vehicle safety systems on the car, from ABS and Traction Control to more modern advanced collision avoidance systems. There are cameras looking forward, to each side and to the rear — radar, both long and short range — and so much more. Many of you that I've spoken with have learned a little about these systems and, most importantly, the tooling and space requirements needed to recalibrate a system when needed. The investment needed to cover everything that may come your way is not a small one and you've also shared that you intend to stay as far away from these issues as you can.
But you can't. You are working on an ADAS system right now, today, in your shop or in your bay.
Think of the cameras and radars as the "eyes" of the vehicle. Any service or repair you perform that impacts the ability of these devices to "see" correctly will impact how the related ADAS systems operate. For example, perform an alignment that alters the thrust angle of the vehicle by just a few degrees. What do you think that will do to the angle of the forward-facing camera and radar units relative to the road? How about any change in ride height? Same thing, right?
Or what about a routine air conditioning or cooling system repair? If you have to remove the forward-facing radar to replace the condenser or radiator, you can't simply put it back and not recalibrate it. And you can't ignore it either.
I am pleased to know that many of you are taking ADAS very seriously. I've spoken to several training providers and training event organizers, and they all share that classes on ADAS are increasingly in demand. If you haven't attended one, I strongly encourage you to do so and sooner, rather than later.
I am curious, though, to see how many of you that are packing ADAS classes have attended any sort of hybrid/EV training?
HEVs, similar to ADAS, are not new. The first hybrids were on American roads over twenty years ago. And while they aren't anywhere close to being a major segment of the current U.S. fleet (less than 1 percent of all vehicle registrations from the data I found), they are growing. Interestingly enough, the BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) is gaining in popularity over the PHEV (Plug-In Electric Vehicle). There are presently 16 BEVs offered on the market, from the Chevy Bolt and Nissan Leaf, to the higher end Jaguar I-Pace and Porsche Taycan.
In addition to the growing popularity of the BEV, mild hybrids are also becoming more common. Forty-eight-volt systems are being used to "hybridize" light trucks and passenger vehicles alike, primarily as "Start/Stop" designs, that boost fuel economy with little change to the powertrain.
And, like shop attitudes about diving into ADAS, many of you still turn away the occasional request for hybrid repair. But consider that the typical hybrid owner is well-informed about how their car operates, is usually earning a higher than normal income, and is devoted to the idea of doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint, it is a market that you can still capture. Consider, too, that the hybrid you turn away could own multiple vehicles — vehicles he or she wants to take to a single facility for their service needs. At the least, there are numerous service opportunities on these vehicles that aren't HV related (but being trained in safety around them is definitely required before you take even those tasks on).
One step forward, one step back
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration says that nearly 80 percent of the vehicle accidents involving driver inattention can be prevented by the use of ADAS and related technologies. Think of the number of lives that can be saved and injuries that can be prevented! Yes, I know we'd like to think that we are all "safe drivers" but I'm betting that we've all, at least once, have glanced down at a text message or made a phone call while driving only to find ourselves rumbling along the bump strip on the center divider. And no one can argue the fact that a computer can react and respond to an impending collision faster than any human can.
I look forward to the day when the majority of our fleet is so equipped.
But on the other side of the coin is the continuing loss of individual state inspection programs. I'm not referring to emissions inspections, but rather those that inspect for safety concerns. Currently only 15 states have inspection programs designed to protect motorists.
Virginia is one of them and I used to be a certified state inspector when I lived in the state. I have always like the inspection requirement and the process we had to follow. The differences between a state with a program and one without became extremely obvious after I relocated to Florida — a state that had no such program.
I can't count the number of customer vehicles that I serviced that desperately needed suspension work, brake repairs, even tires - all services refused for one reason or another. Some came in so bad that I had my boss insist that we tow the car wherever the customer wanted to keep them from getting behind the wheel. Think I'm kidding? Imagine rear drum brakes worn SO bad that all that was left of the drum was the hat or disc brake rotors that were worn clean through to the vent ribs!
I strongly believe the routine inspections are important to insure that cars on the road are, at least, capable of maintaining control and coming to a stop in the event of an emergency. And while I defend your right to maim yourself if you want to, it is not your right to place my family at risk on the highway by operating a vehicle that is unsafe.
Apparently, though, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam disagrees, recommending to the Virginia legislature that the state inspection program be disbanded. According to Northam, “data shows that there is no connection between highway safety and these inspections. That’s why 35 other states don’t have them.”
Additionally, Northam believes the program is an unnecessary expense for Virginians and that elimination of the program will help save consumers millions. Yeah, it sure will - in needed repairs that are not performed.
The pending Virginia legislation is just one example of changes legislative bodies around the country are making that impact you and your business. Are you involved in defending what you think is right and fair? Organizations like ASA are your voice, not only in Washington, but in state houses, too. If you're a Virginia shop owner or technician, be sure to let your representatives know where you stand on this issue. Remember, if you're not part of the solution...
