Auto Body Repair Challenges of Hybrid Vehicles
Hybrid cars have been around since the early 2000s, and yet it’s only recently that they’ve become mainstream. And now more than ever is the time to hop on the bandwagon, as hybrid cars today are far more reliable and less expensive than their earlier models.
Whether you are looking to buy or already own a hybrid car, you may be concerned about the different challenges they present, especially when it comes to auto body repair and maintenance. In this article, we’ll take a look at several repair and maintenance challenges that are unique to hybrid cars.
3 Repair Challenges That a Hybrid Vehicle Brings
1. Sophisticated Electronics
Most hybrid and electric cars have complex electronic systems that control the motor of the vehicle. In addition, the battery of a hybrid car is also a complicated piece of equipment. These sophisticated electronics are best left to a collision repair shop that has experience with hybrid auto body repair. The main reason being safety, as you are working with electricity.
For other common repair jobs like oil and brake disc pads, you can go to any auto repair shop to get the job done. Even better, you could even go the DIY route if you’ve had experience with doing such repairs on other vehicles.
2. Battery Replacement
In general, hybrid cars will help you save money through repairs. This may seem counterintuitive considering how high tech these vehicles can be. However, because of how advanced these cars can be, it will need very little work done during their lifetime. And any investment for the work it does need to be done will likely not need to be done again in its lifetime.
The exception to a hybrid saving money is if its battery needs to be replaced. Replacing the battery for a hybrid can cost thousands of dollars. In comparison, a traditional gas-powered car’s battery can be replaced for less than $200. Fortunately, this particular challenge will likely not rear its ugly head until 180,000 miles. Moreover, most hybrid cars offer great warranties up to eight to ten years or 100,000 miles.
3. Finding Certified Mechanics
As mentioned before, there are certain components of a hybrid that require a special set of skills that only a certified mechanic has. While you can take the hybrid to a regular auto shop for oil changes and simple, non-electrical repairs, the other components of the car require a special set of skills.
Though finding an auto collision repair shop with a certified mechanic that can repair hybrids can be challenging, it’s absolutely mandatory. If something happens like the cooling system going out, you don’t want just any mechanic going in and trying to fix it. It requires more technical skills than a typical mechanic is trained on. If such a mechanic ends up trying to fix your hybrid, he/she might do more harm than good, costing you more money in the long run.
Are Hybrids More Expensive with Auto Body Repair?
Frankly, the disparities in repair and maintenance between a hybrid and a regular car are small. While specific hybrid maintenance jobs can be more expensive, the other advanced technologies of the vehicle save you money in the long run. Find the right auto body repair shop to fit your hybrid’s needs today.