Electric vehicles are going nowhere but up. EV sales keep sparking higher, with global sales forecast to top 10.5 million this year. In the U.S., EVs are projected to claim around 30% — some 4.7 million units — of new passenger vehicle sales by 2030.
In the next few years, more and more EVs will be rolling into shops. Handling the work safely and efficiently will require shops to invest in equipment engineered specifically for EV service.
Many electric vehicles are heavier than those with internal combustion engines, thanks in large part to the hefty high-voltage battery packs that can weigh from 1,000 to nearly 3,000 lbs. each. What’s more, these batteries occupy most of the vehicle’s undercarriage, pushing lifting points out to the extreme edges of the frame, making it tricky to lift the vehicle.
Built for the job
Manufacturers are responding to these EV challenges with new lift designs and updated products.
To safely raise an electric vehicle for service, you’ll need a lift with sufficient rated load capacity and the ability to reach the OEM-recommended lifting points. A two-post surface lift with 10,000 pounds capacity is enough for the EVs currently on the market, but you’ll want to make sure the lift arms can reach the lifting points and that you have the required adapters. Also, if you’re planning to service electric vans, make sure you have enough overhead clearance — consider a tall lift with a higher top beam. For example, the top beam on the BendPak XPR-10S-168 is 14 feet high instead of the standard 12 feet.
When it’s necessary to remove an EV’s battery pack, using a lift table eliminates manual lifting or lowering, making it safe and easy to move the pack around the shop. Recognizing that most vehicles on the road will continue to be gasoline-powered for a long time, BendPak designed its new EV2400SL EV battery pack and powertrain lifting system to lift, lower and position high-voltage batteries, engines, transmissions, gas tanks, transaxle assemblies and more, making it a versatile choice.
For routine maintenance that doesn’t require standing under the vehicle, shops may want to consider a mid-rise scissor lift. While many mid-rise scissor lifts can’t reach EV pickup points, the new BendPak MDS-6EXT was designed with long lift platforms to better accommodate them. Configurable approach ramps and push-button controls make it easy to position vehicles weighing up to 6,000 pounds.
Finally, with mobile service on the rise, you may be looking for a lift you can take to your customers instead of the other way around. The new QuickJack 6000ELX portable car lift is a compact, frame-engaging scissor lift with an open-center design for full access to a vehicle’s undercarriage. It has a rated lifting capacity of 6,000 pounds. Extra-long frames provide access to lifting points from 47.5 to 76 inches, accommodating sports cars to light trucks.
For more information visit BendPak.
