Croel on Going Electric

If you’re going to plan for growth, you need to find more work and sales. 

If you’re not in a big city or on the coast, electric vehicles can feel like they’re someone else’s conversation. 

But often, preparing for EV work is something to plan for when more EVs are on the road in your area. 

For many, electric vehicles are sitting in your parking lot today. But for others, the trend is increasing in their area. The biggest question I ask my clients is how do you know if there are EVs in your area if you do not advertise that you service them? A decision needs to be made about whether your shop is going to be electric. 

Does going electric truly make sense for your shop?

This isn’t about chasing a trend. It’s about preparing for the cars already pulling into your lot.

Start with Your Market, Not the Headlines 

EV numbers rise, then level, then rise depending on manufacturer announcements, government incentives and or restrictions and consumer spending. There is truth to the density of EVs in certain markets. Your decision should be closer to home. 

What do you actually see in your community? 

• How many EVs are registered in your county? 

• How many electric or hybrid estimates did you write last year? 

• How many did you turn away? 

• Are insurers in your market steering that work elsewhere? 

In some metropolitan markets, EV presence is already strong enough that declining those repairs means walking away from real revenue. In other regions, EV frequency may still be modest, making heavy investment premature. There is a fine line between being patient and wise or waiting too long. 

The Investment Conversation  

Going electric isn’t inexpensive. 

“Capital isn’t about spending. It’s about positioning.” 

There are: 

• High-voltage safety classes.  

• Specialized tools.  

• Isolation areas.  

• Scanning and calibration requirements.  

• Potential facility adjustments.  

• Increased insurance considerations.  

There are many questions, but the most important question is, will this strengthen the long-term profitability and relevance of our business? 

Opportunity  

EVs bring high revenue potential merely based on the cost of repair. 

These repairs often carry: 

• Higher average repair orders 

• More required procedures 

• Increased scanning and documentation 

• Greater structural and material complexity 

When estimated properly and managed carefully, EV repairs can produce strong labor dollars and healthy gross profit. Much like blueprinting on any vehicle, shops that under-document, concede necessary procedures, or fail to negotiate appropriately may find margins squeezed rather than strengthened. That preparation includes confident estimating, clear communication with insurers, and strict adherence to OEM procedures.  

Proper Training is Another Factor 

EV repair in collision requires electrical knowledge. One of the biggest shifts with EV work is the level of safety awareness required. This isn’t an area for guesswork or shortcuts. 

Shops entering this space must develop: 

• Clear written safety protocols 

• Technician certification tracking 

• Defined isolation procedures 

• Thorough documentation habits 

The strength of your training systems and culture to instill discipline will be tested in embarking on preparing for servicing electric vehicles.  

In the electric world, discipline isn’t optional. It’s protection.

You can Choose How Electric You Want to Be 

There is comfort in knowing that “going electric” doesn’t have to mean doing everything at once. Independent shops are choosing different paths. Some are committing fully pursuing certifications, marketing themselves as EV authorities, and building strong insurer relationships while others are taking smaller steps. Investing in safety and essential tooling, training key team members, and handling moderate repairs while subletting the most complex battery work. 

Either path works, but what doesn’t work is drifting without a decision.

The Workforce Opportunity 

There is another layer to this conversation that often gets overlooked. Although the industry continues to face technician shortages, younger technicians entering the field are often more comfortable with diagnostics and technology. EV training can become a recruitment tool for innovative techs who want to be a part of a shop that is moving with future technology. 

“You’re not just preparing for electric cars. You’re preparing the next generation of technicians.” 

What About Your Insurance Relationships? 

As EV frequency increases, insurers are paying attention to which shops can confidently handle the work. For DRP-driven operations, the ability to demonstrate documented EV readiness may strengthen relationships. For non-DRP shops, capability can differentiate you in a competitive market. 

Look at Your Financial Foundation First 

If your business is stable, ready to scale and grow, then preparing for EV repair on all or some level can add to your repair portfolio. Your 2025 P&L tells a story. 

• Is your gross profit stable? 

• Is labor efficiency strong? 

• Is net income healthy? 

• Do you have reserves for strategic investment? 

“Innovation magnifies strength — and exposes weakness.” 

Think years, not Months 

If you ask yourself, where will the EV market be in five years? What percentage of EVs will represent your local vehicles? Based on today’s numbers, EVs are estimated to be sold in the amounts of 3 million or more by 2030. That would be up by 700,000 thousand in 2025. In relation to U.S. new car sales, EVS would be 10%-12%. 

More affordable EVs are predicted to be on the market by the end of the 2020s. However, smaller markets' percentages are currently 1% of the market with charging infrastructure barriers. It begs the question whether to wait on entering the EV world if your demographic is rural. 

The independent shops that thrive are rarely the ones reacting emotionally to industry shifts. They are the ones calmly studying trends, evaluating financial strength, and making measured decisions aligned with long-term vision. It is about remaining relevant. 

Does It Make Sense? 

For some shops, the answer is yes, and for others it is yes, but in phases. For a few, it may not be the time.  

Electric vehicles are not replacing traditional vehicles overnight. But they are steadily becoming part of the repair world. Independent collision repair has always evolved. From unibody construction to aluminum, from computerized paint systems to advanced driver assistance system calibrations, the industry adapts. EVs are simply the next chapter. 

“The future of collision repair isn’t electric or traditional. It’s thoughtful operators making disciplined, forward-looking decisions.”