Just about anyone who drives throughout adulthood is bound to be in at least one accident that requires auto body repair. The increased production of electric vehicles (EVs) and their growing popularity and use means more will find their way into auto body shops. According to Carsurance, U.S. drivers will own nearly 19 million EVs by 2030, which means just about any auto body center will have a regular supply of customers with EVs needing body repairs. Let's take a closer look at how those shops will go about repairing EVs.

Removing Large and Heavy Batteries

Extensive auto body repairs on EVs will not be as simple as they are on traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines. EVs have very large and heavy batteries that will often require removal. Pulling and storing an EV battery that could weigh nearly a ton is no simple task and will make it extremely difficult for the vehicle to move under its own power throughout the auto body repair service.

Increasing the Use of Car Dollies

An EV without a battery is dead weight that still must move from one place to another in an auto body repair center. The best way to do that will be through the use of wheel dollies that can hold a lot of weight and move in any direction. Auto body technicians will have to place a wheel dolly under each wheel so that they can move the vehicle to where they need it to be.

Modifying Drainage Systems to Move EVs

An auto body center will need more than a bunch of new wheel dollies to move EVs around. It also might have to modify its flooring to make it easier to roll a powerless EV through the shop. Sloped flooring with drains in low areas is bad for rolling EVs on wheel dollies. Those floors will need to be leveled and the drains made flush for easier movement.

Performing Standard Auto Body Repair

Once the battery is out, the process to repair an EV's damaged body is the same as with any other vehicle. Auto body technicians can remove dents, replace damaged panels, and prepare the body for paint. Once it is ready, it goes to the paint booth followed by final polishing before installing the battery.

You can call Balken's Auto Body LLC or visit our auto body center to schedule a vehicle inspection. At your appointment, we'll get you a rough estimate of the cost to repair your damaged EV or traditional vehicle. We look forward to working with you.