Your Toyota Prius was just involved in an accident and has been taken to the local auto body shop for some collision repairs. Given that it’s a hybrid, you’re wondering if the shop’s employees will have to take any special precautions while repairing the damage. Because of their electrical systems, restoring a damaged hybrid vehicle does present unique challenges. What follows are some of the precautionary steps that body shops take to protect their employees and your vehicle.
What’s a “Hybrid” Vehicle?
First introduced in the U.S. 20 years ago, hybrid vehicles (HVs) use both a conventional gas or diesel engine and an electric motor. This helps an HV consume less fuel, and emit less CO2, compared to an automobile that’s only powered by a fossil-fueled engine.
There are two types of hybrids, “conventional” or “plug-in”:
- Conventional Hybrids. Offered by virtually all automobile manufacturers, these HVs use a gasoline engine to keep a modestly sized battery charged while driving. Available in various makes and models, conventional hybrids cannot be plugged in to recharge their batteries, and therefore only drive sporadically solely on electric power.
- Plug-In Hybrids. Available through some auto makers, a plug-in hybrid has a large battery that can be recharged by plugging the vehicle into a standard wall outlet or recharging station. Once charged, the car runs purely on electricity without burning any fossil fuel. However, a plug-in HV can still run without ever being plugged in and will continue operating in normal hybrid mode (using the gas engine + electric motor) for as long as there’s gas in the tank.
I-CAR HV Repair Recommendations
To protect insurance adjusters, auto body shop estimators, technicians and your vehicle, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) has established safety protocols (1) for working on both types of HVs. Here are some of their recommendations:
Before Repairs Begin
- The vehicle cannot be towed or moved on its road wheels to prevent possible HV system damage and to reduce the potential shock hazard.
- All HV system components must be initially located and inspected for signs of damage.
- All service requirements for the various systems must first be fully understood, for example the engine cooling system.
- Damaged body panel(s) must be checked behind for any HV system wires, connectors, modules or batteries that might have also sustained damage.
- The proper air conditioning system service equipment and oils must be used to exclude the system from getting contaminated.
Wearing Protective Gloves
- Although an HV’s electrical system is designed with several built-in safety interlocks and circuit monitoring systems that initiate a shutdown if compromises are detected, protective electrical lineman’s gloves (Class 0) are highly recommended.
- Those gloves will protect technicians when working on or near high-voltage vehicle components like the battery, system main relay, service plug receptacle and fuse, any orange-colored cables, inverter assembly, electric drive motors, PHEV charge port, etc.
During the Teardown and Reassembly Phases
- The HV’s electrical propulsion system must be disabled before touching or prying on any other system components.
- If there’s anybody or engine damage in the vicinity of the HV system, the HV system must be totally disabled before proceeding.
- Confirming that the HV system is shut down should be done by using a high-quality digital volt-ohm meter.
- Technicians should never put their fingers in, or directly on, any connectors or HV system parts.
- All disconnected connectors must be kept free of dirt, fluid or contamination.
- If the HV system seems intact with no compromises and appears to be safe to power up, the technician must first scan the vehicle to identify any HV system issues. Those will show up as an HV system error message or if MIL or DTCs are present.
Find a Local Body Shop in Seconds Through Carwise
No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, when it’s been involved in a collision you can find a good body shop in seconds through the nationwide Carwise referral network. Shops featured in the Carwise network have the I-CAR and ASE-certified technicians, equipment and services to restore your ride like new again promptly and reliably. Most speak directly to insurance companies, so you don’t have to, and warranty their work to put your mind at ease.
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