ISN Garage Assist Blog

This is a genuine problem the automotive industry currently faces and the battery life of Electric Vehicles (EVs) has been in the spotlight over the last couple of months, as this is one of the main reasons there is a lack of consumer confidence. Electric cars are still relatively new and everyone is just starting to find out a little bit more of what to expect from them in the future. However, it isn’t just consumers that have potential issues about the longevity of EVs. Automotive professionals from garage owners to mechanics, and even parliamentary personnel, have all been raising concerns...

2030 might seem a while away, but before too long it’ll be upon us - and all of the brand-new petrol and diesel models we’re so used to seeing in 2022 will disappear from new car showrooms for good. This obviously has serious implications for the car manufacturing industry (and for supplying dealerships), but what about the nation’s independent garages and workshops? How will they cope - and will it actually affect their day-to-day operations much? Staff shortages The first potential bump in the road for independent garages is manpower (or lack thereof). A recent study by the Motor Ombudsman indicated...

Now is the perfect time to scale up your MOT offering - or begin testing for the first time. That’s according to new research from BookMyGarage. The company recently published the results of a freedom of information (FOI) request it submitted to the DVSA for data on monthly MOT figures. According to the data it received in return, garages look set to experience another lull in MOT testing demand this spring - a consequence of the six-month extension put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Last April and May, 2.3 million fewer MOT tests took place than during the...

A new study from Centrica Business Solutions has revealed that UK businesses are expected to invest in 163,000 electric vehicles (EVs) during the course of 2022 – a 35% increase on last year. The study found that businesses invested £11.6bn in EVs and associated infrastructure (like charging points) last year. This year, that number is set to rise 15% to £13.6bn. Only the beginningAll indications are that this is only the start of an electric revolution, as businesses increasingly wave goodbye to petrol and diesel power in favour of the clean, green, zero-emission alternative. According to this study, 62% of businesses...

Autonomous cars have been the stuff of science fiction for decades, but they’re now fast-becoming a reality. Although fully autonomous cars aren’t available to buy just yet, manufacturers like Tesla continue to push the envelope with self-driving systems that can cope with a variety of situations.Wondering how these systems work? That’s exactly what we’re going to investigate in this article. Hardware and software Autonomous vehicles rely on advanced hardware and software systems, each of which have to talk to one another multiple times a second to keep the car on the road. It all starts on the outside of the car,...

Supply chain management and consultancy firm, Fleet Assist, has concluded that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are 22% cheaper to service (on average) than equivalent fossil fuel vehicles. The company reached the conclusion by analysing all of its data for 2022 thus far - all 850,000 vehicles and 5,200 garages worth. According to the organisation, the price differential largely comes down to reduced labour costs; there are simply fewer components requiring regular servicing on an EV when compared to an ICE vehicle.Parts costs can be lower, too. On average, the parts spend for an EV service is 28% less than for an...

Looking into adding an MOT bay to your workshop? If you’re not sure which type of bay you need, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’re going to take a closer look at each of the different types and what sets them apart from one another, allowing you to make an informed decision on which one’s best suited to you. Class 1 and 2If you predominantly work on motorcycles, this is the type of bay you’ll need. Class 1 and 2 vehicles include: MotorcyclesScootersMopedsSidecars Class 1 and 2 bays consist of roller brake testers, headlamp testers and, optionally,...

Every car over three years old needs an MOT to be road legal. Light commercial vehicles and motorcycles need them too, so demand for testing is always high, year-round, no matter which type of vehicle your workshop specialises in. If you don’t currently offer MOT testing in-house and would like to, your first question may well be the one posed in the title of this article: what equipment do I need? Let’s take a closer look at each piece of equipment used in an MOT test. MOT testing equipmentTypically, garages looking to branch out into MOT testing will choose a complete...

Have you been told your car needs a wheel alignment or are you thinking of getting it done for a performance benefit? Wheel alignment really is a crucial factor that has a significant impact on your car’s handling, performance, braking capability and tyre wear - not to mention fuel consumption! Accurate alignment settings can make or break a car. They can drastically improve the feedback given to the driver through the steering wheel, making a vehicle safer and more enjoyable to drive… and wheel alignment doesn’t cost the Earth, either. In fact, we’d argue there are fewer more beneficial services to...

Cars today are safe. Extremely safe. But occasionally, they’re still let down by those in control of them. Yes, we humans are pretty smart - but we can and will make mistakes. Driving, sadly, isn’t an exception to this rule, with lives being lost every day due to accidents caused by human error. In fact, according to the road safety organisation ORSA, 94% of collisions occur as a result of human error.  What can we do to bring that number down? ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) are the latest innovation designed to do exactly that. They’ve been around for a while...

If you’re shopping for a wheel alignment machine, you’ll likely have come across terms like 3D and CCD. But what separates these high-tech models from more traditional laser systems? If you’re struggling to decide which type is right for you, we’re here to help. Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at CCD wheel aligners - and what sets them apart from laser and 3D machines. CCD wheel aligners: what are they and how do they work? CCD stands for Charged Coupled Device. Instead of using light beams (like traditional laser alignment systems), CCD models utilise advanced camera technology to deliver...

Tyre changer and wheel balancer specialists, ISN Garage Assist, have recently introduced a new standard for tyre fitting technology, to ensure that anybody investing in a piece of equipment really does get what they pay for. ARC (Absolute Run-Flat Compatibility) is a test for performance and capability based on what are commonly regarded as the toughest tyres to handle for tyre technicians. The company acquired a sample of run-flat tyres from a selection of leading tyre manufacturers, and put their machines to test to ensure that all models that claim total run-flat compatibility, can actually live up to the claim. "There...