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Amerit Fleet Solutions Rolls Out EV Maintenance Programs
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Amerit Fleet Solutions has set out to create a national network of certified technicians trained to perform maintenance and repair work on electric vehicles for fleet customers in markets across the country.
The commercial vehicle maintenance company said it has partnered with major electric vehicle manufacturers to introduce its Amerit EV Anywhere nationwide service program and EV Ready technician training program.
Amerit made the announcement during a March 7 press conference at the Technology & Maintenance Council 2022 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition.
The company said its EV Ready technicians will be certified to provide warranty support and repairs for electric vehicles and charging hardware as electrification takes hold in the transportation industry.
Williams by John Sommers II for Transport Topics
“We are committed to using our industry experience and talented technician staff to become the preeminent EV repair and maintenance leader across the country,” Amerit CEO Dan Williams said in the announcement. “EV is the future, and we will continue to provide best-in-class services and solutions to current and future customers as they make the switch.”
Amerit, which employs 1,575 technicians, said it manages maintenance programs for some of the country’s largest fleets, and many of those customers will be early adopters of electric vehicles.
“The big fleets that we do business with are all over this,” said Bob Brauer, Amerit’s chief commercial officer. “We will be the EV service leader in the country.”
Beyond that, Amerit also intends to provide consulting services on best practices for electrification as its customers begin to deploy these vehicles.
“We want to help them make good decisions and think through not just maintenance decisions, but charging infrastructure, tech training and OEM specifications,” Williams said.
Moving forward, Amerit said it will be working with OEMs to develop certified technician training programs.
In some cases, Amerit has found that a typical diesel technician can learn basic, entry-level maintenance practices for an electric vehicle with eight hours of training.
The company said its technicians have been quick to sign up for this training as a way to advance their careers.
“In general, technicians want to grow. They want to learn more,” said Amein Punjani, Amerit’s chief operating officer. “Anytime that we can afford them that opportunity, they are very eager.”
Meanwhile, Amerit also is incorporating electric vehicles into its own fleet of Mobile Service Centers, which act as a “garage on wheels” by providing maintenance for fleet assets located in remote and hard-to-service areas.
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At TMC, Amerit debuted a prototype of its fully-electric EVolution Mobile Service Center. The zero-emission maintenance vehicle is the result of a collaboration with Phoenix Motor Cars, a manufacturer of medium-duty electric vehicles.
Amerit said the EVolution MSC will enable its technicians to perform maintenance and repairs for electric and internal combustion vehicles side by side.
The EVolution’s battery capacity is designed to power all tools and equipment for a technician’s full shift. The vehicle also can draw from its own onboard battery packs to provide 5-10 miles of charge to a downed EV, giving it enough power to return to a charging location.
Amerit said it has placed an order with Phoenix Motor Cars to purchase five EVolution MSCs that will go into service later this year.
Amerit provides fleet maintenance and repair programs for vehicles ranging from cargo vans to Class 8 trucks and trailers for fleet customers across the country. The company’s technicians currently maintain and repair more than 165,000 vehicles.
