The days of mandatory 3,000-mile engine oil changes are largely behind us, a relic of outdated advice from dealerships. Modern vehicles often extend that interval to 5,000, or even 10,000 miles, and the horizon points towards a future where oil changes might vanish entirely as electric vehicles (EVs) increasingly dominate the roads. This shift brings profound changes to the automotive landscape, particularly for the mechanics and repair shops that keep our vehicles running smoothly.
The automotive repair industry is navigating this electric revolution at varying speeds. A walk down a single street can reveal the spectrum of responses to this evolving technology.
On Hyperion Avenue in the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, you’ll find Hyperion Auto Repair, a fixture in the community for nearly two decades. At the helm is Alex Baltaian, the owner of Hyperion Auto Repair, a seasoned mechanic whose expertise is deeply rooted in traditional combustion engines. His journey in auto repair began with informal training from family members, supplemented by formal education at trade school and years of hands-on experience.
Alex Baltaian, the owner of Hyperion Auto Repair, has dedicated approximately 35 years to mastering his craft. His reputation is built on trust and skill, making him the kind of mechanic customers readily recommend to friends. Alex’s passion for cars is palpable.
“I love how they look; I love how they sound; I love how they drive,” Baltaian expresses, his affection clearly directed towards the classic characteristics of internal combustion engine vehicles. While acknowledging the inevitable rise of electric vehicles, Alex maintains a pragmatic outlook regarding his business and the changing times.
“I’ll learn to work on electrical cars,” Baltaian states, demonstrating a willingness to adapt. However, his long career and proximity to retirement influence his immediate concerns. “To be honest, I’m 54 years old. I’m thinking another five more years, and I’ll retire. So, the gasoline cars will be around that long, so I’ll be OK.” His statement reflects a common sentiment among some experienced mechanics who see the transition, but whose immediate future remains tied to the familiar technology of gasoline engines.
Just a short distance from Hyperion Auto Repair, further down Hyperion Avenue, stands a contrasting vision of the automotive repair future: Electric Avenue. This brightly colored, modern garage represents a proactive embrace of the electric vehicle era.
“We’re trying to be a part of this amazing change to hybrid and electric cars,” explains Harry Bakchajian, the owner of Electric Avenue, which opened its doors about a year prior to the article. Like Alex Baltaian, Harry comes from an automotive family; his father owns a traditional repair shop, indicating a generational shift in focus within the industry.
On a typical Monday, Electric Avenue’s technicians were engaged in a transmission repair on a hybrid vehicle, alongside other familiar tasks like replacing belts and water pumps. Currently, specialized electric vehicle repairs are primarily handled by dealerships. Harry Bakchajian aims to bridge this gap, positioning his shop as an independent alternative with growing EV expertise.
“Hopefully, in a year or two, we should be on top of everything electric,” Bakchajian projects confidently. He acknowledges the challenges in accessing manufacturer-specific software and information, noting, “It takes time, because the dealer doesn’t release some of the software. You’ve got to get it slowly as they release it, but we’re gonna be at the forefront whenever we can be.” His ambition is to establish Electric Avenue as a leader in EV repair services as the technology becomes more widespread.
Tony Seba, co-founder of RethinkX, a think tank specializing in disruptive technologies, offers a broader perspective on the service requirements of electric vehicles. “The electric vehicle has about 20 moving parts and the internal combustion automobile engine has about 2,000,” Seba points out. This dramatic reduction in complexity translates to significantly less wear and tear on EV components compared to gasoline vehicles, which rely on explosive force for propulsion. “Even those parts that do need to be changed, they need to be changed far less than with internal combustion engine automobile,” Seba adds, highlighting the long-term implications for the auto repair industry.
Seba predicts a significant consolidation within the automotive service sector due to the lower maintenance demands of EVs. “You have about 4,000 department store locations that do services,” he notes, “You have 16,000 dealer repair locations and you have something like 70,000 general kind of mom-and-pop repair shops. And essentially, most of these are going to be wiped out.” While this may seem drastic, his analysis underscores the potential for substantial disruption in the traditional auto repair business model.
Looking ahead, while EVs will minimize the need for engine-related repairs, vehicles will still require maintenance for components like brakes, suspension, and windshield wipers. Valvoline Instant Oil Change, located not far from Electric Avenue, exemplifies a business adapting to this shift by focusing on rapid service for these essential areas.
At a Valvoline location, a team of technicians worked efficiently to quickly process vehicles, emphasizing speed and customer convenience. William Smelley, vice president of marketing and sales for Henley Enterprises, Valvoline’s largest franchise, recalls similar anxieties surrounding the introduction of hybrid vehicles.
“We went from never doing those to, ‘Oh, my gosh, now there’s hybrids. Are you going to be able to do those?’” Smelley recounts. “We do all those vehicles, so it’ll just change.” He emphasizes that Valvoline’s core value proposition lies in “instant” service, more so than just “oil change.”
“It’s just staying relevant,” Smelley asserts. “Our goal is customer service and customers’ time, and that’s how we’ll evolve.” This sentiment is echoed by Valvoline’s corporate leadership.
Fran Lockwood, chief technical officer for Valvoline, affirms, “The focus of our service, I believe, will stay rapid service and trying to please our customers, which is one of our primary objectives.” Even the company’s name, intrinsically linked to “oil change,” might be reconsidered in the long run, as Heidi Matheys, Valvoline’s chief marketing officer, acknowledges, “That’s something that’s yet to be determined.”
The automotive repair industry stands at a crossroads. While shops like Hyperion Auto Repair, owned by Alex Baltaian, represent the enduring expertise in traditional vehicles, businesses like Electric Avenue, owned by Harry Bakchajian, are paving the way for the electric future. The ability to adapt, prioritize customer service, and embrace new technologies will define success in this rapidly transforming industry.
