In July 2022, Collision Reporter caught up with Jeff Peevy and some of the technical team assigned present during a technology project at the I-CAR Chicago Technical Center.As someone who has spent more than four decades in the collision repair industry, today’s EV/Hybrid “revolution” combined with the lightning-speed proliferation of Advanced Driver Assisted System (ADAS) features, is hands-down one of the most fascinating and transformative eras of automotive innovation. Jeff Peevy Vice President, Technical Products, Programs & Services In fact, you have likely seen or heard I-CAR ® in the news discussing this Technical Tsunami ™ of advanced vehicle repair, and how this period of extraordinary change requires smart – and incredibly nimble – strategic guidance. As the demand for EV/Hybrid/ADAS collision repair educational solutions grows, so, too, must our resource toolbox and deep bench of technical experts. 2 I - CAR COLLISION REPORTERDOUBLING DOWN That is why I-CAR is “doubling down” on its commitment to lead the industry, expanding our technical capabilities and capacities in pursuit of trusted, proven solutions to the most pressing needs of today and into the future. I-CAR’s technical centers in Appleton, Wisconsin and Vernon Hills, Illinois represent a combined powerhouse of world-class labs to perform this work on behalf of the industry. This investment in our technical infrastructure couldn’t come at a more needed time, and we thank the countless individuals from throughout the industry who have provided untold hours of input that helped us in recalibrating our efforts. UNDERLYING BLUEPRINT Make no mistake, however, that the underlying blueprint for our work rests in I-CAR’s 43-year-old mission and vision, our “true north” guiding each and every step we take. Our team of technical experts upholds and translates that mission into leading educational programming and solutions, guided by the Automotive Collision Repair Industry Knowledge and Skills Protocol. Whether you have been acquainted with I-CAR for years or just a few months, rest assured that whatever role you serve, you’ll find the confidence and precision expertise to embrace the road ahead, as we work together in strengthening our industry for a bright and sustainable future for all. On behalf of all of us at I-CAR, thank you for coming along for the ride. That EVERY person in the collision repair industry has the information, knowledge and skills required to perform complete, safe and quality repairs for the ultimate benefit of the consumer. The I-CAR Vision To deliver increasingly accessible, on-demand and relevant education, knowledge, services and solutions for the collision repair Inter-Industry. The I-CAR MISSION 3 SPECIAL ISSUESo what’s the driving force behind the expansion of I-CAR’s technical capabilities and capacities? Look no further than the Automotive Collision Repair Industry Knowledge and Skills Protocol . This robust, fluid document represents the collaborative, Inter-Industry framework to guide the future of collision repair education by documenting in detail the knowledge and skills required in each job role. It is the bedrock we all stand on to ensure we are in ready mode together – and no collision repair professional is left behind. While the Knowledge and Skills Protocol serves as a standard for the industry today, more importantly, it offers a foundation for the industry to adapt to the road ahead. We can all take pride in the countless Inter-Industry conversations, insights and feedback that help shape the Protocol, which directs I-CAR’s investment in the industry’s future to ensure every person in the collision repair industry has the information, knowledge and skills required to perform complete, safe and quality repairs for the ultimate benefit of the consumer. GO TO THE PROTOCOL 4 I - CAR COLLISION REPORTERAs an IACET Accredited Provider, I-CAR offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. 6 The Technical Tsunami 8World-class Knowledge, Skills and solutions 11 RTS Snapshot 12 Rooted in technical capabilities 14 A look inside the Chicago technical center 18 Meet I-Car’s Technical Subject Matter Experts 19 What the industry is saying TELL US YOUR STORY As we navigate the increasing technical changes and vehicle complexity our industry is facing together, we want to hear how these rapid changes are affecting you or your shop. Visit I-CAR.com/ShopStories 5 SPECIAL ISSUE92.7 % of new vehicles in the US 1 At least one ADAS feature in ADAS market expected to reach almost in 2026 3 $ 58 Billion 6 I - CAR COLLISION REPORTER Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Never before has the collision repair industry had to ride a Technical Tsunami of such sweeping technological changes, from ADAS to Electric Vehicles, all radically impacting how to make a complete, safe and quality repair. ADAS technology includes •Tire pressure monitoring system • Drowsiness monitoring system • Intelligent parking assist system • Adaptive cruise control system • Blind spot object detection system • Lane departure warning system • Adaptive front-lighting system 63 % Lane-keep assist in of new cars sold in 2021 2 Learn More about ADAS I-CAR.com/ADAS 1. AAA 2. Canalys 3. Global Market Report 20227 SPECIAL ISSUE electric Vehicles (EV s ) Types of EV s • Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) • Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) • Battery electric vehicle (BEV) Major components of an EV system •High-voltage battery • Battery charger • Power electronics controller • Power converter • Motor • Transmission 10 million Currently over eV s on the road 4 6.7 Million plug-in electric vehicles sold 4 each year Global EV sales from 2020 to 2021 6 doubled Learn More about EV s I-CAR.com/EV 4. IEA 5. U.S. Dept of Transportation 6. Reuters in charging stations for EV s 5 $7.5 billion U.S. investing8 I - CAR COLLISION REPORTER In the beginning, I-CAR operated like a highly-focused task force. There wasn’t time to contemplate the big picture of its overall role in the collision repair industry, because it was plunged into an industry emergency. No repair information existed for an automotive innovation, the unibody. I-CAR worked diligently with OEMs to fill this void with training and technical information resources. This inaugural work by I-CAR was impactful, guiding the industry through a crisis. Looking back on it, you could say it was a warm-up exercise befitting a future world-class organization.9 SPECIAL ISSUE We know now that the unibody was only the first ripple in a wave that would grow into a Technical Tsunami. I-CAR’s work continues to be urgent, with collision repairs growing ever more complex. However, I-CAR is no long reacting to emergencies, but rather anticipating the future so it can build the kind of organization that can best serve the industry not just today but in the future. In its more than four decades of service, I-CAR has taken a long, hard look at the big picture of its purpose. And the view it sees is world-class. COMMITMENT TO WORLD- CLASS SUPPORT Every news report you read about I-CAR these days is connected to its commitment to building world-class technical resources and capabilities. Among recent headlines are I-CAR’s accreditation by an international continuing education authority (IACET), expansion of research and collaborative opportunities with industry to create solutions, and launch of new resources such as Repairers Realm™ webcasts and enhancements to established services like the Repairability Technical Support™ (RTS) portal. These developments are not the beginning, but an escalation of I-CAR’s world-class aspirations. The die was cast much earlier with the introduction of Gold Class ® and Platinum™ recognition programs for businesses and individuals respectively. I-CAR answered the call from the industry for credentialing, and since 1990, Gold Class and Platinum have been the knowledge and As the industry faces the technical tsunami, I-CAR is proud to offer these world-class resources: Repairability Technical Support (RTS) The only industrywide online resource designed to fill knowledge gaps, featuring easy-to-use OEM search tools, technical articles and videos, and I-CAR best practices. Ask I-CAR & Linking Pin Activities Real-time tech support for RTS portal users searching for collision repair information or clarification of OEM procedures. Cases where OEM information not readily available resolved through linking pin process. Repairers Realm Free, monthly web series where I-CAR technical experts talk shop with viewers and demonstrate techniques. Viewer participation welcomed in live question-and-answer sessions. Technical Summits & Research Labs Solving technical collision repair problems through Inter-Industry collaboration. Leads to best practices which trickle down to course updates, the RTS site, and collision repair information issued by OEMs. More industry engagement to be fostered by new technical facilities equipped with research labs and meeting space for industry groups. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 >Next >