With electric vehicle ownership on the rise, Meineke Car Care Center has launched its first-ever service center for EVs in Indian Land, South Carolina, reports Spectrum News 1.
Mike Baden has owned the Meineke location for over a decade now, but has become more interested in EVs after first learning of the Tesla Roadster almost two decades ago.
“Ultimately, when [Tesla] decided to make a vehicle for the masses, that was when I changed my mind and was like, ‘I’m all in,’” recalled Baden. “I want to know everything about these vehicles, and I want to be able to fix them.”
Baden flew out to Utah to enroll in an EV training program at Weber State University, while also working on EVs owned by his friends in his spare time.
With almost 81,000 EVs currently registered in South Carolina, Baden is far from the only one that’s caught the EV bug–but when it comes to service providers, he isn’t joined by many. EV owners in the region are hard-pressed to find shops that can meet their vehicle’s needs, which translates into a lot of business for Meineke EV.
As more drivers transition to driving electric, Baden underscores how crucial it is for more techs entering the industry to be trained in how to work with these vehicles. While existing educational resources can be helpful, EVs are still an emerging technology, making hands-on learning especially useful.
“We need the kids, the young and bright minds, that are ready to learn and be able to adapt,” said Baden.
