I own an auto repair shop and was wondering if I should try to market to other hybrid owners. What would make you leave the dealer and go to an independent repair facility? I own a hybrid so I know what irritates me when I HAVE to take mine in for warranty, otherwise they will never see it. I know most hybrid owners are very tuned to scheduled maintenance, but I could offer personal experience. If this violates the forum rules please remove, though I only want input not selling anything.

Ducit Amour Hybridae
Mark Smith
Master Certifited Technician
Tempus non reparabilis fugit
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."

Best Tank 35.0 MPG

First, welcome to our bit of the Internet.
Price, a clue, and quality of service.

It would be rude to post a URL to some service offering. But discussing what you'd like to do for hybrid service is a good thing. I would recommend it not be specific to any one make or model of hybrid.

If you are interested in some of the hard core hybrid technologists, the "Prius Technical Stuff" Yahoo group would be an excellent place to visit. A bunch of 'over the top' Do It Yourself types, we have some strong opinions about what an independent shop should handle. But short list:

1) oil testing as part of lubricant service - sharing the results with the owner but assemble your own database to look for trends.
2) 'wellness' service - checking everything from traction battery to tires to bearings, steering and suspension service.
3) 4-wheel alignment - use shims or other means to provide four-wheel alignment services.
4) enhanced options - tow assemblies done right with wiring; 12 VDC inverters done right; power seats for those cars without them; backup cameras; engine block heaters.
5) solutions to mitigate summer, solar heating

This is my 'short list' but it kinda gives an idea of my direction.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

They've recently opened a hybrid-dedicated garage in San Francisco.

http://www.lusciousgarage.com

I think there's room for one in Los Angeles as well, maybe in DC.

I don't think College Station would be the place to try to do it -- though maybe Austin?

If you're serious about it, I think you'd have to do more than just routine maintenance, because most hybrids are pretty reliable. You're going to have to do service plus, like specializing in after-market mods that increase fuel efficiency. Kinda like 'pimping by ride,' but 'greening my ride' instead. Doing plug-in conversions? Nitrogen filled tires? Lightweight wheels? I don't think it's a bad business model.

My thoughts

1 Stick to the scheduled maintenance, print out for the customer.
2 Be able to explain consequences of service and or deviations
3 use only high quality fluids and parts
4 thorough inspection of vehicle
5 keep to a minimum idling and testing that affects fuel economy.
6 check tire pressure at every service, adjust to customers specs
7 make recommendations for next service
8 check for service bulletins and recalls and inform customer.
9 be able to answer questions on how to best use the hybrid system to meet customers needs.

most of this is basic but seems to have been lost at most service centers. Those centers I have talked to are terrified of hybrids, even the dealers. My Ford dealer doesn't even stock the oil that is specified for the hybrid. So I'm wondering are people really getting what they think at the dealers?

And yes I have a clue

Ducit Amour Hybridae
Mark Smith
Master Certifited Technician
Tempus non reparabilis fugit
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."

Best Tank 35.0 MPG

Definitly room in Seattle, and even Olympia which seems to be a hotbed of hybrids due to the Washington State fleet.

It is the ignorant among us that will eventually destroy us all.