Hybrid and Electric Franchise
Business Model
This is the main business to support the introduction of the Power Jockey in any territory. If the hybrid battery is already damaged installing the Power Jockey will not work. The hybrid battery must first be repaired and reconditioned. The Power Jockey will then enable a weaker and lower capacity battery to work with the vehicle. Of course we can install the Power Jockey in a vehicle with good batteries to protect and extend it’s operational life. The Hybrid and Electric franchise is setup to do this specifically and in addition repair and service the vehicles as well.
Unlike standard vehicles, specific checks and work must be carried out during routine vehicle servicing so as to ensure that the vehicle is working efficiently which in turn will maximise the operation and life of the hybrid battery. The vehicle itself is very different from standard vehicles and is extremely robust mechanically, however there are still mechanical issues specific to the hybrid vehicle particularly centered around the inverter and the transmission.
A very profitable and future proof business.
The Hybrid and Electric franchise is easy to run, profitable and future proof.
With the price of oil trending upwards into the forseeable future, increasing emphasis on our environment and sustainable living, hybrid vehicles will be in greater demand. With this growth the demand for businesses and services to support this industry will increase. This is a business in a sunrise industry, and getting in on the ground floor will be a distinct advantage.
Before one can be profitable one must first be economically viable. Our approach towards economic viability is to build into the business as many revenue streams as possible.
1) Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Service
2) Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Repair
3) Hybrid Vehicle Battery Repair and Reconditioning
4) Power Jockey Sales and Installations
5) Spare Parts Sales And Supply
By itself any of the above revenue stream can be profitable in it’s own right. Taken together they should ensure that the business will be easily economically viable and profitable.
The best thing about this business is that it is easy to run. All training and support is provided as a turnkey operation and the franchisee can walk in and start operations from day one.
Power Jockey Distributorship Sales and Service
As of October 2011, almost 1 year from when the Power Jockey was first installed in Prius Hybrids, we have installed over 200 units. Over the year we have also continued to develop our Power Jockey technology. We believe that we have finally optimised our Power Jockey design for the Generation 1 Prius.
Almost all the vehicles that we have fitted with a Power Jockey have had the batteries reconditioned by us at the same time. We use the Power Jockey to support and protect the lower capacity hybrid battery from failure.
In the Toyota hybrids the electric motor must work in tandem with the petrol engine. The electric drive takes care of the high torque low RPM, while the petrol engine takes care of the high RPM section of the drive train. There is a crossover area from about 800 to 1500 RPM below which the engine will disengage from the drive train as it is not capable of handling the high torque at the low end. This is when you hear the engine revs highly without any forward drive.
For a perfectly functioning system both the electric and petrol engine sections must work efficiently. If the petrol section is underperforming the charging system is compromised and the hybrid batteries will fail as the battery cells gets unequally charged.
While it sounds complicated, it is not really. All it takes to keep the ICE side functioning efficiently is to do the regular service and to check on the serviceable parts such as the spark plugs, MAF sensors, oxygen sensors and fuel sensors.
Customers use to think that because they spend $2000 for battery reconditioning and a power jockey their vehicle should perform faultlessly. We have to add that unless the ICE section of the vehicle we cannot guarantee that the newly reconditioned battery even with the Power Jockey installed can fail within a few months as the charging and equalisation system is not optimised.
This has led to the evolution of the franchise to now include service, sales and repair of hybrid vehicles. The franchise will now be called Hybrid and Electric. This will more aptly described what the business is all about with a reference to the future in addressing Electric vehicles as well.
