In photo: Current Works Team – left to right: Rohan Dill, Darrel Mellor, Cardel Henry
Story by Nadia Arandjelovic
It was during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in July 2020 when long-time automotive technician Darrel Mellor decided to start his own business.
Though some might have doubted his timing, Mr Mellor found success servicing electric and traditional vehicles from his garage on Mills Creek Road in Pembroke.
Working in partnership with Current Vehicles – the same business which brought us the Twizy in summer 2017 – Mr Mellor’s team at Current Works is responsible for keeping the fleet of mini-vehicles running smoothly on the island’s roads.
However, he asserts that’s not all they do.
“When I began working with Current, there was an understanding that there was a much larger commercial opportunity beyond the servicing and maintaining their fleet of electric vehicles,” Mr Mellor said.
“It was agreed that when the time was right we would open a full-service garage that catered to all makes and models of cars, but specialised in electric vehicles, just as the adoption of this new technology began.”
Fascinated with computers at an early age, Mr Mellor recalled his mom buying him his first computer when he was aged 11 back in 1987. Throughout his teens, he was actively involved in programming and imagined he’d one day end up in a traditional desk job in administration or IT. Yet life had other plans.
“When I was 19, I did a career switch,” he said. “I started an apprenticeship with a local car repair shop and completely fell in love. I found work in the office to be very routine, but with the automotive industry there’s always something new to learn, be it a new challenge to solve or constantly shifting technologies to master.”
He’s worked in the industry for more than 20 years, servicing some of the biggest car brands in Bermuda and Britain, including Renault, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep, Kia and Citroen. In addition to being a City & Guilds qualified mechanic, Mr Mellor is certified in advanced automotive engineering and is a member of the Institute of the Motor Industry.
While electric cars typically don’t require as much maintenance as gas vehicles, Mr Mellor recommends a few things car owners can do to get the most out of their electric vehicles:
Stick to a servicing schedule. With electric vehicles, a major service is recommended every two years. In the interim, it’s good to get a smaller inspection done to ensure lights are working and there is sufficient air in the tyres. Low tyre pressure can cause your battery to drain much faster, so it’s important to stay on top of it.
Know your numbers. One benefit of electric vehicles is that computers can show you exactly what’s happening on the inside of your car, from the health of the battery and start/end time of your journey, to how much air conditioning is used and how hard the driver accelerates.
Avoid charging your battery to 100 per cent. Electric car manufacturers say it’s better to keep the battery charged between 50 and 80 per cent. Thankfully, most established auto manufacturers have smart systems in place that prevent the battery from charging to 100 per cent or depleting to zero.
“There are built-in buffers, so what you read on the display may not actually be the true reading,” Mr Mellor said.
Current Works has an online booking system, which provides customers with mechanic time estimates after choosing which service they want. Customers will also receive a price estimate the day before their appointment, which can be reviewed and approved before arrival so there are no surprises. For more information, visit www.currentworks.bm.
