Hoffman Tire Pros is certified to service hybrids

June 30, 2014

Hoffman Tire and Alignment Inc. has partnered with The Hybrid Shop (THS) to become the first certified hybrid and electric vehicle automotive service center in the southeastern U.S. The Fayetteville, Ga., dealership is part of the Tire Pros retail franchise division of American Tire Distributors,

Through the THS partnership, Hoffman Tire Pros provides full-service hybrid battery service, offering cost-saving diagnostic, repair, and preventative maintenance service solutions to hybrid-electric vehicle owners.

“As an independent, locally-owned business, we’ve built our reputation over 38 years by delivering high-quality work with exceptional customer service," says Rich Hoffman, owner.

"With the growing number of hybrid vehicle sales in the greater Atlanta area, we’re excited to extend our service offerings to hybrid car owners, giving them the opportunity to keep their cars running at peak performance with a multitude of innovative, cost-saving, and environmentally-friendly solutions that will help them receive maximum power, drivability, and satisfaction from their hybrid vehicles."

The conditioning service provides an environmentally-sound, “green” alternative to expensive battery replacement. Battery pack conditioning increases the performance and fuel economy of hybrid vehicles at a significant cost savings to owners, according to Hoffman.

Hoffman Tire Pros’ technicians have become certified in THS’ exclusive technology to condition hybrid batteries. Hybrid battery conditioning is an innovative, affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to hybrid battery replacement, improving fuel economy while restoring battery performance up to 95% of the original manufacturers’ power and energy specifications.

By conditioning the original battery, consumers can save over 70% of the cost of replacing the battery due to a decrease in mileage per gallon or sluggish performance. Replacement hybrid batteries can typically cost $4,000 - $9,000, according to THS.

THS says the hybrid vehicle market has grown in recent years. In 2014, there are:

* over 2.7 million hybrids on the road; and

* 50 new hybrid models available for purchase by various automobile manufacturers.

The U.S. Department of Energy forecasts that the hybrid vehicle market will grow more than 10% by 2015, with the number of new models produced expected to double, and even triple over the next ten years.

With this anticipated growth, Hoffman Tire Pros says it saw the potential to further support hybrid owners by ensuring their vehicles are operating at peak levels of performance, and in the most environmentally and economically friendly manner possible.

In addition, Hoffman Tire Pros offers its HEV customers an optional program to assess the vehicle before battery conditioning. The service provides HEV owners with detailed information to help them avoid costly repairs and breakdowns, according to Hoffman.

“I believe our partnership with THS will give us a world of technical expertise and a connection to a network of dealers that can lend help to diagnose and repair hybrid problems, and highlight our commitment to serving the growing needs of hybrid vehicle owners across the greater Atlanta area, bringing a higher level of expertise equal to or greater than the car dealer network.”

For more information about Hoffman Tire Pros, visit www.hoffmantire.com. For more information about THS, visit www.thehybridshop.com.