Just when you think you can’t stand to hear another luddite auto mechanic gripe about technology destroying the independent auto repair industry, somebody like Carolyn Coquillette comes along and busts it all to … well, you know. Carolyn saw an opportunity in the boom of hybrid automobiles and, throwing caution and her physics degree to the wind, decided to dive into the auto repair industry. Now she’s launched San Francisco’s Luscious Garage, which as far as we know is the only all-hybrid repair facility in the country. More than just a novelty with a catchy name, Luscious Garage (or “LG” as they like to call it in the hood) caters to the special needs of hybrid owners. In addition to scheduled maintenance and repairs, they can perform a number of “hacks” to the vehicles’ computer systems, most of them aimed at the hugely popular Toyota Prius. Since so much of the Prius is computer controlled, LG can perform modifications of taste and convenience, like eliminating the irritating reverse warning beep. As the number of hybrid vehicles continues to grow, expect to see more specialty repair shops opening up across the country. Carolyn and LG get props for being there first. News source: Auto Repair About