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Electric cars are like gasoline cars-until they are not. In this FAQ series, we will explore that an EV difference of 1% is enough to require some explanation.
Proponents of electric cars will tell you that electric cars are just like ordinary cars. In most cases, they are right. You step on the pedal on the right, the car starts, you turn the steering wheel, and the car turns. The only real difference is what kind of fuel is in it. In fact, we have been saying this all the time. However, if we are completely honest, that's only the majority of cases. In 99% of cases, the only difference is the type of fuel that enters the car, but the last 1% may require explanation.
In order to provide this explanation, we have launched a new section called "Frequently Asked Questions about Electric Vehicles", hoping to answer strange questions that have a 1% probability. Today’s question: Do electric vehicles need maintenance?
Let us solve this problem in advance: Yes, your electric car needs maintenance. Yes, even if it does not have an engine, yes, even if it may not have a transmission. We will talk about this issue later, but first, I want to talk to you about the first-generation Chevrolet Volt and how it "inspired" this issue.
I remember the first time I had the opportunity to talk to the owner of the Chevrolet Volt, it was in 2011. It's not for an interview or an article, it's just me and this old guy, Harry, in his brand new, fresh hybrid in the Bob Evans parking lot. It was a cool early spring evening, and under the skies of Midwest Ohio, the car looked beautiful under the "golden hour" lights. It was a wonderful moment, of course, but what impressed me the most in that conversation—and what I found myself thinking ten years later—was how completely ignorant Harry was about his new Volt.
"It never needs to change the oil," he said excitedly. Which, okay — not quite right. "You never need to do any maintenance," he emphasized, "because it is electric, it has no moving parts!"
Where to start! ? I tried to explain to Harry that he bought a hybrid car. His new Chevrolet Volt does have a gasoline-fueled ICE by driving the wheels at highway speeds (where the higher-speed efficiency of the ICE engine begins to outweigh the low-speed torque advantage of the electric motor). However, the degree of cognitive dissonance he experienced was too high. Before he returned to his car angrily, he called me a liar and all kinds of terrible things.
Oh, there is no impunity for good deeds. Nevertheless, I think there are a lot of "Harry" walking around there, saying, "Electric cars have no moving parts, so they never need maintenance." Oops, you might even think of yourself-it's okay! This is why you entered "Does the electric car need maintenance?" Enter Google and finally came here. We are very happy to have you. Now, open your heart and get ready to learn how to keep your electric car going strong for the next few years.
1. Fluid-Unless we are talking about a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or an electric car with a gasoline-powered "range extender", your "pure" electric car is not equipped with an internal combustion engine. Therefore, it does not require regular oil changes of the kind that you may be familiar with. Even so, there are other liquids in electric vehicles that need to be checked and sometimes need to be replaced. Some of these fluids include:
Battery coolant (in electric vehicles with liquid-cooled batteries)
Transmission oil (in electric vehicles with gearboxes)
There is no general rule when these need to be changed. More importantly, the lifespan of these different fluids can vary greatly between places like Chicago and milder climates like Southern California.
2. 12V battery-Knowing that your super advanced, super high technology PHEV or BEV still uses old-fashioned 12V batteries may be a bit shocking to people, but here we are. Just like the 12V battery in a traditional ICE car, the 12V battery in an EV powers accessories such as headlights, turn signals, dashboard lights, power windows, and sunroof motors. It also powers the ECU and CAN bus system that manages charging-when it fails, it can leave you at a loss. The good news is that if/when this happens, you can "quick start" the 12V battery and take you where you need to go. The bad news is that as part of regular maintenance, you sometimes have to buy new ones, and (in a pure BEV, anyway) you won't receive obvious signs of slower and slower cranks every morning to warn you that it's coming.
Therefore, add "Check the 12V battery" to the list of electric car maintenance items you should carry out each year. Ideally, just before your area experiences the most extreme weather conditions-Minnesota and Arizona will be different, you know? (For Tesla owners, please note that Tesla’s system will notify you of the exhausted 12V battery a few days in advance. Be sure to pay attention to the notification.)
3. Tires, brakes and suspension-remember that electric cars are the same as ordinary cars? As far as tires, brakes and suspension are concerned, they are just like ordinary cars-very heavy ordinary cars. The extra mass of vehicle batteries means that most EVs are much heavier than their ICE-powered cousins, and the load on tires, brakes and suspension components is greater than you might think.
Most mechanics recommend a multi-point inspection at least once a year to ensure that the tires are evenly worn and have enough tread, the brake pads and rotor have enough life to remain reliable before the next inspection, and there is no physical problem with the suspension—— Torn boots, damaged shock absorbers, worn bearings, etc.-if left unchecked, it may cause safety issues. (Regarding braking, please note that since most braking is done using a regenerative braking system, the braking of electric vehicles usually lasts much longer than the braking of gasoline vehicles.)
4. Filter-Of course, pure BEV has no fuel filter, oil filter or engine air filter. However, they do have cabin filters and must be replaced regularly.
Why? Because cabin filters can prevent pollutants such as smoke, pollen, mold, chemical weapons, and even harmful diesel particulates (which have been shown to increase heart attacks, respiratory diseases, strokes and other health problems) from entering the passenger compartment of the car. The cabin filter also prevents other small debris (such as the feces of bugs and rodents) from spreading throughout the cabin.
Like ICE-powered cars, different car manufacturers recommend different maintenance schedules for electric cars. At Volvo/Polaris, the first regular maintenance is carried out at two years or 20,000 miles, including multiple inspections (liquid inspections, wipers, making sure everything is working as expected, etc.) and changing the air-conditioning filter. At the same time, Tesla recommends tire rotation every 6,250 miles or when the difference in tire tread wear exceeds 2/32 inches (whichever comes first).
If you follow the recommended maintenance schedule and find that you have driven more than 12,000 miles in a given year (the low end of the national average annual mileage in the United States), it means that you have to work on Tesla at least twice a year.
Therefore, although electric vehicles do have lower maintenance costs and better resistance to energy price fluctuations compared with traditional ICE-powered vehicles, it is not accurate to say that electric vehicles are maintenance-free.
I have been involved in motorsports and adjustments since 1997, and have been part of an important media network since 2008. You can find me here, work on my Volvo fan site, ride a motorcycle in Chicago, or chase my kids in Oak Park.
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Electric cars are like gasoline cars-until they are not. In this FAQ series, we will explore 1% of electric vehicles...
Electric cars are like gasoline cars-until they are not. In this FAQ series, we will explore 1% of electric vehicles...
Electric cars are like gasoline cars-until they are not. In this FAQ series, we will explore 1% of electric vehicles...
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