upcoming EV's - easier to maintain?
Discussion
Im a bit keen on regular oil changes, proper warming of the car and regular maintenance when it comes to my cars.
As the EV march gathers pace, I was kind of pondering what the maintenance aspect will be like
gearbox oil changes?
Motor(s) brushes changing
Replacing battery when charge hold starts to run low
Plus other general stuff like tyres
Anyone got any more ideas or thoughts? Warming up not necessary I guess..
As the EV march gathers pace, I was kind of pondering what the maintenance aspect will be like
gearbox oil changes?
Motor(s) brushes changing
Replacing battery when charge hold starts to run low
Plus other general stuff like tyres
Anyone got any more ideas or thoughts? Warming up not necessary I guess..
Surely the motors are brushless, and I'm pretty sure the gearboxes will be "sealed for life"? As far as I know, routine maintenance is pretty much non-existent. Obviously suspension, tyres, etc. will still wear; brakes will wear too but much more slowly than in a conventional car.
You still need to do things like topping up the washer bottles I suppose.
You still need to do things like topping up the washer bottles I suppose.
I guess a transmission oil change will be every 50,000 miles, if one is keen on such a thing. Sooner if used for lots of towing (honda state 25,000 miles for my honda civic). Auto's are usually stated as "lifetime fill" (I asked BMW via email about this, they offer no recommendations for oil changes in their autoboxes here in the UK although they know some people change at 100,000 miles. I also asked them for any data of oil analysis over time, they couldnt provide anything)
Replace brake fluid every couple of years
Any air conditioning maintinence? More of an issue for people who don't run the aircon on a regular basis
Kick the tyres once a week and wash off any bird crap.
Replace brake fluid every couple of years
Any air conditioning maintinence? More of an issue for people who don't run the aircon on a regular basis
Kick the tyres once a week and wash off any bird crap.
I think they will need much less maintenance as they dont have a big lump of metal with controlled explosions going on under the bonnet which generates heat, noise and vibration, they dont have engine oil to leak out, less components to crack and perish and the heat cycles will be much gentler. There is no clutch to wear out.
Electric motors are much much simpler than even a small IC engine, one moving part which goes in one direction, contrast with an IC engine which has a mechanical ballet going on, which in a lot of cases all depends on a small rubber belt which, if it fails means the whole lot comes together, the internal combustion engine must waste a hell of a lot of energy in friction, sending pistons up and down, turning cams, opening valves etc. I suspect the mountings for the electric motor may be simpler and not wear out as easily.
No Exhaust to worry about, no cooling system to flush. IC engines all have a motor to generate electricity off the engine anyway, so wont need that any more.
Gearbox is a lot simpler and doesnt have some numpty interfering with it every few seconds.
So, on an EV it will be suspension which may take a bit more of a pounding as they are generally a little heavier but I suspect they will be specced to cope, suspension isnt generally that much of a problem anyway and is usually pretty easy to work on.
Brakes will need work but the pads and disks will get an easier life, fluid changes would be similar.
The battery is the only thing I would worry about, but then you have one on a conventional car anyway, but you cnt get these from Halfords for £100 or less !
Electronics may be a problem but every car is full of them anyway so probably similar, possibly a bit less due to not having the hot lump at the front.
Electric motors are much much simpler than even a small IC engine, one moving part which goes in one direction, contrast with an IC engine which has a mechanical ballet going on, which in a lot of cases all depends on a small rubber belt which, if it fails means the whole lot comes together, the internal combustion engine must waste a hell of a lot of energy in friction, sending pistons up and down, turning cams, opening valves etc. I suspect the mountings for the electric motor may be simpler and not wear out as easily.
No Exhaust to worry about, no cooling system to flush. IC engines all have a motor to generate electricity off the engine anyway, so wont need that any more.
Gearbox is a lot simpler and doesnt have some numpty interfering with it every few seconds.
So, on an EV it will be suspension which may take a bit more of a pounding as they are generally a little heavier but I suspect they will be specced to cope, suspension isnt generally that much of a problem anyway and is usually pretty easy to work on.
Brakes will need work but the pads and disks will get an easier life, fluid changes would be similar.
The battery is the only thing I would worry about, but then you have one on a conventional car anyway, but you cnt get these from Halfords for £100 or less !
Electronics may be a problem but every car is full of them anyway so probably similar, possibly a bit less due to not having the hot lump at the front.
Looking at the LEAF's service schedule, the only things on there that actually need regular attention is the brake fluid, which they recommend changing every year (which seems a bit OTT) and rotating the tyres to equalise wear. There's a load of checks listed too, but the vast majority are of things that are no different to (or simpler than) an ICE car.
ETA: Oh, and changing the pollen filter.
ETA: Oh, and changing the pollen filter.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff