EVs don’t need as much maintenance: Here are key differences

https://www.autoblog.com/2023/03/13/electric-cars-evs-dont-need-as-much-maintenance/


EVs don’t need
oil changes and other maintenance-related things that gas-powered vehicles do.
Tim Levin/Insider; Pininfarina
  • Gas-powered vehicles require maintenance like oil changes and more.
  • EVs are mechanically simpler and more electronic, requiring less routine work.
  • Still, there are key nuances to EV maintenance that drivers should know.

Taking your car to the shop will look a lot different if you drive an EV versus a gas-powered vehicle.

EV drivers can say goodbye forever to oil changes and various other common gas-drivetrain maintenance responsibilities. Tesla has advertised its vehicles with that, touting them as “eliminating the need for service.”

But because EVs are so tech-heavy, they do come with some maintenance and service nuances. For instance, over-the-air software updates might keep these vehicles in tip-top condition.

But if an EV does need repair, it could take a lot longer. EVs also have complex batteries. And those batteries could be costly to replace. 

Here’s a rundown of all the ways that keeping an EV on the road is different from a gas-powered vehicle:

Overall, EVs need less maintenance.

Tesla Model Y and Model 3 electric vehicles, which will be sent to the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium
Tesla vehicles
Visual China Group / Getty

They have maintenance costs of $4,246 over 5 years of ownership, lower than the $4,583 estimate for gas-powered cars, according to a Kelley Blue Book assessment of the total cost to own an EV versus an internal-combustion engine vehicle.

For one, every few thousand miles, automakers recommend changing the engine oil and oil filter in a gas-powered vehicle.

Oil Change
Duane Prokop/Getty Images

But EVs have no engine oil, as they’re powered by electric motors, so their owners don’t ever have to think about changing it. EVs generally have fewer moving parts to begin with.

Traditional internal combustion engine cars have plenty of other fluids besides engine oil to keep an eye on.

While the electric drivetrain is essentially fluid-free, there are some nuances. For instance, the more simple transmission of a Tesla requires an infrequent filter change. Door hinges still need to be lubricated. EVs still need brake and window washer fluids, too.

Some drivers swear by fuel additives, compounds added to gas tanks to clean engine parts.

Tesla Model 3 Review
A Tesla Model 3 at a Supercharger station.
Matthew DeBord/BI

Because EVs only require electricity, that’s one less thing for an owner to worry about.

EVs are leading the charge as vehicles overall become more electronic and chock-full of technology.

They’re essentially treated as computers on wheels. With EVs, a lot of software tweaks and infotainment updates are handled via over-the-air upgrades, though automakers are still getting a handle on that.

Performance upgrades have become more common with EVs, usually for a fee or subscription cost.

For instance, Tesla can unlock additional performance from an owner’s vehicle using over-the-air software updates. Mercedes-Benz and Polestar have also explored that concept.

One major difference between gas-powered vehicles and EVs is the cost of potentially replacing the EV battery.

Tesla D Getty 2
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

While it’s still early days in the EV transition and battery replacements aren’t routine, it could be expensive — some estimates suggest as much as $15,000. That likely isn’t something a driver of a new EV has to worry about.

Usually, EV battery replacements are referenced once an older electric car joins the used market.

Tesla Model 3 Review
Tesla Model 3.
Matthew DeBord/BI

It’s why the battery’s health and state of charge will be important to determine whether a second or third owner can expect an expensive replacement cost.

Because EVs use regenerative braking, pads and rotors are subjected to less wear.

While brake pads need to be changed every 20,000 to 50,000 miles or so on gas-powered vehicles (and brake rotors also need to be replaced), EV owners should expect to have brake maintenance far less frequently.

For EVs, accidents can get expensive.

Tesla Factory
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

EV fixes may require unique tools and equipment, electronics like sensors can be costly, and there are far fewer technicians specialized in EV repair right now. EVs have around $1,712 in repair costs over 5 years of ownership, higher than drivers looking at $1,695 in repair costs for gas-powered vehicles, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates.

EV tires differ from those for gas-powered vehicles.

Rivian EVs
Rivian
recalled 13,000 of its vehicles on Friday.
Justin Sullivan / Staff / Getty

EV tires have to handle the heavy battery weight and faster initial acceleration, and play a role in noise reduction. Higher EV tire wear could mean it’s more often that they need to be replaced.

Much like gas-powered cars, EVs undergo recalls.

It’s something for any driver to keep in mind (whether they have a gas-guzzling muscle car or a Tesla), but it’s of note that many automakers’ early EV products have been recalled, like the Subaru Solterra, Toyota BZ4X, BMW iX, and many more.

Because an EV is so electronic, the way an owner goes about maintaining it might also be different.

Manager using digital tablet while talking to mechanics in auto repair shop
skynesher/Getty Images

Automakers have to provide access to information on how to fix gas-powered cars to their dealer service centers, independent repair shops and the aftermarket. EVs can be diagnosed with a lot of telematics tech, but if only automakers and their franchised dealers have access to that information, that might limit your repair options.

Of course, there are plenty of similarities.

Tesla Model 3 Review
Tesla Model 3.
Matthew DeBord/BI

Replacing aging headlights or worn-out suspension parts is standard for both types of vehicles. In fact, EV suspensions might actually wear out sooner, given the vehicle’s battery adds to its overall weight.

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March 14, 2023 at 07:22AM

A Tesla SUV drag-raced $500,000 supercars from Ferrari and Lamborghini

https://www.autoblog.com/2023/03/13/tesla-model-x-plaid-drag-race-ferrari-lamborghini/


The
Tesla Model X Plaid has more than 1,000 horsepower and stands up to the
Ferrari SF90 Stradale (top left) and
Lamborghini Aventador SVJ (bottom left) in a drag race.
Tesla; Ferrari; Lamborghini
  • A Tesla Model X raced against a Ferrari SF90 Stradale and Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. 
  • The Tesla won one race and was extremely close to the Ferrari across the board. 
  • The Model X Plaid has 1,020 horsepower but costs less than a quarter of the Italian supercars

On the face of it, it makes no sense for a family SUV to be mentioned in the same breath as exotic, Italian supercars. 

But in the new electric era, the same vehicles that haul the kids to school can also torch some of the world’s most muscly speed machines in a straight line. Online car-buying marketplace CarWow proved as much in a recent YouTube video pitting the Tesla Model X, Ferrari SF90 Stradale, and Lamborghini Aventador SVJ against each other in a series of quarter-mile drag races. 

The super-sporty Model X Plaid that CarWow chose for the stunt costs $109,990 in the US. That’s a pretty penny but doesn’t hold a candle to the SF90 and Aventador, which both cost around a half-million dollars new. 

The three vehicles are more similar when it comes to performance figures. The Model X Plaid puts out 1,020 horsepower from three motors, the Ferrari cranks out 986 horsepower from a hybrid drivetrain, and the Lambo delivers 770 horsepower from a burly V12. 

The Model X’s advantage here is instant torque. Electric cars — even the biggest luxury SUVs — can deliver all their power to their wheels in an instant, unlike gas vehicles which need to rev their engines up to the optimal RPM before they can perform at their best.  

In CarWow’s best-of-three competition, the Tesla and Ferrari each took one race by a significant margin, while the third was too close to call between the two. The Aventador SVJ? It looked pretty slow compared to the others. 

How’s that for an SUV that can haul all your groceries plus your extended family?

Check out the video below:

 

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March 14, 2023 at 07:22AM