Do Electric Vehicles Change Everything in Auto Repair?
Detroit, MI
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December 27, 2022 11:57 AM Eastern Standard Time
With more people buying electric vehicles (EVs) – and many states phasing out traditional internal combustion engine cars – people have to get ready for the changes that will occur regarding auto repair. Auto technicians will no longer be able to listen to an engine to diagnose a problem or look under the hood to spot it. In fact, EVs don’t even use oil.
If you plan to transition to an EV in the near future, read on to learn about how your interactions with auto repair shops will change and how, as a consumer, you can lean on technology to ensure that you stay in control of your auto repair bills.
How Electric Vehicles Are Challenging Traditional Auto Repair Approaches
The typical internal combustion engine car has about 200 moving parts. Moving parts are the ones affected by wear and tear the most, which in turn, creates the need for repair. In contrast, an EV only has about 20 moving parts, depending on the model. For instance, Tesla EVs have 17 moving parts. The parts in EVs aren’t mechanical in the same way that they are in internal combustion engine cars. Instead, they are more like computers controlling electric motors with a single speed transmission instead of a traditional multi-speed transmission.
That means auto repair shops have to accelerate the way they approach repairing EVs. They can no longer rely on their knowledge of car mechanics only, but, in addition, they have to learn the skill of using technology to diagnose and repair EVs. Computer-based technology will aid auto technicians in the diagnosis, repair, calibration and programming of EV cars in a more significant way than in today’s world.
EV Battery and Tire Impact on Wear and Tear
Two components that you will probably have to pay attention to when driving an EV are brake and tire wear. Electric cars are 20% heavier than internal combustion engine cars, and that feature puts more wear and tear on these two components of your car. One exception is known as one-pedal driving. There, energy regenerates when you take your foot off the accelerator (formerly known as the gas pedal). At the same time, the computer uses the electric motor to brake instead of the brakes regenerating energy and recharging the EV’s battery. The concept is similar to driving a stick-shift vehicle and downshifting prematurely. So a big factor in whether the brakes have higher wear depends on your driving style.
Why are electric cars so much heavier than traditional cars? It’s the battery. EV batteries weigh significantly more than the fossil fuels that are stored in the gas tank of traditional cars.
For example, the tires on your EV will have to carry 20% more weight, and when you use your brakes, they will have to use enough force to stop a heavier car than traditional cars. Even though you will be replacing these car parts more often, EV cars have fewer parts than traditional cars, so your expenses for other repairs on a regular basis may decrease.
What Does This Mean for EV Owners?
Even though EV owners may see fewer issues arise, their car repairs may be more costly than they are used to. That’s because the parts for EV cars are computerized and cost more than parts for traditional cars. What’s more, you won’t be able to take your EV to just any auto repair shop.
Repairing an EV takes a specialist who is trained in using computerized diagnosis and repair programs. For instance, to repair a car that is pulling to the right or left, the technician will have to recalibrate the computerized steering component.
As newer and more advanced technology is added to EVs, it will take a while for auto repair technology to catch up. The latest EVs haven’t been on the road for long, so the repair technology is being developed in real-time.
EV owners will have to look for auto repair shops certified by EV makers that stay up to date on the latest technologies to ensure that their car is well cared for.
Finding an Auto Repair Shop You Trust Is Key
No matter whether you drive a traditional or electric vehicle, you want to ensure that whoever works on it knows what they are doing. The best way to do that is to use an auto repair shop that provides digital vehicle inspections (DVIs). These computerized inspections are performed by technicians digitally and provide a picture of the vehicle’s health. There is no guessing as to what is wrong with the car and no chance that an auto technician can recommend a car repair that is not necessary.
To find an auto repair shop that uses this consumer-friendly technology, visit AutoTechIQ’s Shops Near You website. It will help you find an auto repair shop that has invested in the future of EVs and is committed to providing the latest repair technology.
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