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> But despite Mary Barra saying they're all-in on electric, it's still a gesture at ~20k sold/year. It's partly on the channels: I had to argue with several dea
by danans 6y ago
> But despite Mary Barra saying they're all-in on electric, it's still a gesture at ~20k sold/year. It's partly on the channels: I had to argue with several dealers to get a test drive because many are both threatened by the Bolt and ignorant of it.
With good reason. EVs, thanks to their mechanical simplicity and resulting lower maintenance costs, present a major problem for traditional dealers who are reliant on maintenance revenue for EV engines.
There is also cultural friction resulting from the use of petroleum becoming an identity politics issue for many - with particular constituencies (like auto dealerships and oil companies) having their interests tied to petroleum based vehicle technology. The grassroots expressions of this include the "ICE-ing" of EV chargers [1].
This identity dimension has increased as petroleum gradually loses its actual product advantages (rapid fueling being the most significant).
1. https://www.carscoops.com/2021/01/ram-1500-that-identifies-as-a-prius-tries-sipping-electrons-at-tesla-supercharger-station/ https://www.carscoops.com/2021/01/ram-1500-that-identifies-a... https://www.techspot.com/news/78089-tesla-hating-pickup-drivers-blocking-charging-stations-but.html https://www.techspot.com/news/78089-tesla-hating-pickup-driv...
- refurb 6y agoI don’t buy dealership that dealerships don’t like EVs because they make less money on repairs. A lot of the work dealers do is warranty work (paid my mfr). Warranty work is due to manufacturer defect and defects can happen with ICE vehicles or EVs. Just look at the build quality issues Tesla was having. Maintenance and repair issues go far beyond the engine. Power train, electrical, doors, windows, brakes, lighting - all of which EVs still have. Yeah, it’s great when you don’t need an oil or filter change twice a year, but that’s about all the maintenance an ICE needs.
- zamfi 6y agoThe reality is less important than the perception, though. The perception among laypeople is that EVs are less maintenance than ICEs, even though that may only be marginally true. The perception among dealership staff likely matches this.
- tialaramex 6y ago> Power train, electrical, doors, windows, brakes, lighting The power train is much simpler in a sane EV design than what you need to get plausible performance/ efficiency out of ICE. Fewer, simpler parts means less to maintain or repair. The braking of an EV can be (and usually is) regenerative which means instead of wearing out brakes you're just running the motors backwards. You will still see some brake wear, but unless you're a maniac it's far less than before. Lighting, as in the home, is going LED and thus you can choose to have it last more or less as long as you wish for increased capital outlay - unlike with incandescent you aren't obliged to also give away efficiency if you want longer life, two 1W LEDs under-driven to 500mW can produce more light than a single 1W LED and enjoy increased lifespan, the downside is mainly the capital cost to buy the more expensive lamp. That's a factor choosing "light bulbs" in the grocery store (or in a smaller store, a choice the store owner made for you) but hardly top of mind for a $20k+ new car.
- refurb 6y agoSure the power train is simpler, but how many ICE cars never have powertrain issues? It's not unusual at this point. And if the issue is manufacturer defect, then EV cars have that same risk. Sure you might be replacing brake pads less, but is there anything to suggest the braking system is less prone to failure? Say from rusted parts or bad seals? And LED lights aren't unique to EVs. You can put them on ICE cars too so it's a wash.