There is no reason an efficient ICE can't have cheaper maintenance than an EV. In this day and age, reliable ICE drivetrains are pretty much a solved issue if

There is no reason an efficient ICE can't have cheaper maintenance than an EV. In this day and age, reliable ICE drivetrains are pretty much a solved issue if you're not trying to make tons of horsepower (which they're not) Most of the maintenance with a modern ICE has nothing to do with the drivetrain. Tires, brakes, suspension components, filters, all things that EVs still have (brakes get a respite from regen, but the extra weight takes the savings back for the tires). Oil changes with modern synthetics and low performance demands can be 15k+ apart. Then there's the fact you can get an ICE drivetrain repaired anywhere and fuel up anywhere. The cost of building up a repair and charging infrastructure alone would probably have killed any savings. This is not an anti-EV post, but it is an anti-antiquated-ideas-about-ICE post.