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>> Most maintenance is basically going to be replacing tires, topping up some fluids The only think that might be any different is the engine/fuel system. It

>> Most maintenance is basically going to be replacing tires, topping up some fluids The only think that might be any different is the engine/fuel system. It still has a drivetrain. It has plenty of bearings, rods, suspension and brake elements that need exactly as much servicing as in any other vehicle. Go to any general mechanic shop (not a dedicated engine/trans facility). They are working on suspension. They are replacing broken broken glass/plastic bits and pieces. They are chasing electrical gremlins (intermittent faults). They are fixing fluid leaks. None of that is anything to do with the type of engine under the hood.

pvaldes 5y ago
> chasing electrical gremlins Can't think in a better description for this. Thanks for this jewel.
MayeulC 5y ago
> brake elements that need exactly as much servicing Brakes are generally used a lot less thanks to regenerative braking (kind of like trucks use eddy current brakes to lessen wear on mechanical parts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_current_brake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_current_brake https://www.klamretarder.com/en/retarders/truck-brakes-cfk https://www.klamretarder.com/en/retarders/truck-brakes-cfk ). > They are fixing fluid leaks There is also much less fluids circulating (some cars, not all, use liquid-cooled batteries and engines; add windshield wipers and that's about it). So less fluids to worry about. There is just a few orders of magnitude less mechanical parts that can wear out and require servicing. Suspension, tires and body work is still required, of course. There will probably be maintenance needs on auxiliary systems like the in-car entertainment system or headlights. However, most of the maintenance work on regular cars is related to the combustion engine: timing belt changes, oil changes, gearbox issues, brakes, exhaust, differential, shaft, fuel pump, air, fuel and oil filters, spark plugs, starter, lead battery. A whole class of issues is avoided (timing belt failure, running without oil or coolant, inadequate fuel). Generally, control electronics should also be more integrated and prevent major (expensive) failures.
- lelanthran 5y ago
  > There is just a few orders of magnitude less mechanical parts that can wear out and require servicing. I don't think you realise what "orders of magnitude" means. There are very few things in an ICE car that "can wear out and require servicing" that aren't on the EV unless you count each nut, bolt and rod in an ICE car as a separate part that requires servicing. The engine in an ICE is easily, cheaply and (relatively) quickly swapped out for one with all new parts, hence the engine is usually one single swappable part. Other than that, all the other components are going to be found on the EV too.
  - PeterisP 5y ago
    I strongly disagree - full engine swaps are rare in ICEs and definitely not cheap, and most of the expensive servicing I've needed personally and seen in my community is directly related to the parts that EVs don't have at all - turbine issues hit you right in the wallet, gearbox/transmission issues, fuel pumps, etc. In comparison, the servicing needed for parts that are shared between ICE and EV - wheels, suspension, bodywork - is relatively cheap unless you need to repair collision damage.
  - sandworm101 5y ago
    Engine swaps are extraordinarily rare outside of custom cars. Swaps are far from simple affairs unless the car was designed to accommodate such custom work. But in reality ICEs are such a mature technology that engines now regularly outlast the rest of the car. Sure, external aspects sometimes need bits and pieces (fuel/coolant pumps, sensors etc) but the days of replacing cylinder heads or thrown rods are long gone. Even blown gaskets are almost not a thing anymore.
    - pas 5y ago
      "Interestingly" most problems with ICE are almost completely electronic. (Sensors, circuits, and the occasional electric motors.) Because the mechanical components are so well optimized "away".
    - pengaru 5y ago

pvaldes 5y ago

> chasing electrical gremlins Can't think in a better description for this. Thanks for this jewel.

MayeulC 5y ago

> brake elements that need exactly as much servicing Brakes are generally used a lot less thanks to regenerative braking (kind of like trucks use eddy current brakes to lessen wear on mechanical parts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_current_brake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_current_brake https://www.klamretarder.com/en/retarders/truck-brakes-cfk https://www.klamretarder.com/en/retarders/truck-brakes-cfk ). > They are fixing fluid leaks There is also much less fluids circulating (some cars, not all, use liquid-cooled batteries and engines; add windshield wipers and that's about it). So less fluids to worry about. There is just a few orders of magnitude less mechanical parts that can wear out and require servicing. Suspension, tires and body work is still required, of course. There will probably be maintenance needs on auxiliary systems like the in-car entertainment system or headlights. However, most of the maintenance work on regular cars is related to the combustion engine: timing belt changes, oil changes, gearbox issues, brakes, exhaust, differential, shaft, fuel pump, air, fuel and oil filters, spark plugs, starter, lead battery. A whole class of issues is avoided (timing belt failure, running without oil or coolant, inadequate fuel). Generally, control electronics should also be more integrated and prevent major (expensive) failures.

lelanthran 5y ago
> There is just a few orders of magnitude less mechanical parts that can wear out and require servicing. I don't think you realise what "orders of magnitude" means. There are very few things in an ICE car that "can wear out and require servicing" that aren't on the EV unless you count each nut, bolt and rod in an ICE car as a separate part that requires servicing. The engine in an ICE is easily, cheaply and (relatively) quickly swapped out for one with all new parts, hence the engine is usually one single swappable part. Other than that, all the other components are going to be found on the EV too.
- PeterisP 5y ago
  I strongly disagree - full engine swaps are rare in ICEs and definitely not cheap, and most of the expensive servicing I've needed personally and seen in my community is directly related to the parts that EVs don't have at all - turbine issues hit you right in the wallet, gearbox/transmission issues, fuel pumps, etc. In comparison, the servicing needed for parts that are shared between ICE and EV - wheels, suspension, bodywork - is relatively cheap unless you need to repair collision damage.
- sandworm101 5y ago
  Engine swaps are extraordinarily rare outside of custom cars. Swaps are far from simple affairs unless the car was designed to accommodate such custom work. But in reality ICEs are such a mature technology that engines now regularly outlast the rest of the car. Sure, external aspects sometimes need bits and pieces (fuel/coolant pumps, sensors etc) but the days of replacing cylinder heads or thrown rods are long gone. Even blown gaskets are almost not a thing anymore.
  - pas 5y ago
    "Interestingly" most problems with ICE are almost completely electronic. (Sensors, circuits, and the occasional electric motors.) Because the mechanical components are so well optimized "away".
  - pengaru 5y ago