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Automotive engineer. This is 100% BS. >But there is growing indication that EV batteries are much sturdier than those in smartphones. Just for starters, you do
by SV_BubbleTime 2y ago
Automotive engineer. This is 100% BS.
>But there is growing indication that EV batteries are much sturdier than those in smartphones. Just for starters, you don’t tend to recharge your EV every day like your handset.
I want to reach through the screen and strangle someone.
This type of article is written by someone pushing for EVs (hey China) or who has bought one.
Reality check… a bad battery on your own after an expired warranty will likely total your vehicle. Read that a few times.
I have in my shop a Fiat 500e. To pull the battery, you need to pull and disassemble the entire rear end suspension, just to access the battery. Once you do that, you are rewarded with 600lb pain in the ass. Disconnect the electrical and cooling lines, you can pull it down and open it. You are greeted with 400V or so of more pain. Need composite tools, 1000V gloves, and if you were to say fall on it, you may die. Remind me how many systems in an ICE vehicle will kill a mechanic? You can get to each cell to replace them; but no one will sell you one. So best you can do is to buy a used one; run your chances. And in order to charge these Samsung cells, good luck there too, since there is no single cell charger you can buy. You might be able to trickle charge to 3.5V… reverse this to re-assemble, plan to pay more than the vehicle is worth.
Here is the hard fact… ready?
These vehicles are disposable.
I love EV for its real purpose, a second vehicle for town/city. It was a mistake to market them as ready to roll only vehicles.
- asynchronous 2y ago> Fiat 500e Maybe buy a Tesla next time?
- SV_BubbleTime 2y agoTell me what you think is different in the Tesla vs GM vs Fiat. It’s Samsung cells when you get down to it.
- asynchronous 2y agoA million different pieces of engineering, primarily, that the battery is designed to be much easier to replace than disassembling the entire car like the Fiat is.
- SV_BubbleTime 2y agoI am telling you as a professional and an expert - there is almost no difference in the motors and battery systems. Nothing is serviceable currently. If you have a bad battery, it is highly likely your vehicle will be totaled.
- BLKNSLVR 2y agoI barely see any marketing for EVs at all, and most news articles I read about them are the kind of FUD that this article is attempting to address. As such I've never seen EVs marketed as either "the only car you need to own" or "if you're just commuting short distances they're perfect". With the purchase of a car, or any purchase of anything, people gotta do their research for their unique use-case. And if the Fiat owner just pays the money to you for the repair, and they don't have to risk their life, and aren't bothered by the repair quote, then they might still be a happy Fiat customer. It sounds as if you're just a annoyed about the Fiat in your shop, and you've got some short term "pain in the arse" resentment that's yet to fade (which I totally understand because I get the same way about specific annoyances at my work - current issue "is the stupidest thing I've ever come across, why would anyone design anything like that?").
- mikestew 2y agoI have in my shop a Fiat 500e. Pick a better example than a friggin' Fiat. And, BTW, you've done nothing to refute TFA's claim that you quoted. No, prefacing with "Automotive engineer" is not a refutation. Yeah, pulling the battery is a PITA. So is pulling an fossil fuel engine. That doesn't make either one "disposable".
- BLKNSLVR 2y agoI think the funniest brand to have chosen would have been Alfa Romeo, but after reading Fiat I knew I was in for decent amusement.
- SV_BubbleTime 2y agoI just shipped a Bolt out. Please tell me what you think is different in the battery and motor system between a rivian Tesla GM Fiat whatever. They’re all disposable until they’re designed to be battery serviced, and none are currently.
- tannedNerd 2y agoThis post is 100% BS. I just checked the instructions for an engine swap on a fiat 500 are about 60% longer than the 500e battery swap. Also the engine weighs around 450 lbs, so its not like you aren't using a hoist or a lift for both any ways.
- SV_BubbleTime 2y agoLOL, yea, tell me how many shops in your area will open a EV battery. Spoiler, it’s going to be zero most likely.
- tharant 2y agoAre you suggesting that since the third-party EV repair industry is still in its infancy that EVs are therefore objectively bad? If so, how is that perspective different from any other mass-market industrialized consumer product? I remember folks telling me that the iPhone would fail because nobody could make apps for it. Markets change, as evidenced by the fact that you’re now repairing/rebuilding Fiat and GM batteries; that wasn’t a marketable skill two decades ago.
- SV_BubbleTime 2y agoNot an industry in infancy. There are no parts from the OEs, there are no tools, the packs are not meant to be serviced, and it is SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS work.
- tharant 2y ago>There are no parts from the OEs, there are no tools, the packs are not meant to be serviced, and it is SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS work. The same was true for the ICE vehicle third-party repair industry 100 years ago. It seems like your objection to BEVs (i.e. they can’t be repaired) is directly refuted by the fact that you yourself repair BEVs. Maybe I’ve misunderstood your argument though.
- 2y ago
- ok654321 2y ago[dead]
- CrimsonRain 2y agoThat's why you'll be dealing with Fiat forever lol. Better EVs just go 10y+ without almost any maintenance.
- SV_BubbleTime 2y agoI “deal” with Toyota, Stellantis, GM, Ford, etc. I am not a mechanic. I’m an EE. My company does work for a lot of mfgs.