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> Don’t ICE cars require a lot more maintenance per mile than EVs? Yes, and this to me feels like one of the least understood things about EVs. There's no eng

by hvb2 1y ago

> Don’t ICE cars require a lot more maintenance per mile than EVs? Yes, and this to me feels like one of the least understood things about EVs. There's no engine, clutch, gearbox etc. No timing belt or spark plugs either. So yes, that saves a lot of maintenance. And depending how you drive you might not use friction brakes at all either. Leaving maintenance to be a 12V battery and tires. Based on driving an ev for 10 years (Nissan Leaf)

Hamuko 1y ago
Not using the brakes isn't particularly good from a maintenance perspective since your brakes will rust and stop working.
- adrianN 1y ago
  AFAIK cars know this and occasionally engage the friction brakes
- Ekaros 1y ago
  Also they are mechanical things under pretty stressful conditions. So you need to activate them properly from time to time to have parts move as freely as they should.
grepfru_it 1y ago
My timing belt (chain), clutch, and gearbox last 130k+ miles. Thats the life of some EV batteries. Coilpacks cost $100. You are not wrong, but I have not had any major repair on any of my cars under 50k miles. Maintenance does exist but it doesn’t wildly drive up the cost per mile There is also suspension, a/c, wipers, and interior electronics. The difference between ice and EV stops after the drivetrain and most ice drivetrains are rather reliable these days. My 10 year old ice sedan costs about 0.18/mi. I would be interested to know what a comparable EV would cost, considering half of my cost is basically gasoline Update: it seems EVs cost under 0.10/mi with figures coming in between 0.03 and 0.08. This doesn’t explain if this is all costs (including things like washer fluid, regular maintenance etc) or estimated costs+charging. My costs were tracked over a 6 year span
- hvb2 1y ago
  > My timing belt (chain), clutch, and gearbox last 130k+ miles. Thats the life of some EV batteries. If that's the life of your battery, you get it replaced under warranty. Since no supplier wants to have to replace the bulk of batteries under warranty that seems to just be false in Tesla's case at least. Your cost per mile including gas really depends on where you live. Because gas prices vary wildly. Most premium ice cars aren't cheap to maintain unless you're doing a lot yourself
  - grepfru_it 1y ago
    Who provides a warranty over 130k miles on the battery! Cost per mile for gas was from $2.15 (yay covid) up to $4.21, average gas price paid over the life of the car is at $3.20. 98% of my fillups was 93 octane gas My car is a premium (luxury) car
    - hvb2 1y ago
      > Who provides a warranty over 130k miles on the battery! Tesla... On the S, X and cybertruck https://www.tesla.com/support/vehicle-warranty https://www.tesla.com/support/vehicle-warranty And 120k on the Y long range.
      - grepfru_it 1y ago
        That’s only Tesla. How about Ford? Toyota? GM? Kia? The industry average is drastically below that number..
        hvb2 1y ago
        Besides that the thread us about Tesla, would you consider any of those premium cars? Kia and Toyota? Ford and GM I could see But also, this is part of how tesla is ahead still on other manufacturers. Knowing their product and being able to provide a better warranty speaks to their own confidence in it
jjav 1y ago
> > Don’t ICE cars require a lot more maintenance per mile than EVs? > Yes, and this to me feels like one of the least understood things about EVs. Well my anecdote is different. We're on our third EV over 11 years, so have a bit of experience. Each one of those 3 EVs has spent at least 10x more days at the dealer than my 15 year old Mazda (ICE) minivan (which has spent exactly one afternoon at the dealer).
janaagaard 1y ago
> And depending how you drive you might not use friction brakes at all. I’ve been told that should remember to use your friction brakes once in a while, to keep them in shape. Is this still true with cars that have effective engine brakes?
- general1726 1y ago
  It is still true and it is a big deal on EVs which are using calipers instead of drums for braking; i.e. Tesla. Problem is that their brake calipers would rust (due to lack of usage) and then seize on major braking and would not disengage anymore. Use it or lose it kind of situation with brakes on EVs

by hvb2 1y ago

Hamuko 1y ago

Not using the brakes isn't particularly good from a maintenance perspective since your brakes will rust and stop working.

adrianN 1y ago
AFAIK cars know this and occasionally engage the friction brakes
Ekaros 1y ago
Also they are mechanical things under pretty stressful conditions. So you need to activate them properly from time to time to have parts move as freely as they should.

grepfru_it 1y ago

My timing belt (chain), clutch, and gearbox last 130k+ miles. Thats the life of some EV batteries. Coilpacks cost $100. You are not wrong, but I have not had any major repair on any of my cars under 50k miles. Maintenance does exist but it doesn’t wildly drive up the cost per mile There is also suspension, a/c, wipers, and interior electronics. The difference between ice and EV stops after the drivetrain and most ice drivetrains are rather reliable these days. My 10 year old ice sedan costs about 0.18/mi. I would be interested to know what a comparable EV would cost, considering half of my cost is basically gasoline Update: it seems EVs cost under 0.10/mi with figures coming in between 0.03 and 0.08. This doesn’t explain if this is all costs (including things like washer fluid, regular maintenance etc) or estimated costs+charging. My costs were tracked over a 6 year span

hvb2 1y ago
> My timing belt (chain), clutch, and gearbox last 130k+ miles. Thats the life of some EV batteries. If that's the life of your battery, you get it replaced under warranty. Since no supplier wants to have to replace the bulk of batteries under warranty that seems to just be false in Tesla's case at least. Your cost per mile including gas really depends on where you live. Because gas prices vary wildly. Most premium ice cars aren't cheap to maintain unless you're doing a lot yourself
- grepfru_it 1y ago
  Who provides a warranty over 130k miles on the battery! Cost per mile for gas was from $2.15 (yay covid) up to $4.21, average gas price paid over the life of the car is at $3.20. 98% of my fillups was 93 octane gas My car is a premium (luxury) car
  - hvb2 1y ago
    > Who provides a warranty over 130k miles on the battery! Tesla... On the S, X and cybertruck https://www.tesla.com/support/vehicle-warranty https://www.tesla.com/support/vehicle-warranty And 120k on the Y long range.
    - grepfru_it 1y ago
      That’s only Tesla. How about Ford? Toyota? GM? Kia? The industry average is drastically below that number..
      - hvb2 1y ago
        Besides that the thread us about Tesla, would you consider any of those premium cars? Kia and Toyota? Ford and GM I could see But also, this is part of how tesla is ahead still on other manufacturers. Knowing their product and being able to provide a better warranty speaks to their own confidence in it

jjav 1y ago

> > Don’t ICE cars require a lot more maintenance per mile than EVs? > Yes, and this to me feels like one of the least understood things about EVs. Well my anecdote is different. We're on our third EV over 11 years, so have a bit of experience. Each one of those 3 EVs has spent at least 10x more days at the dealer than my 15 year old Mazda (ICE) minivan (which has spent exactly one afternoon at the dealer).

janaagaard 1y ago

> And depending how you drive you might not use friction brakes at all. I’ve been told that should remember to use your friction brakes once in a while, to keep them in shape. Is this still true with cars that have effective engine brakes?

general1726 1y ago
It is still true and it is a big deal on EVs which are using calipers instead of drums for braking; i.e. Tesla. Problem is that their brake calipers would rust (due to lack of usage) and then seize on major braking and would not disengage anymore. Use it or lose it kind of situation with brakes on EVs