8 Electric Car Service Questions

Whether you’re considering a new electric vehicle or you’ve recently purchased one, you understandably want to care for your EV and get the most out of your investment in the years ahead. Because EV technology is still relatively new to many drivers, it’s not uncommon to have questions about how these vehicles work and what they require to stay operating at peak performance on the roads of Tifton and Cordele. Find answers to some of the most frequently asked electric car service questions below so you can protect your EV and preserve its condition for as long as possible.

1. Do Electric Cars Need Oil?

No, EVs don’t need oil. When a vehicle runs solely on electricity, it doesn’t require oil or oil changes, as oil’s job is to lubricate the parts of an internal combustion engine. And without an internal combustion engine, no oil is necessary! However, the brake fluid, coolant, and windshield wiper fluid will need to be changed as they would with a traditional gas-powered vehicle. Also, hybrid vehicles do need oil changes since they contain both an internal combustion engine and an electric battery.

2. Do Electric Cars Have Horsepower?

While electric cars generate horsepower, it’s not always measured as such. Some manufacturers gauge EV power by kilowatts instead of horsepower, as kilowatts are the standard measurement of electricity. You can easily convert kilowatt to horsepower and vice versa by Googling “kW to hp.”

3. Do Electric Cars Have a Transmission?

Yes. However, EVs don’t need transmissions with different speeds like internal combustion engines do. An electric motor generates the same amount of torque regardless of RPM. For an internal combustion engine to produce power, it needs multiple gears with varying gear ratios, which are carefully designed and integrated so you don’t have to manually change gears.

4. Do Electric Cars Have Alternators?

No. Both electric cars and hybrids use a DC-to-DC converter. This converter recharges the battery using power stored in the battery pack.

5. Do Electric Cars Have Catalytic Converters?

The job of a catalytic converter is to minimize harmful emissions from an internal combustion engine. Since EVs don’t have these types of engines, no catalytic converter is necessary.

6. Do Electric Cars Have Exhaust Systems?

Because no fuel is consumed by an electric car, there are no exhaust gases for the vehicle to expel. And that means you won’t find an exhaust system on any all-electric vehicle.

7. Do Electric Cars Have Heaters and Air Conditioning?

You bet! EV heaters and air conditioning systems are powered by electricity stored in the battery, ensuring maximum comfort on all your Valdosta drives.

8. Do Electric Cars Last Longer Than Gas Cars?

With routine maintenance and smart driving habits, an EV can last longer, and with less need for repairs. This is largely because an EV is much simpler in design and contains far fewer moving parts.

Schedule Electric Car Service at Five Star Nissan of Albany

Now that you have a better understanding of electric car service needs, you may have realized that your EV is due for routine maintenance. The Five Star Nissan of Albany service team is here to help. Contact us or schedule an appointment online today. Don’t forget to check out our latest service specials to save on your visit.