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We’re all about embracing the future of electric motoring at Spitzer Autoworld DuBois Cadillac! All-electric models like the Cadillac LYRIQ have been popular at our showroom, but most St. Marys drivers have questions before they switch from gas to electric driving. Those questions often revolve around electric car service, as people want to know what to expect. So, we’ve rounded up eight of the most common electric car service questions in this guide! Read below to learn the answers to questions like these:
Ready to find out what EV ownership entails? Read below for the details!
State College drivers getting ready to buy their first EV can rejoice to know that routine electric car service is less involved than routine service for gas vehicles! Do electric cars need oil? No, fully electric cars don’t have an internal combustion engine, only a battery and electric motor(s). Thus, no oil is required! One of the exciting benefits of electric cars is that you can say goodbye to oil changes for good.
Please Note: Other types of electrified vehicles, such as hybrids and plug-in hybrids, do still require oil changes because they have an internal combustion engine to accompany the electric motor.
Some drivers are performance enthusiasts and worry they won’t have as much fun in an electric vehicle, leading some to wonder whether electric cars have horsepower. The answer is yes! Not only do electric cars have horsepower just like gas cars, but they’re often even more responsive and fun to drive. One fact worth mentioning is that some manufacturers don’t measure EV horsepower as “horsepower.” Instead, they may measure it in “KW.” You can easily use Google Search to convert “KW to hp” to understand an EV’s performance in the more traditional measure of horsepower.
We’ve established that fully electric cars don’t have engines. So, do electric cars have a transmission? Yes, an all-electric vehicle will still have a transmission, but it won’t require a multi-speed transmission (like a 6-speed or 8-speed transmission).
An internal combustion engine requires multiple gears and gear ratios to produce power. An electric motor doesn’t because it can achieve the same amount of torque regardless of RPM in a certain range. Revving isn’t necessary to generate torque with an electric motor because EVs produce instant power. The gear ratios are predetermined and integrated into an EV’s transmission, so the driver never has to change gears.
No. Whether referring to an all-electric car or a hybrid, it uses a DC-to-DC converter instead of an alternator. The converter is responsible for recharging the battery with power supplied by the battery pack.
No. The role of the catalytic converter in gas-powered cars is to eliminate the internal combustion engine’s byproducts. As we’ve learned, EVs don’t have engines, so the catalytic converter isn’t necessary.
No. Since EVs don’t have an engine nor use fuel, they don’t create exhaust to necessitate an exhaust system; this also means you won’t see an exhaust pipe on an electric car.
Yes. Electricity stored in the batteries cools and heats the interior of an EV. When researching EVs, keep in mind that the design and efficiency of a model’s heating and cooling system are important to its electric range for the Altoona roads.
Advantages of gas vehicles include the ability to travel longer distances on a single tank of gas and the general ease and availability of part replacements. On the other hand, electric vehicles can last longer with fewer repairs along the way since there are fewer systems and components. But don’t think electric cars require no maintenance — they do. However, with fewer moving parts, electric cars may enjoy better longevity.
Anytime you have questions about electric car service or which type of electric car is right for you, we’re here to help. Contact us to learn more, and rely on our state-of-the-art service center to maintain your EV!