Your Electric Car Service Questions Answered

After comparing hybrid vs. electric cars, have you determined that a new electric vehicle is a good choice for your Gastonia travels? Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet is home to a great selection of new Chevy EVs like the Bolt and the Bolt EUV! But before you make the switch, you might have some lingering questions about electric car service. Do electric cars need oil? Do electric cars have a transmission? We answer some of the most common EV maintenance questions in the guide below!

1. Do Electric Cars Need Oil?

The little maintenance that accompanies EV ownership is one of the primary benefits Concord drivers will enjoy. You can leave routine oil changes in the rearview, as electric cars do not take any motor oil! This is because EVs are powered purely by electricity. There’s no internal combustion engine, therefore engine oil isn’t necessary.

Keep in mind if you are also considering a hybrid vehicle or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, these types of vehicles do have an internal combustion engine along with an electric motor. So, if you get a hybrid or PHEV, you will still need to change the engine’s oil.

2. Do Electric Cars Have Horsepower?

Some Rock Hill, SC drivers considering switching to an electric car are concerned about performance. Do electric cars have horsepower? Yes! You don’t have to give up the thrill of the open road in order to enjoy EV benefits. However, horsepower isn’t always listed as horsepower on the spec sheets for EVs. Instead, it might be measured as “kW.” During your research, simply do a Google Search for “kW to hp” in order to understand how much power a certain EV possesses.

3. Do Electric Cars Have a Transmission?

Yes, electric cars have transmissions. But the transmission in an EV is usually a single-speed transmission. This is because EVs don’t need any revving in order to generate torque — they produce near-instantaneous power thanks to precalculated, carefully integrated gear ratios.

4. Do Electric Cars Have Alternators?

No. Instead of an alternator, you will find a DC-to-DC converter that recharges the 12-volt battery via power from the battery pack.

5. Do Electric Cars Have Catalytic Converters?

No. Vehicles with internal combustion engines need catalytic converters to remove byproducts. Since EVs do not have engines, catalytic converters are rendered unnecessary.

6. Do Electric Cars Have Exhaust Systems?

No. Electric cars produce zero exhaust emissions, therefore exhaust systems are unnecessary.

7. Do Electric Cars Have HVAC?

Of course! You will find that EVs are just as comfortable to drive as ICE vehicles. The heating and cooling systems in electric cars are powered by electricity stored in the battery.

8. Do Electric Cars Outlast Gas Cars?

If you keep up with EV maintenance, your electric car should provide many years of enjoyable drives in Charlotte! But do electric cars have the potential to outlast gas cars? Truthfully, no matter what type of car you drive, it will last as long as you’re willing to put money into long-term repairs and maintenance. With that said, electric cars generally require fewer repairs as they age, thanks to the lack of engine and moving components under the hood.

Trust Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet for All Your EV Maintenance Needs!

Electric car service can be a little overwhelming at first, so it helps to have a trusted team like Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet by your side. Our service center can take care of all your EV maintenance right here in Charlotte! Contact us with any additional questions and visit our online service information hub for more advice.