Comment by giobox
3 years ago
> All machines of meaningful complexity need maintenance if you expect them to last, including EVs
This is honestly not true - there is an order of magnitude less parts in an EV drivetrain vs a modern ICE car. You can go a decade between seeing a service center in an EV, largely thanks to regen braking/one pedal driving allowing you to avoid new pads or discs. There is no transmission in virtually all EVs, with drive direct from the motor through a fixed gear etc. The motor's moving parts are effectively friction free - the rotor and stator in an EV never touch, so there is no wear.
I think anyone currently running both an EV and a gas car will have similar experiences; The EV needs tires, cabin air filters and wiper blades from new to the 10 year mark, there are no other regular trips. The only scheduled fluid change on a tesla is a relatively inexspensive 10 year battery coolant swap.
My suspension and brakes get inspected for safety issues every time I get new tires on the EV - I'm fine with not getting under it too.
> largely thanks to regen braking allowing you to avoid new pads or discs
I’m almost there with the old-school way: a manual transmission and downshifting to decelerate.
While not as effective, drum brakes really lasted a while.
you can downshift some auto tranmissions too. Although you're trading brake pad wear for transmission clutch wear.
Clutch disc is much more expensive to replace, BTW. You won't notice if you buy new every other year, of course.
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