8 Electric Car Service Questions

If you’re interested in leaving gasoline power behind and giving your St Louis commute a serious upgrade, consider an electric car from Suntrup Volkswagen! These days, electric vehicles are more affordable and available than ever, and there’s no shortage of benefits to driving one, from zero tailpipe emissions to potential tax incentives. However, electric cars differ from their gasoline-powered counterparts in a few key ways, and it’s important that you know these differences before you commit to buying one. For example, do electric cars have a transmission? Do electric cars need oil? The service team at Suntrup Volkswagen answers the eight most common electric car service questions below!

1. Do Electric Cars Need Oil?

No. The purpose of motor oil is to lubricate the moving parts of an internal combustion engine, so there’s no need for it under the hood of an electric car. However, if you drive a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, you’ll still have to come in for regular oil changes since these run on a combination of gasoline and electric power.

2. Do Electric Cars Have Horsepower?

Yes. Although it’s measured a bit differently from gasoline-generated horsepower. Some automakers measure the output of their EVs as “KW” instead of horsepower, but there’s not much of a difference. If you find an EV that does use KW instead of horsepower, you can easily make the conversion using a quick Google search.

3. Do Electric Cars Have a Transmission?

Yes, but EV transmissions don’t need to come with multiple speeds. Internal combustion engines require several gears to output power, but electric motors produce the same amount of torque regardless of RPM. There’s no need to rev the engine because EVs produce power instantly!

4. Do Electric Cars Have Alternators?

No. Hybrid and fully-electric cars use DC-to-DC converters instead of alternators. These converters recharge the 12-volt battery using power from the battery pack.

5. Do Electric Cars Have Catalytic Converters?

No. There’s no need for a catalytic converter in an electric car since their purpose is to remove the byproducts of internal combustion engines.

6. Do Electric Cars Have Exhaust Systems?

No. EVs don’t produce exhaust gas because there’s no fuel to burn, so there’s no need for an exhaust system or pipe

7. Do Electric Cars Have Heaters & Air Conditioning?

Yes! While heating and air conditioning are generated by the engine in a gasoline-powered car, these systems are powered by battery electricity in an electric vehicle. EVs have been designed so that heating and air conditioning don’t affect the overall range of the car, so you can stay comfortable on the St Peters roads without worrying about wasting electricity!

8. Do Electric Cars Last Longer Than Gas Cars?

This question doesn’t have one singular answer, because it depends on a lot of factors. It’s true that EVs have fewer components than gasoline-powered cars, so you don’t have to come in as often for service, and they tend to last longer with fewer repairs.

Keep Your EV in Top Condition at Suntrup Volkswagen

If you have any questions about keeping an EV running smoothly on the Webster roads, feel free to contact our office! You can also check out our online finance department if you’re interested in getting a jump-start on the buying or leasing process.