8 Electric Car Service Questions

Here at The Autobarn Volkswagen of Countryside, we’re proud to offer any and all Chicago EV owners with exemplary service. As one of the top electric vehicle repair shops in the LaGrange area, we often get a lot of questions about EVs. Some of these inquiries are, “Do electric cars need oil?”, and, “Do electric cars have horsepower?” That’s why our service technicians have gone to great lengths to answer the eight most common electric car service questions for your convenience! Continue reading to find out more EV maintenance information, such as the answer to the question, “Do electric cars have a transmission?”

1. Do Electric Cars Last Longer Than Gas Cars? 

Gas-powered cars have their advantages; they can travel further around the Naperville region on a single fill-up, and it’s easier for drivers to replace parts as they wear out. Electric cars, on the other hand, can last longer with fewer repairs. That’s not to say that electric cars don’t require regular maintenance — they do — but the lack of moving parts within an EV greatly increases their longevity. 

2. Do Electric Cars Have Heaters/Do Electric Cars Have Air Conditioning? 

EVs do have heaters and air conditioning! By definition, electric cars rely on electricity stored in the batteries to run the heating and cooling systems. It’s worth noting that the design/efficiency of those systems is important to the overall range of the car. 

3. Do Electric Cars Have Exhaust Systems? 

No. There are no exhaust pipes in electric cars. EVs don’t produce any exhaust gases. No fuel is burnt to power an EV, so there’s no need for an exhaust system. 

4. Do Electric Cars Have Catalytic Converters?

No. Catalytic converters aren’t needed in electric cars. Catalytic converters are necessary to remove the byproducts of internal combustion engines. EVs don’t have these kinds of engines, though, so catalytic converters aren’t necessary. 

5. Do Electric Cars Have Alternators?

No. Instead, EVs and hybrids, have a DC-to-DC converter. This recharges the 12-volt battery using power from the battery pack. 

6. Do Electric Cars Have a Transmission?

Yes! However, they don’t need transmissions with multiple speeds, such as 6-speed or 8-speed transmissions. Internal combustion engines need several gears with varying gear ratios to output power. Electric motors produce the same amount of torque, regardless of RPM within a specific range. Generating torque via revving isn’t necessary with electric motors, because EVs produce power immediately. The gear ratios are precalculated and carefully integrated, so drivers don’t have to change gears. 

7. Do Electric Cars Have Horsepower?

Yes. EVs have horsepower, however, it’s not always measured as “horsepower.” Instead, some automakers measure the power of their EVs as “KW.” There isn’t much of a difference between the two. Using Google Search, search “kw to hp,” and you’ll find a converter at the top of the results page that tells you exactly how much horsepower an EV produces if its power is measured in KW. 

8. Do Electric Cars Need Oil?

No. If a car runs on electricity only, it doesn’t need oil changes. Why? Because it doesn’t have a traditional gasoline-powered combustion engine. Oil isn’t necessary for an EV; oil’s purpose is to lubricate the moving parts of an engine. If there’s no engine to speak of — just an electric powertrain — there are no moving parts for the motor oil to lubricate. You’ll also want to take into consideration that hybrid vehicles run on an electric battery and combustion engine combo and do require regular oil changes like a conventional gas-powered car. 

Get Your Electric Car Serviced at The Autobarn Volkswagen of Countryside

There’s no better place to get low-cost, high-quality repairs for your Volkswagen EV than The Autobarn Volkswagen of Countryside. Scheduling a service appointment is easy, and we’ll make sure to get you out of our garage and back on Countryside roads as quickly as possible! Just make sure to check out our current service specials to save big on your upcoming maintenance.