8 Electric Car Service Questions

If you’re looking to trade in your current Volkswagen for an electric vehicle like the Volkswagen ID4, you might have a few questions regarding electric car service. With more and more people in Pittsford making the jump to electric, Ide VW of East Rochester frequently receives an influx of electric car service questions. To make things easy, we’ve compiled a list of eight frequently asked questions with the answers on how EVs operate, what parts they need to function, and more. So, if you have a burning question related to EVs, read on below to find the answer to your question, or contact our service center.

1. Do Electric Cars Need Oil?

Nope. Because they solely rely on electricity, electric cars do not need oil. This is because EVs do not have internal combustion engines, which require the necessary lubrication from oil to keep the moving engine parts functioning properly. EVs only have electric powertrains, so no oil is necessary. 

Note: On the other hand, hybrid vehicles do require regular oil changes, as they have both an electric battery and a combustion engine.

2. Do Electric Cars Have Horsepower?

Yes, electric vehicles have horsepower, but it is not always called horsepower. Depending on the automaker, some measure the power of EVs as “KW,” but otherwise, they aren’t too different. You can always use a converter by googling “kw to hp” to determine the HP of a certain EV if its power is listed in KW. 

3. Do Electric Cars Have a Transmission?

Yes, electric cars have a transmission, but they don’t require a transmission with multiple speeds, such as 10-speed or 6-speed transmissions. Cars with internal combustion engines require several gears with different gear ratios to produce torque, whereas electric motors provide the same amount of torque unrelated to RPM in a certain range. EVs produce torque immediately without revving.

4. Do Electric Cars Have Alternators?

No. Both EVs and hybrids have a DC-to-DC converter, which recharges the battery from using power from their battery packs.

5. Do Electric Cars Have Catalytic Converters?

Electric cars do not have catalytic converters. The purpose of catalytic converters is to expunge byproducts from internal combustion engines, which electric cars do not have.

6. Do Electric Cars Have Exhaust Systems? 

Nope. Electric cars do not produce exhaust as they do not operate off of fuel. Thus, an exhaust system is not necessary.

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

Of course, electric cars have heaters and air conditioners. They use the electricity within batteries to heat and cool the car. 

8. Do Electric Cars Last Longer Than Gas Cars? 

Since electric cars require fewer repairs due to their lack of moving parts, this increases their lifespan. Of course, EVs still require maintenance, just not as much as gasoline cars. Ultimately, the lifespan of a car depends on how well you take care of it, including your driving habits on roads in Webster and Fairport, and following your vehicle’s regular maintenance schedule.

Learn More About Electric Car Service at Ide VW of East Rochester 

Still have any unanswered questions? Contact our service team! If you’re looking to schedule a service appointment for your Volkswagen EV, schedule an appointment today, and be sure to check out our service specials before you drop by our dealership in East Rochester.