8 EV Service Questions

“Do electric cars have a transmission?” “Do electric cars have horsepower?” These are just some of the questions that Morrisville ask us when they’re considering switching to an electric vehicle (EV). So, if you’re thinking about making the switch to an EV, then take a look at our guide, put together by the expert service center at Hendrick Cadillac Cary! We’ll cover your biggest EV service-related questions and even help you find your own Cadillac EV model at our dealership.

Benefits of Electric Cars

One of the most obvious benefits of electric cars is that they don’t need gasoline fuel, which means you won’t ever have to stop at a gas station to fill it up. However, there are plenty of additional benefits that come from driving electric cars that you should know about: 

• Little to zero emissions
• More eco-friendly 
• Less maintenance required
• Smoother ride
• Near-instant torque

1. Do Electric Cars Need Oil?

Answer: No. 

Reason: Gasoline combustion engines, like the ones that are in most standard vehicles, require oil to keep their many moving parts lubricated and moving properly. However, EVs don’t have a combustion engine, so they don’t need oil. That means that you’ll never have to take your EV in for an oil change near Apex ever again!

It’s important to note that this is only for all-electric vehicles. Hybrid vehicles, which combine a gas engine and electric motor, will still need to have an oil change. Learn more about why electric cars don’t need oil with the experts at Hendrick Cadillac Cary!

2. Do Electric Cars Have Horsepower?

Answer: Yes. 

Reason: In fact, EVs do produce horsepower, but you might not hear it called “horsepower”. You’ll usually see this as a measurement of “KW”, but there’s really no difference. Not only do electric cars have horsepower, but many can produce a significant amount of horsepower! 

3. Do Electric Cars Have a Transmission?

Answer: Yes. 

Reason: EVs do have a transmission just like regular cars do. The difference with an EV is that they don’t have a multiple-speed transmission, like an 8-speed or 9-speed transmission. That’s because gas engines need several different gear levels and ratios to produce the same amount of power that electric motors can. Electric motors create the same amount of torque no matter what the RPM level is within a certain range. 

Basically, you don’t have to rev the engine of an EV or put in 6th gear to produce torque as it’s nearly instant when you drive an EV. All of the gear ratios are predetermined during its design, so changing gears as you drive isn’t necessary. 

4. Do Electric Cars Have Alternators?

Answer: No. 

Reason: Electric cars actually don’t have alternators. EVs and hybrids use a DC-to-DC converter, with DC standing for “Direct Current”. This allows the battery to charge from the power that’s in the battery pack. 

5. Do Electric Cars Have Catalytic Converters?

Answer: No. 

Reason: EVs don’t have catalytic converters since they’re not needed. Again, this is because EVs don’t have gas engines. Catalytic converters are needed to remove the byproducts of gas engines, and because there’s no gas engine inside your EV, there’s no use for catalytic converters. 

6. Do Electric Cars Have Exhaust Systems? 

Answer: No. 

Reason: Electric cars don’t produce any exhaust gases, which means there’s no need for an exhaust pipe. Exhaust pipes are only needed for vehicles that burn gasoline fuel for power, but electric cars run solely on electricity and don’t use a gasoline engine. Hybrid vehicles that combine gas power and electric power will have exhaust systems. 

7. Do Electric Cars Have Heaters/AC? 

Answer: Yes. 

Reason: You won’t have to worry about keeping warm or staying cool around Durham during the seasons when you drive an EV! That’s because EVs use electricity that’s already stored in the batteries to power the heating and air conditioning systems. Not only do these systems help you stay warm or keep cool, but they’re also important in regulating your EV and helping it perform optimally. 

8. Do Electric Cars Last Longer Than Gas Cars? 

Answer: Usually. 

Reason: Electric cars can last longer than gas cars while needing fewer repairs. That being said, electric cars still need maintenance for their other moving parts, like tires, battery service, and more. However, fewer moving parts inside an electric car will mean less maintenance is required than gas cars. To keep up with your electric car’s service and maintenance needs, schedule service with Hendrick Cadillac Cary!

Learn More About EV Service at Hendrick Cadillac Cary! 

Hopefully, you have a better sense of what exactly goes into servicing and maintaining an EV. If you’re still considering purchasing an electric car or giving one a test drive, then contact Hendrick Cadillac Cary! If you need to have your electric car serviced, then be sure to use our service specials to make caring for your EV more convenient.