8 EV Service Questions

If you’re considering switching to a Cadillac electric vehicle for your Cary drives, you’ll need to know answers to common maintenance questions such as, “Do electric cars need oil to run?” and “Do electric cars have a transmission?” Hendrick Cadillac Southpoint is here to get you up to speed on the inner workings of EVs so you can answer the question, “Do electric cars have horsepower?” with confidence. Learn the answers to common EV service questions and be on your way to becoming an electric car expert with this guide from Hendrick Cadillac Southpoint!

1. Do Electric Cars Need Oil?

One of the most common questions we hear at our service center near Raleigh is, “Do electric cars need oil?” No, electric cars do not need oil. The purpose of oil in a traditional combustion engine is to keep all the moving parts lubricated for optimal performance. Since electric vehicles don’t have a combustion engine, there’s no reason for EVs to use oil! That said, if you own a hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle, your model will need regular oil changes for its supplementary gas-powered engine. 

2. Do Electric Cars Have Horsepower?

So, if they don’t have a combustion engine, do electric cars have horsepower? Yes! The electric output of an EV can still be measured in horsepower, though some manufacturers have replaced horsepower with kilowatts. To find out how much horsepower a model measured in kilowatts produces, simply type “kw to hp” in your favorite search engine and use the calculator provided. 

3. Do Electric Cars Have a Transmission?

Vehicles with combustion engines use transmissions to cycle through the different gears needed to bring your vehicle up to speed on the Chapel Hill roads. So, do electric cars have a transmission with multiple gears and speeds? No! Unlike a gas-powered engine, electric motors produce about the same amount of torque within a certain range regardless of RPM, making it simple for the output to be pre-calculated and integrated into the powertrain. Instead of a traditional “multi-speed” transmission, electric vehicles have a one- or two-speed transmission, ensuring drivers never have to worry about switching gears while driving through Durham.

4. Do Electric Cars Have Alternators?

Due to the size of the battery in electric vehicles, EVs don’t have alternators– instead, they utilize DC-to-DC converters, which transfer power from your electric car’s battery pack to the smaller 12-volt battery used to power your lights and cabin amenities. 

5. Do Electric Cars Have Catalytic Converters?

In traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, catalytic converters remove the byproducts of running the combustion engine. Since there is no combustion engine in an EV, there is no need for a catalytic converter. 

6. Do Electric Cars Have Exhaust Systems? 

One of the biggest benefits of electric vehicles is their lack of exhaust. As EVs don’t burn gas to power your Hillsborough drives, no exhaust is created, and there is no need for an exhaust system. 

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

Much like a traditional vehicle, electric cars have heaters and air conditioning to keep you comfortable throughout the changing seasons. Instead of being powered by the engine, though, these systems are powered via the electric battery, meaning that excessive use of the systems could eat into your EV’s driving range. 

8. Do Electric Cars Last Longer Than Gas Cars? 

While EVs are relative newcomers to today’s market, their combination of federal-backed battery warranties and lack of moving parts makes them reliable vehicles for your Wake Forest drives. Gas-powered models, while time-tested, have several moving parts prone to wear and tear, meaning more time and money spent on repairs over the vehicle’s lifespan. 

Learn More About EV Maintenance With Hendrick Cadillac Southpoint

Now that you know more about the inner workings of EVs, you’re ready to make the switch to electric driving in Durham! For any questions, or help finding your next EV, contact Hendrick Cadillac Southpoint. Our team will be happy to put you on the path of electric ownership so you can enjoy fuelless driving wherever the road may take you.