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At Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, we’re proud to provide exceptional auto service for every North Charleston-area electric vehicle (EV). Often, we get many questions from first-time EV buyers about what to expect from maintaining these models. Whether you’re wondering if electric cars need oil or whether electric cars have a transmission, you’ve come to the right place. In the following guide, our service team will answer some general questions, including if electric cars have horsepower, how EVs work, and what maintenance entails. Learn more about electric car service below and you can always contact our team with any additional questions!
If a vehicle runs on electricity alone, it doesn’t need oil changes. This is because it doesn’t have a traditional gas-powered combustion engine. Since oil’s main purpose is to lubricate the moving parts of an engine, it has no value. There’s no engine in an EV, just an electric powertrain, meaning no moving parts for motor oil to lubricate.
Worth Noting: Hybrid vehicles run on an electric battery and combustion engine combo and require regular oil changes like a conventional gas-powered car.
Yes, EVs do have horsepower, but output is not always measured as “horsepower.” Instead, some automakers will measure the power of their electric cars as “kW.” There isn’t much of a difference between these two. When searching in Google for “kW to hp,” you’ll find a converter that tells you how much horsepower an electric vehicle produces if its power is measured in kW. So, do electric cars have horsepower? Yes, they do.
Yes, they do, however, they don’t need transmissions with multiple speeds, such as 8-speed or 6-speed transmissions. Internal combustion engines need several gears with varying gear ratios to output power. Electric motors produce the same torque amount, regardless of RPM within a specific range. Generating torque via revving won’t be necessary with electric motors because an EV will produce power immediately. Your gear ratios are precalculated and well-integrated, so you won’t have to change gears around Mount Pleasant and beyond.
No, they don’t. EVs, alongside hybrids, have a DC-to-DC converter. This will recharge the 12-volt battery using power from the battery pack.
No, catalytic converters aren’t required in electric cars. Catalytic converters are necessary for removing the byproducts of internal combustion engines. Since EVs don’t have this, catalytic converters aren’t needed, meaning they won’t be part of any electric car service maintenance.
With no exhaust pipes in electric cars, they don’t produce any exhaust gases. No gasoline is burned to power an EV, so this system isn’t required.
Yes, an electric vehicle has both heating and air conditioning systems. By design, electric cars rely on electricity stored in the batteries to run the cooling and heating systems. It’s important to know that the design and efficiency of these systems are important to the vehicle’s overall range.
While gas-powered vehicles have their advantage, electric models on the other hand can last longer with fewer repairs. That’s not to say that electric vehicles don’t require regular maintenance, but the lack of moving parts within an EV greatly increases their overall longevity.
Now that you know whether electric cars have a transmission or if electric cars need oil, there’s one team you can depend on. At Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, we’re here to help keep your EV running at peak performance around James Island for years. Schedule service online or call (843) 405-2995 to make an appointment. You can also browse our service and parts specials and save on your next visit. Make sure your electric vehicle is taken care of with Rick Hendrick Chevrolet!