Eight Electric Car Service Questions

Do electric cars need oil? Do electric cars have a transmission? These are just two of the many questions new EV (electric vehicle) owners or interested St Louis drivers have about electric car service. The team at Suntrup Kia South picked out eight frequently asked questions and answered them below, so you can know more about electric car service.

1. Do Electric Cars Need Oil?

No, they do not need oil. When a vehicle is powered solely by electricity, it doesn’t need oil changes. This is because it doesn’t have a traditional gasoline-powered combustion engine. Remember that oil’s purpose is to lubricate the moving parts of an engine. If there’s no engine in an EV — just an electric powertrain —then there are no moving parts for the motor oil to lubricate. As a result, oil isn’t necessary and electric cars don’t need them!

Worth Noting: Hybrid vehicles that run on an electric battery + combustion engine combo do require regular oil changes like a conventional gas-powered car. If you drive a Kia Sorento hybrid, for example, you’ll still need to keep up with oil changes in Jefferson County or St Charles.

2. Do Electric Cars Have Horsepower?

Yes, EVs have horsepower. However, it’s not always measured as “horsepower.” Some brands measure the power of their electric models as “KW” instead. There isn’t a much of a difference between the two, and you can easily convert between these measurements to compare. 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.

3. Do Electric Cars Have a Transmission?

Yes, electric cars have a transmission. However, they don’t need transmissions with multiple speeds, such as six-speed or eight-speed transmissions. Internal combustion engines need several gears with varying gear ratios to output power. On the other hand, 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.

4. Do Electric Cars Have Alternators?

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

5. 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 as we’ve mentioned before, so catalytic converters aren’t necessary.

6. Do Electric Cars Have Exhaust Systems?

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

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

They do. By definition, EVs 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.

8. Do Electric Cars Last Longer Than Gas Cars?

Gas-powered cars are advantageous when it comes to being able to travel further on a single fill-up and being easier for drivers to replace parts as they wear out. However, EVs can last longer with fewer repairs. That’s not to say that electric cars don’t require regular maintenance, but the lack of moving parts within an EV greatly increases their longevity.

Learn More About Electric Car Service at Suntrup Kia South

After learning a bit more about electric car service, do you have other questions or want to know more? Just reach out to Suntrup Kia South, and we’d love to tell you more! You can also check out our other service guides and ask about the all-electric Kia EV9’s arrival in our St. Louis lot!