8 Electric Car Service Questions

Not only does BMW of Tenafly offer quality service for traditional gas-powered vehicles, but our team is happy to extend that same quality service to electric vehicles as well. In fact, we often get asked electric car service questions by drivers around Fort Lee and Cresskill. Do electric cars need oil? Do electric cars have horsepower? Do electric cars have a transmission? Find out the answers to some of the most common electric car service questions, and schedule your service appointment today in Tenafly!

1. Do Electric Cars Need Oil?

One of the most common questions we get is “Do electric cars need oil?” The answer is no. Combustion engines need motor oil to function, but the electric motor of an EV does not use oil at all. That means no more oil changes for your purely electric vehicle. However, hybrids use both the electric motor and combustion engine, which means you’ll need to schedule those oil change as usual.

2. Do Electric Cars Have Horsepower?

Next, do electric cars have horsepower? Yes, but it’s a little different than your traditional car. Some EV models describe their output in terms of “horsepower,” but others use “KW” or kilowatts. While the two are similar figures, you can always search for a “KW to HP converter” to switch from one unit of measurement to the other.

3. Do Electric Cars Have a Transmission?

Do electric cars have a transmission like a traditional car? Yes, but they function slightly differently. Gas-powered cars need transmission with multiple speeds, such as 6-speed or 8-speed transmissions, to accommodate for varying gear ratios to output power. Electric motors, on the other hand, produce identical torque no matter the RPM. Because of this instantaneous torque, the gear ratios are precalculated, which means drivers don’t have to change gears. 

4. Do Electric Cars Have Alternators?

While gas-powered cars need alternators to function, electric cars do not. Both EV and hybrid models use DC-to-DC converters. This recharges the 12-volt battery with power from the battery pack, which simplifies your Cresskill drive.

5. Do Electric Cars Have Catalytic Converters?

Not only do electric vehicles lack alternators, but they also don’t use catalytic converters. Catalytic converters remove the byproducts of internal combustion engines. Since EVs use electric motors instead of combustion engines, they don’t need catalytic converters at all.

6. Do Electric Cars Have Exhaust Systems? 

One of the biggest environmental benefits of electric cars is the lack of emissions, and that’s because electric cars do not have an exhaust system at all. Exhaust gasses are produced when fuel is burned within the engine. No combustion engine means no exhaust system — and no exhaust released into the Closter atmosphere!

7. Do Electric Cars Have Heaters and Air Conditioning? 

Electric cars may not have the same engine as a traditional vehicle, but they contain all the modern amenities that you know and love. Electric cars use electricity stored in the batteries to run the heating and cooling systems. This allows you to enjoy a comfortable cabin without sacrificing performance on the road.

8. Do Electric Cars Last Longer Than Gas Cars? 

Different cars have different benefits. Gas-powered cars can travel further on a full tank of gas than most EVs on a full charge, and it’s easy to find replacement parts over time. But, electric cars are much simpler in design and require much less maintenance, which adds up to less cost for you as an owner. Plus, they have far fewer moving parts compared to a gas-powered car, and that can pay off in the long run.

Schedule Electric Car Service at BMW of Tenafly 

If you have any additional questions about electric car service in Tenafly, feel free to contact us at BMW of Tenafly. We can help you with your next maintenance visit or get you behind the wheel of a brand new i4 or iX. Feel free to schedule your service appointment online for your convenience, or visit our dealership to find your next car!