8 Electric Car Service Questions Answered

If you're thinking of trading in your gas vehicle and pursuing a greener future of electric driving in San Francisco, you might have some questions about electric car service. For instance, do electric cars need oil? And do electric cars have a transmission? These are some of the most frequently asked electric car service questions, and our service team answers them in the quick but comprehensive guide down below!

1. Do Electric Cars Need Oil?

No! One of the most compelling benefits of electric cars is their lack of an internal combustion engine. Instead, they have an electric motor and run on 100% electricity. Since there's no engine or moving parts to speak of, there's no oil required for lubrication.

Note: Are you thinking about a hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle instead of a fully-electric car? These types of hybrid cars have both an electric motor and an engine, which means oil and routine oil changes would still be required.

2. Do Electric Cars Have Horsepower?

Yes! Electric vehicles are just as powerful - and sometimes more powerful - than their gas-powered counterparts. However, some manufacturers don't refer to this performance spec as "horsepower" on their electric models. Instead, they might list it as "KW." If you're researching an electric vehicle and you want to understand how its KW range translates into the more familiar horsepower, you can do a quick conversion using a Google Search for "kw to hp."

3. Do Electric Cars Have a Transmission?

Yes. However, the transmission in an electric car doesn't have multiple speeds. Unlike gas-powered cars which need several gears with varying ratios to generate power, electric cars produce the same amount of torque regardless of RPM in a particular range. The gear ratios in an EV's transmission are fixed so the driver doesn't have to change gears.

4. Do Electric Cars Have Alternators?

Electric vehicles do not have alternators - they have a DC-to-DC converter that recharges the 12-volt battery via power from the battery pack.

5. Do Electric Cars Have Catalytic Converters?

No, electric cars don't have catalytic converters. Since there isn't an internal combustion engine, there's no need for a catalytic converter to remove byproducts.

6. Do Electric Cars Have Exhaust Systems?

No, electric cars don't need an exhaust system because, without an internal combustion engine, there are no emissions.

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

Of course! Your rides around Oakland and Livermore will be just as comfortable in an EV as they are in a gas vehicle. Electric cars use electricity stored in the batteries to operate the heating and cooling systems.

8. Do Electric Cars Last Longer Than Gas Cars?

Whether you're driving a gas-powered vehicle or an electric vehicle, how long it lasts is ultimately dependent on your diligence with repairs and maintenance. However, electric vehicles can usually last longer with fewer repairs than gas vehicles because there are no moving parts.

Have Additional Electric Car Service Questions?

Is there anything else you'd like to know about electric car service? Reach out to our service center or visit us in Pleasanton to start a conversation! With online scheduling and rotating parts and service specials, we make car ownership in the Bay Area simple and stress-free.