I don’t know too much about electric vehicles besides them being more environmentally friendly, which is something I support.
But I’ve been hearing from some politicians who oppose EV mandates that these vehicles could be hurting the automotive industry. Can anyone explain what they mean by that?
Think about it this way: when was the last time you had to take your computer in for maintenance? That’s kind of what owning an EV is like. There’s way less maintenance needed, and a lot of people in the auto repair industry aren’t happy about it. I’ve been in the auto repair business, and EVs really are a game-changer for traditional shops.
@Imani
That’s only part of the story. EVs aren’t that much simpler because they come with a ton of extras like cameras and complex electronics. They still have parts that can fail, and the drive units, thermal systems, and battery components all have issues.
Different brands handle it differently—some have more problems than others. Tesla, for instance, has had some early issues but seems to be improving.
@olivia
But you’re still not dealing with regular maintenance on the drivetrain like you would in a gas car. Dealerships make a lot of money off that, not just collision repairs.
Ronald said:
@olivia
But you’re still not dealing with regular maintenance on the drivetrain like you would in a gas car. Dealerships make a lot of money off that, not just collision repairs.
True, no regular maintenance, but when things break, they do need work, and right now that’s happening more often than you’d think. There are a lot of complex components in EVs, from the drive units to motor controllers, which can and do fail.
@Imani
EVs still need repairs after accidents and have to get tires rotated, wheels aligned, etc. They also go through 12V batteries faster than ICE vehicles sometimes!
With fewer oil changes, independent mechanics can focus on the other services EVs need. Plus, as EVs become more common, more mechanics will be trained to handle things like battery repairs. Eventually, we’ll see more technicians who specialize in EV-specific repairs.
@Kenneth
Battery replacements will probably be pretty rare, though. They’re not like regular wear-and-tear items. Most EVs should last a long time before the battery needs replacing, so it’s not something mechanics will be doing often. But yeah, the industry will adapt, even if it’s smaller.
@Kenneth
I wonder if there’s a natural balance between ICE mechanics retiring and fewer gas cars on the road.
@Imani
Honestly, it’s probably a good thing in the long run, especially if it pushes us towards a system with fewer dealerships. The industry could use a shake-up.
People just don’t like change.
Change is scary, and folks naturally resist it.
The industry has to change, but they’re not happy about it. It’s costly and risky, and let’s not forget Big Oil isn’t thrilled either—so they make the transition seem scarier than it is.
Mark said:
The industry has to change, but they’re not happy about it. It’s costly and risky, and let’s not forget Big Oil isn’t thrilled either—so they make the transition seem scarier than it is.
Exactly. In the U.S., automakers have banked on gas engines and haven’t invested in EV tech as much as they should have. Meanwhile, companies from other countries, like China, are on their third generation of EVs, learning and improving at a much faster pace.
Jobs will definitely be lost in maintenance areas like oil changes and engine tune-ups, and gas stations might take a hit too, but they’ll add EV chargers eventually. Big Oil is probably pushing back because they’ll lose revenue if more people start charging at home.
Imagine you’re an automaker that’s spent billions perfecting gas engines. Now you’re being told to throw it all out and invest billions in EVs. It’s a big risk. So instead, they funnel money into politicians and media to protect their business model. Just business, I guess.
@kwame
And we all end up paying for it. Corruption is everywhere.
Most EV ‘mandates’ are really just limits on new gas-powered vehicles. Used gas cars aren’t affected, and hydrogen tech could be an alternative too, but for now, the market prefers EVs.
Legacy automakers missed the boat on EVs years ago and now feel like they’re playing catch-up. Complaining isn’t going to help them keep up, though; they need to invest if they want to stay in the game.
There’s probably more money in repairs at the dealership level, but it’s less work for independent shops with BEVs.
Howard said:
There’s probably more money in repairs at the dealership level, but it’s less work for independent shops with BEVs.
Are dealerships really making more from EV repairs?
Howard said:
There’s probably more money in repairs at the dealership level, but it’s less work for independent shops with BEVs.
Are dealerships really making more from EV repairs?
Not sure about that, honestly.
I watched a video recently where people were saying most Americans think the biggest carmakers are U.S. or Japanese. But actually, it’s China, and if we don’t keep up with their EV production, our manufacturers could be in trouble.