So it’s common knowledge if I was buying a second hand ICE I would get a mechanic to look over it for any issues, but given EVs generally have this perception there is little to no maintenance (other than brake pads tyres etc) would there be any value in getting a mechanic’s opinion on a used EV?
Or is there any general things to look out for in buying a second hand EV?
Have done some tyre kicking in the past for BMW i3 and Nissan Leaf. Research the make/model to get an idea of expected battery life, current range and replacement cost.
Just like buying a iphone. Check the battery life.
make sure the EVs eneloops are real and not some cheap knockoffs?
confession: i know nothing about EVs….
Unless you have some sort of mechanical awareness or aptitude you should have some sort of expert have a look at it. Yes, the motor and batteries are very low maintenance, but checking out any damage to suspension components is a good idea.
If you do get a mechanic to inspect, you really need to get someone who knows EVs, not just Joe down the road that does oil changes.
This is going to be interesting in the future with the uptake in EV.
More mechanics will need to up-skill to understand EV repairs and maintenance.
sure the suspension , tyres etc still the same but the interface and more complex details wont be able to be done by the neighbour mechanic.
Its pretty shitty that the companies hide the diagnostics tools and repair guides , we need right to repair in Australia
To get EV certified, it's a 2 to 3 day course (outside already having your trade certification)
It's not really an "upskilling" thing, as EV's are simpler than ICE cars, and most of the EV certification is around not killing yourself with high voltage, but other than that, almost everything is the same or simpler.
I’d guess that most repair work on EVs will be to replace the faulty thing with new, just like with ICE. Motors might get exchanged to be rebuilt with new bearings or whatever fails. control modules, chargers etc will be swapped. Things a non-specialist, but EV certified mechanic will likely be able to do, just like now. Although, it’s quite likely going to be an auto electrician working on a faulty EV not a traditional mechanic.
The battery will probably be a bit of a challenge however. It’s relatively easy to remove a module and replace it. given the expense of the module we will likely end up with a small industry of reconditioning battery packs by replacing the tiny bits hidden in the pack to make them serviceable again. It’ll be worth some time and effort to replace a BMS or battery cell if they can be disassembled and not drowned in epoxy or something
Op needs EV tech person, if such a thing around, what machinic going to check? Breaks ? Lol
This is bit like if EV break downs, roadside assistance can't do much.
Breaks ?
Brakes!
Yeah that 😅
I'm more interested in the machinic. Is he a swarthy Frenchman? Or just a mechanic that became a machinist?
What EV are we talking.
Teslas/BYDs have better battery technology that degrades far slower than your BMWs/Nissans etc.
Go to Bunnings, buy a multimeter.
Bring multimeter with you to inspection.
Stick the leads between random panel gaps.
Shake your head at the results.
Offer 5k less than asking price.
Rinse and repeat.
This is guaranteed to work eventually.
Don’t forget to ‘change’ the oil & filter!
There's always more to a car than oil changes and tyres.
You can get an idea if it's been in an accident, whether its been run up a gutter and bent steering or suspension components or if there are leaks from the cooling system.