Not sure I understand the part about differentials being single speed, aren’t they unrelated?

I think the phrasing was imprecise and they were referring to the transmission and differential. Most EVs use a single-speed gear reduction system - one gear mesh from motor shaft to a compound gear, another mesh from that gear to the ring gear of the differential. In contrast with ICE drivetrains, there is no clutch or torque converter (the electric motor can operate from a standstill), no reverse gearing (the electric motor can operate both CW and CCW), and no synchronizers and dog-clutches (as in manual transmissions), no hydraulic logic and clutches of automatic transmissions, nor the hydraulically operated sheaves found in CVTs. We've been hobbing gears to operate at those power levels for roughly a century.

I think Porsche has done a 2-speed EV transmission and Lucid moved the differential inside the motor and has two-reduction gear sets on either side, but those are both unusual designs.

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IAmBroom 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

My take was: the only lube-requiring, wear-out-fast part was the differential, and on EVs they are much simpler, with less to wear out.

ICEs have MANY wear-out-fast parts (where "fast" is relative) requiring lube, and lube itself suggests the risk of frictional degradation.

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goalieca 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

Control rods, suspension, alignment, etc are significant costs where I live. Winter climate and road conditions impact this.

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avn2109 2 days ago | parent [-]

Underrated point! Heavier EV's typically burn through tires and wear components in the suspension faster.

	▲	rootusrootus a day ago \| parent [-]
		Most EVs aren't enough heavier for this to be a big factor. The only reason some people burn through tires faster is because when you have all-the-torque-all-the-time and can use it silently, it is addicting to do so. This is hard on tires. Boring drivers routinely get the same wear life from tires as they did before.

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dahfizz 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The differential on an EV is the same as on an ICE car. It does the same job either way, it doesn't care whether the power source is gas or electricity.

But on an EV, that's basically the only thing that needs somewhat regular "oil changes". Whereas ICE motors & transmissions also need fluid changes regularly.

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potato3732842 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Regardless of drivetrain type vehicle repair is absolutely dominated by brake/wheel/hub/steering/suspension components (i.e. the drive force bearing bits between the car and the road).

The EV needs less regular maintenance because it has less fluids though.

	▲	IAmBroom a day ago \| parent [-]
		And less brake bits, because of regenerative braking. But the rest stands.