Will Car Mechanics as we know them disappear with the advent of Electric Cars?

OneEyedDiva said:
I doubt they'll disappear bu they will have to be re-trained and/or buy new equipment to diagnose and fix whatever goes wrong with the electric cars. Plus how many people will really be into buying electric cars?
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Eventually, internal combustion engines that run on petrol/diesel will be outlawed.
Many car companies now are changing over to only producing EV.
 

I believe that mechanics and auto technicians will require more education and training to cover the servicing and repair of the new hybrid and electric vehicles.

It may also lead to more specialists.

IMO many of the shade tree mechanics will shakeout of the business and be replaced by licensed or certified technicians.

Good news for young people looking for a high paying skilled trade.
 
The suspensions will still need work. They'll still use struts and ball joints and brakes, plus all the electronics will need work, but that's not traditional work for mechanics, although most of the time they just get a readout of what's wrong and then replace whatever electronic component is causing the problem.

An EV has far fewer moving parts than a traditional internal combustion engine powered vehicle, which makes them more reliable and should eventually make them cheaper once the price of batteries comes down, which they are, but they're still expensive. Just give it another 20 or so years.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I doubt they'll disappear bu they will have to be re-trained and/or buy new equipment to diagnose and fix whatever goes wrong with the electric cars. Plus how many people will really be into buying electric cars?
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When the range & charging time improved, quite a few.
Until this year, I said I'd never buy a Hybrid.
When they make an electric car with the same 600-mile range as my Accord, I'll get one.
 
The secret to a transition to EV's, IMO, will be the ability to recharge the batteries in a matter of a few minutes....instead of hours....And charging stations as commonplace as gas stations/pumps. I cannot imagine owning a vehicle that can only go 200 miles without having to spend hours recharging it, or waiting in line for an extended period of time along a highway, for a charge.

Maintaining such a vehicle should less complicated than current vehicles, as there will be a simple electric motor instead of a complex internal combustion engine. The suspension should be about the same, and also brakes/tires, etc., The transmission should be similar, but no exhaust, cooling system, etc. Winter driving range may be quite a bit less, as much of the battery capacity may be needed for a heater.

I think a complete transition to EV's within the next 20 or 30 years is kind of "optimistic".

Personally, I think hydrogen powered vehicles would be far more practical, and equally "friendly" to the environment.
 
I'm doing all I can to help the planet. I used to drive V8s. In 2010, I moved to a 6 cylinder supercharged car and in 2017 to a 4 cylinder turbocharged car and I'm perfectly happy. I'm really glad I'm not driving some hulking SUV right now when I go to fill up at the pump.

There are already some interesting electric vehicles under $40k. I am seriously looking at an EV for my next vehicle. And I agree with others who said that mechanics will still be needed but it will require a different skill set.

 
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OneEyedDiva said:
I doubt they'll disappear bu they will have to be re-trained and/or buy new equipment to diagnose and fix whatever goes wrong with the electric cars. Plus how many people will really be into buying electric cars?
Click to expand...
they've been going to get schooling for many years now already on the current electronics in our vehicles so i'm sure they will just further their education & continue to do repairs. it will just look a lot different i imagine.
engine-bay-600x300.jpg
to this
T6150133-View_under_the_bonnet_of_an_electric_car.jpg

and with all the stand alone tire places they may not even need to do that. i wonder if this will cause more job loss or create more opportunity.
 
My shop is among the highest rated in my city and often his lot is packed full of vehicles. He told me face to face it is very difficult to find first-class mechanics now and he is offering top pay.
P.S. There is more to vehicles than just a motor.
 
Don M. said:
The secret to a transition to EV's, IMO, will be the ability to recharge the batteries in a matter of a few minutes....instead of hours....And charging stations as commonplace as gas stations/pumps. I cannot imagine owning a vehicle that can only go 200 miles without having to spend hours recharging it, or waiting in line for an extended period of time along a highway, for a charge.

Maintaining such a vehicle should less complicated than current vehicles, as there will be a simple electric motor instead of a complex internal combustion engine. The suspension should be about the same, and also brakes/tires, etc., The transmission should be similar, but no exhaust, cooling system, etc. Winter driving range may be quite a bit less, as much of the battery capacity may be needed for a heater.

I think a complete transition to EV's within the next 20 or 30 years is kind of "optimistic".

Personally, I think hydrogen powered vehicles would be far more practical, and equally "friendly" to the environment.
Click to expand...
I completely agree with you on the charging time. Awhile back I walked into a Tesla showroom near San Francisco, pointed at a car, and asked the salesman if it would make it to Tahoe on a single charge (an easy task for my gas powered car), and he replied "Probably". Yikes! Probably? Another issue is the charging station most would like to have installed in the garage. Surprisingly pricey. Then there is a minimum Level 4 self driving capability. My wife is getting leery about driving. If I keel over I would like to leave her with a good mode of transportation. That won't be confined to electric cars, but Tesla is getting close. It's the future.
 

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