[horsecaptin]

Doesn't a Tesla have fewer parts than a conventional vehicle? If so, I'd imagine that they're simpler to fix as long as the person knows what they're doing / is willing to learn.

Really cool video, btw. The message is spot on!

[mikeash]

You’re not going to be replacing piston seals or doing a transmission rebuild on one, but they’re complex and highly computerized. High voltage power electronics are probably quite exciting to work with, too.

[flyinghamster]

Then the proper thing to do is provide relevant safety procedures in the service manual. Combustion cars certainly have plenty of hazards (toxic and flammable liquids, poison gas, rotating machinery, and, yes, high voltages, too).

Treating electric cars as "these are mystery devices that must be repaired only by us, because reasons" does the world an enormous disservice.

[crunchlibrarian]

That seems to be the attitude across tech, not just with electric cars. “Trust us and come into our magical garden where we take care of everything”

Extremely unappealing to me.

[dotancohen]

When working with high energy devices - be that voltage, chemical potential, rotating mass, etc - generally "exciting" is something to be avoided.

[jacquesm]

High voltage DC at that, until you hit the inverters after which it is 3 phase variable frequency (and still quite high voltage).

[timpattinson]

Still just as, if not more lethal due to high frequency AC

[pretendscholar]

Fewer parts doesn't mean easier to fix if the parts require more expensive, exotic shop equipment.

[jgibson]

What parts would require more fancy equipment? Induction motors are pretty dead simple and probably built to lower tolerances than the average ICE. An EV has more reliance on fancy electronics, which would be hard to replicate, but that applies to any modern day car too. Think of the engine ECU that controls fuel flow, spark timing, etc. You aren't going to pick one of those up at sparkfun.

[jacquesm]

Think of a Tesla as a laptop computer with a very large battery bank, some powerful inverters and electric motors.

It has all the complexities of a cluster on wheels, tons of software systems and as a result is hard to diagnose properly.

So the first 'fancy equipment' you will need is a set of proper diagnostics equipment, which is - given the complexity involved - most likely supplied by the manufacturer or not at all.

What Tesla could do - but which they would hate because it is part of their competitive edge - is to release full schematics and software listings, but no other ordinary car manufacturer does this, nor are they required to by law.

Good thing too because if the Toyota ECU was anything to go by the industry would look pretty dumb.