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by jqpabc123 1249 days ago
It will be interesting to see if the cost of maintenance remains super low when these vehicles need battery replacements.

Just like what happens to the cost of maintenance when fossil fuel vehicles need engine and transmission replacements.

Anything is possible but there is no indication that a battery replacement will be a typical or expected repair during the normal lifetime of an EV. An 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty on the battery pack is quickly becoming the norm.
1 comments
bumby 1249 days ago
Isn’t the real difference the relative cost of repair? The post above yours at the time of this comment cites that battery replacement costs more than that of a new vehicle. It would be hard to find that in an ICE car (assuming it’s not an exotic or rare model).
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jqpabc123 1249 days ago
It would be hard to find that in an ICE car (assuming it’s not an exotic or rare model).

The cost to replace an ICE engine often exceeds the value of the car. In which case, the car is typically junked/sold for parts/salvaged.

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bumby 1248 days ago
Possibly the value of the car at the time of replacement, but not the value of the car when new. The other comment indicating it was 1.3x the cost of their EV when new.
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jqpabc123 1248 days ago
Possibly the value of the car at the time of replacement, but not the value of the car when new.

Does it really matter?

Once the cost exceeds the replacement value of the car, only a fool would pay the money to do the work.

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bumby 1248 days ago
Absolutely. By orders of magnitude. This is one of those HN comments that comes across as in a bubble or tone deaf.

There’s a difference in the utility and investment value. Lots of people are in the position where they can’t afford a $50k EV repair to keep a car roadworthy or $35k for a new car. Many more can stomach a $5k ICE repair. It may be the difference between getting to work and not for someone who can’t afford a new car. They will still get much more utility out of it even if it’s not worth it on paper.

Not everyone is in a position where they can just decide to buy a new car because it’s the prudent financial decision.

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jqpabc123 1248 days ago
Not everyone is in a position where they can just decide to buy a new car because it’s the prudent financial decision.

Regardless of your position --- salvage the old car (puts some money in your pocket) and replace it (with a similar used one if necessary) for *less* than the cost of the repairs to the old one. Take your significant other to dinner with the money you just avoided wasting on your broken old heap.

Why would a reasonable person *ever* spend more on repairs than the money required to just replace the broken car with one that works? Irrational, sentimental reasons perhaps?

Why spend $6K on repairs if you can buy a similar working car for only $5K? Why make your net "position" $1K worse with flawed logic?

What part of this sounds "tone deaf" to you?

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