What aspects need to be considered for the maintenance of pure electric trucks?

Appearance Inspection: This aspect is broadly similar to that of fuel vehicles. Headlights, tire pressure, and other elements need to be inspected. For electric vehicles, particular attention must be given to the charging plugs. It is essential to check if the charging plugs are loose, and whether there is oxidation on the contact surface of the rubber ring or any signs of damage. Oxidation on the plug can lead to excessive heat generation during charging. Prolonged overheating can potentially cause a short circuit or poor contact, thereby damaging the charging gun and the on-board charger.

Engine Compartment Inspection: Electric vehicles contain numerous circuits, and thus, special inspections of plug connectors and line insulation protection are necessary. Any loose connections or damaged insulation can pose significant safety risks and affect the vehicle’s performance.

Chassis Inspection: The power batteries of electric vehicles are typically located on the vehicle chassis. During maintenance, the power battery shield, suspension components, and the sealing sleeve of the half-shaft require thorough inspection and fastening. Ensuring the integrity and proper functioning of these components is crucial for the vehicle’s stability and safety.

Gearbox Maintenance: The vast majority of electric vehicles are equipped with single-speed gearboxes. Therefore, gear oil needs to be changed to guarantee the normal lubrication of the gear sets and drive motors during operation. There are varying opinions on when to change the gear oil. Some suggest regular intervals, while others recommend changing it based on a certain mileage accumulation. The author believes that this largely depends on the specific vehicle model. After draining the old gear oil, fresh oil should be added. The characteristics of the gear oil used in electric vehicles are not significantly different from that of traditional fuel vehicles.

Brake and Cooling System Maintenance: Since electric vehicles do not have an engine, aspects like engine oil and machine filters associated with the engine are not relevant. However, attention should be paid to brake oil and antifreeze. In the absence of leakage, the brake oil and antifreeze can be replaced in accordance with the cycle specified by the manufacturer, which is comparable to the maintenance schedule for fuel vehicles.

“Three-Power System” Inspection: When maintaining electric vehicles, the maintenance technician typically employs a laptop and connects it to the vehicle data cable to conduct a comprehensive examination of the vehicle. This includes assessing the condition of the battery pack, battery voltage, SOC (State of Charge) power, battery temperature, and the CAN bus communication status. Generally, there is no need to replace wearable parts frequently. Nowadays, many manufacturers support the iterative update of the vehicle-mounted Internet system. Once a new version is available, the vehicle owner can request an upgrade of the vehicle software. If the battery lifespan of the vehicle experiences a sharp decline, a professional balancer can be utilized to balance the batteries within the power battery pack. However, the specific evaluation criteria vary among 4S stores of each manufacturer. Additionally, due to the high cost of balancing processing, there may be issues such as delays and inadequate implementation at the operational level.

Air Conditioning Filter Element Replacement: The air conditioning filter element can be replaced flexibly based on the vehicle’s operating environment. A clean and functional air conditioning filter ensures a supply of fresh air within the vehicle, which is beneficial for the health and comfort of the occupants.

Maintenance Costs: Industry insiders and dealers have disclosed that the daily maintenance costs of most electric vehicles, encompassing replacement costs and labor expenses, range from 80 to 600 yuan, contingent on the specific vehicle model. Of course, exceptions like Tesla exist, where the maintenance costs can be considerably higher and astonishing.