Leaf cost to drive

[Right Lane Cruiser]

The production EVs are all using AC (brushless) motors. Those last a very very long time.

[basjoos]

Usually bearings are the only thing that eventually wear out on an AC motor (maybe at 500,000+ miles) and its a simple matter to pop the motor apart and press on another set of bearings, MUCH cheaper and quicker than rebuilding an IC engine.

[pcs0snq]

What's the source of the 500,000 miles data

I don't see how anyone can say

its a simple matter to pop the motor apart and press on another set of bearings

until they have read the shop manual. Have you?

For all (while we assuming this and that) we really know, you may have to remove the entire front of the car to get to the Motor.

Just saying the facts and details are not provided on this car and more guessing does not help

[basjoos]

I guesstimated 500,000 miles because that was the distance where one of the bearings in my car's transmission failed. Depending on initial bearing quality, the motor's environment, and loading, I would expect the motor to last somewhere between 500,000 and 800,000 miles and other portions of the car's transmission and drivetrain would be just as likely to fail before the motor. Likely failure modes would be either a worn out bearing or an open in the winding (which would be harder to fix than the bearings and likely require motor replacement). I've rebuilt numerous AC and DC motors at work so I know a thing or two about rebuilding electric motors. AC motors are a lot simpler than DC motors (no brushes or magnet). Typically the housing comes apart in 3 pieces held together by 4 bolts. The center section contains the windings and 2 end caps are where the bearings are mounted (although the bearings usually stay with the rotor shaft when you pull the motor apart). You use a gear puller to remove the 2 bearings, press on a set of new bearings and reassemble the motor. In a nutshell, that's how you rebuild the typical industrial AC motor.

An AC motor is a lot smaller and lighter in weight with a lot fewer connections that you have to disconnect when removing it, so it should be much easier to remove from the car than a gasoline engine. I don't know the specifics for the Leaf, but the typical 3 phase AC motor just has 4 power wires, 2 tach wires, and possibly 2 or 3 wires for a temp sensor if present. Compare that with the multitude of electrical connections, the fuel hoses, cooling hoses, and vacuum hoses for the IC motor. Unless they buried the motor under a pile of batteries or motor controller boxes, it should be easy to remove the motor from the engine compartment for rebuilding.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Originally Posted by pcs0snq

I think cost at the plug will track cost at the pump over time. In NA they are both from fossil fuel for the most part.

When gas was $1.20 more expensive here our electricity was $0.01/kWh more expensive than it is now. There were larger increases in areas with more natural gas but we have a nuclear, hydro and coal mix.

[worthywads]

+1 Bosjoos

If removing the DC motor from a EV is as equally difficult as removing a ICE from a car, the service requirements of the DC motor are nothing compared to servicing a dead ICE. It may not be a DIY job but replacing the bearings are a piece of cake for an shop to do.

[ILAveo]

Originally Posted by Right Lane Cruiser

The production EVs are all using AC (brushless) motors. Those last a very very long time.

Service life is a design decision, probably mostly based on bearing design. I would expect a service life similar to current alternators, maybe 200,000 miles. I'm not sure how the motor would be put together (may have big capacitors for motor starting?), but I would doubt that it would be considered user serviceable.

[pcs0snq]

+1 for the guessing lol

Unreal the speculation and lack of data or facts on this car. It's the nature of the forums to imagine everything and here's proof!

I give anyone a $1 for any facts that are verifiable with links on all the stuff covered and published by the car OEM.

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Paul, has it ocurred to you that in terms of AC motors we already have a well established body of information in the group of currently on the road hybrids? All of them use AC motors. There are plenty on the road with well over 200K miles on the ODO (1st gen Insight, HCH, Prius, Escape Hybrid) — and every one of them turns at least one such motor anytime the car is moved. I've heard of the occasional failed battery but not motors?

[ILAveo]

[quote=Right Lane Cruiser;264286]Paul, has it ocurred to you that in terms of AC motors we already have a well established body of information in the group of currently on the road hybrids? All of them use AC motors. ...QUOTE]

Just curious here, what fraction of run time is the AC motor in use in a today's hybrids?