Nissan Leaf – Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns (Flickr) CC BY
In theory, the engine more reliable that has built the human being is the electric. Its simplicity of mechanism is maximum, and is used for tasks that really hard as the push train of any type (except for the circulating on the roads without catenary), or move the large mining trucks. When we speak of cars, it is assumed that the electric is more reliable.
In the hybrid cars we have the complexity of a combustion engine is added to one or more electric motors, batteries, and a complex system of management of electrical power. However, these cars are proving to be quite reliable, since the electric motor does not fail, and the thermal portion has a wear-and-effort than usual.
Not less true is it that some hybrid cars, even without having done levels very high mileage, problems occur in the batteries. Depends on what model we talk about it, and of the conditions under which they have been in operation, but in terms of engines, the electrical are still very reliable.
Tesla Model S
Review calls to review electric cars
however, it is possible that so-called review have alarmed someone, and you have been induced to think, mistakenly, that these cars will spoil you as much or more as others. In the first place we have to analyse the reasons by the that those cars are called to review. The campaigns can be voluntary, or forced by a regulatory agency.
The first case is that of the Tesla Model S, which has suffered several calls to fix. A campaign aimed to better protect the low for that, in the case of a impact against an object you’re on the road, do not break the batteries and start a fire. There were three cases of fire in the united States, but the owners were able to get out of the car with time to spare after being advised by the same car that something was wrong.
Another campaign of revision had to do with the seat belt, which could break off. it Was only a car, but were revised to 90,000 for security reasons. Since then, Tesla is a company that takes very seriously the safety of its customers, and has been shown in various occasions. No customer of Tesla has been injured or has died as a result of this.
Renault Zoe
we now turn to the Nissan Leaf. An important part of their production of the year 2013 to 2015 could present a problem in the brake booster when the outside temperatures are very low. By a simple matter of programming, the brake booster would not apply the necessary force and the car would take more physical effort on the part of the driver to stop, the pedal would be harder.
Something like it-or not – happens to the Renault Zoe, and as we have recently commented. There is a possible problem in the cables of the brakes of the Zoe, which affects all the units manufactured since the launch until fall 2014. If they break the cords, lose the brake fluid, and brake become quite complicated.
Neither Nissan nor Renault have been reported of victims for these problems
Before you continue, remember that electric cars only need the disc brakes, conventional detention or quick emergency. For most situations, the retention of the electric motor (which in reality is recharging) it minimizes the need to use the brakes as “truth”. The famous taxi driver with Leaf in Valladolid, the brakes of the series will have lasted 200,000 km, and are to half-life, and as you can read in The Country. It will be for something.
In the case of the Leaf and the Zoe, you have to give very very specific for the brakes to fail. Is more, in the case of the Zoe, would have to break the four hoses from the brake, and the car was really dangerous. For years, the cars have a dual brake circuit, so that even if failure of one circuit, the other would still be available. In consequence, the real risk would still be minimal.
let us now turn to the case of the Volkswagen e-Golf, which has been called to review by a problem of electronic programming. It turns out that under very specific, the electronics can detect a false peak current in the batteries, and the system is deactivated for safety. In other words, the owners of the e-Golf would be able to tell a sudden loss of power and they would have to snuggle to a safe place, out of circulation, and wait for the crane.
This problem has led to complaints from owners, but no accidents. The solution is a simple update of the software that manages the batteries. We can also mention the campaign review of the BMW i3, to fix a possible non-deployment of the airbag for front passenger. The same campaign was made for models of the MINI brand, so that is not a problem specific to the i3, or electric cars in general.
BMW i3
¡No pasa nada!
As we have seen, all the problems mentioned have nothing to do with their electric motors, are either problems of internal programming, or problems that may well occur in an internal combustion car normal and current.
therefore, the possible alarm is totally unjustified
Various agencies in road safety have concluded some time ago that electric cars are just as safe to drive as any other model, or even more. In fact, the batteries are usually in more protected areas of the car, and they can resist even explosions.
let us Remember what happened to a taxi hybrid to him that the explosion of a LPG tank with a defective valve, the batteries were not even a scratch. In honor of the truth, that car went against the advice of the technical service, which ordered the owner not to fill the LPG tank up to have the replacement of the said valve. Only the driver was injured, but it was a good scare. It is not a problem that can be generalized, may be unique in all the world.
drivers of electric cars can be to drive with the same tranquility that until now.
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