• Sonori@beehaw.org
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    10 months ago

    Having seen teardowns, batteries arn’t that scary to third party mechanics who know what they are doing. The hard part tends to be the availability of used parts isssue on new models of EV, and a lack of industry training. While there are mechanic training courses for a wide range of technologies offered, it takes time for thouse students to make their way into the workforce.

    The bigger issue we’ve been seeing in the last decade or so in repair is that mechanics are still expected to buy and pay for all their tools out of pocket, instead of that being provided by their employer. Especially bad when manufacture try and make absurd money on brand specific tools dispite nominal legislative controls designed to prevent exactly that. Combined with low pay and it becomes a very bad industry to go into for new talent, which has led to a gut of old talent near retirement age that often lacks training on diagnosing computer issues.

    The other major issue is that manufacturers are increasingly trying to move to absurdly marked up subscription models, especially for basic services, and trying to push them into everything.

    Finally also have cars which tie everything into a single radio antenna module becuse it saves costs and keeps people from removing the data harvesting capabilities.

    Thing is, none of this is unique to or even more common in EVs. Modern ICEs need far more advanced computers and sensors than any EV to try and run the engine precisely enough to meet even modest emissions targets. Tool and training issues are industry wide. The most egregious subscription and data harvesting has been by BMW, GM, Toyota, although Tesla isn’t better by much.

    All of this is a problem because you can only keep an older car on the road for so long, at least without it being an expensive hobby. Used cars can only go for so long economically, avoiding EVs ain’t gonna help you. Without across the board legislative and judicial action, all of these problems will continue to get worse in All new cars.

    • parpol
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      10 months ago

      Fair point. No matter what, people are screwed. But in that case, I feel having no car at all is better. I know this is impossible for most people, especially in the car-centric US, so I admit it is a difficult issue.