A fully electric vehicle doesn’t have an engine under its hood. Instead, it has an electric motor, which looks like bulky coils of copper wire. In some electric vehicles, the electric motor can also look like hairpin-like copper inserts with cross-sections.
Electric motors generally cost less than internal combustion engines, mainly because they have fewer moving parts. This also makes them last longer than traditional engines. With proper maintenance, an electric motor can last up to 30,000 hours.
However, that doesn’t mean they can’t fail prematurely. Sometimes the windings on an EV electric traction motor will fail due to rapid acceleration, high-speed runs, and frequent regenerative braking, all of which increase current flow through the motor windings and inverters, generating significant heat.
The exact procedure on how to access the electric motor can vary from one vehicle to another. While this might be the case, it’s important to have sufficient knowledge in dealing with electrical components before you proceed with removing or tinkering with the electric motor.
Like most repair jobs, accessing the electric motor will require you to raise your vehicle and ensure that the steering wheel is locked in place.
You’ll need to remove a couple of parts before you get to the electric motor, including the intermediate shaft, electrical harness, front drive unit inverter, and more.
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