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Why so many motors?

Discussion in 'Tesla' started by mikefocke, Dec 29, 2017.

  1. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    No, not traction motors.

    But motors that open the charge port, open the glove box, fold the outside mirrors, etc.

    Given that well established things like power windows fail as often as ICE engines, isn't this inviting trouble and service expense once outside the warranty period given the one source for service model? And don't they add weight?

    I watched a detailed walk through of a Model 3 (the simple to make $35k car, remember) and was struck by how many complex systems of sensors and motors it must have.
     
    #1 mikefocke, Dec 29, 2017
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    My understanding is that ICE doesn't fail often so using your equation, and bridging power windows with electric motors for glove boxes and charging port, doesn't that mean that the failure rate is low?

    Well people like automated things - stuff like hidden vents that rotate when the car comes on, or shifters that rise when the START button is pressed or even the more common power tailgate, have been around for a while. I'm not saying they have been perfectly reliable but it's the "wow" factor.

    But I don't see why they won't be reliable. I mean a CD player will rotate the disc tray in and out many times back in the day and worked reliably. Electric motors are generally very reliable from my understanding.


    And yeah they do add weight (which is why I'm guessing we'll never see a power tailgate option for the Prius despite many owner requests).
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Dec 29, 2017
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how would they work without motors? my 2004 prius with 150k hasn't had any motor failures.
     
    #3 bisco, Dec 29, 2017
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    spring latch?
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Dec 29, 2017
  5. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    I'm aware of brands with 1% per car year ICE motor failures. I see many Prius ICE failure postings. I'm not advocating for ICE propulsion. Perhaps I wasn't clear.

    Half the problems I'm answering on other car forums have to do with sensors and their reliability, wiring, diagnosis, etc. So why put so many into the car? I though the beauty of an EV was simplicity and few points of failure. For a car with a potential 20 year life cycle aren't they asking for trouble making the base car so complex? How many parts are involved in moving the fuel hatch? App, OS, Screen, hardware wiring, controller, wiring, motor, sensor open, sensor closed, etc. And each of those connections is a potential point of failure via vibration, corrosion, etc.
     
    #5 mikefocke, Dec 29, 2017
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    seems like most cars these days. asking for trouble? we won't know until we know. they have a decent track record so far, but musk likes to deal on the edge, all or nothing.
    have they designed the car for twenty years of trouble free motoring? who does? look at the warranty, you'll find your answer there.
     
    #6 bisco, Dec 29, 2017
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  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    True, the number of issues with the 11.6" screen and ICS sensors and TSS-P radar is higher than in previous generations. (i.e. the 6.5" MFD on Gen 1, 7" MFD on Gen 2/3, IPA sensors on Gen 3 and DRCC on Gen 3).

    Oddly enough, my car has an issue with the CD player of all things lol.
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Dec 29, 2017
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