The electric car industry has completely revolutionized the world of commuting by road. The engineering that goes into making an electric car is advancing every day.
America alone has almost two million electric cars, which is expected to grow. Many people prefer these cars for their modern technology and eco-friendly qualities.
With competing ranges and excellent cost-efficiency, this industry will keep booming globally. The increasing popularity of electric cars has given birth to its spare part industry.
Electric Car Parts Company
Growing Industry
With the growth of the electric car manufacturing industry, the car parts industry is simultaneously bound to grow.
A recent report suggests that by 2025, the global vehicle spare parts industry would reach $810.5 billion. The increasing popularity of electric cars is considered the driver of this boom.
Moreover, many more people now understand how these cars work, and hence interests have grown. Furthermore, the preference for eco-friendly substitutes and a green lifestyle are trending globally.
Read How Electric Car Air Conditioning Works
Why Does the Electric Car Parts Industry Exist?
Just like any manufactured vehicle, an electric car can also sustain damage. The damage could be caused by reckless driving, a car crash, or multiple other ways.
One of the most common forms of damage an electric car company can sustain is its battery. Like a gas car’s engine, the battery is the electric car’s main source of energy.
Any damage to the battery demands attention and repair. It is also the costliest part of an electric car.
Starting and establishing an electric car company or distributorship could be expensive. According to it many studies, investing in a spare parts company is much better.
Market statistics suggest that electric car part dealers enjoy high profits and more sales. Moreover, it’s less costly to start a spare parts business, than to deal with full cars.
This allows small business owners a chance to enjoy and benefit from the electric vehicle industry boom.
The electric car parts industry can grow in two ways. One way is when sellers supply spare parts to consumers for repairing damage etc. These spare parts could include batteries, electrical chips, seating, etc.
The other way is when major companies outsource their electric car part manufacturing. This outsourcing could be done to other countries and companies.
Doing so allows the electric car company to continue focusing on innovation and technology.
Read Electric vs Hydrogen Cars
Global Outsourcing
China is the biggest manufacturer and supplier of electric car spare parts. China alone contributes to 25% of the electric vehicle spare part industry.
Global electric car giants like Tesla spend millions of dollars to keep this industry growing. Although Tesla is an American company, it has outsourced manufacturing of its parts to many countries.
Tesla
Almost 70% of Tesla’s electric parts are outsourced and manufactured in Taiwan. Moreover, it has outsourced 80% of the manufacturing of Model 3 and Model Y parts to China.
Furthermore, some of Tesla’s electrical components are manufactured in Europe while most of its tires are manufactured in South Korea and China.
This article will discuss the different electric vehicle parts and their respective functions. Moreover, you will gain insight into why the spare parts industry is booming.
Read What Happens if Your Tesla Runs Out of Battery?
What are the Different Electric Car Parts?
An electric car is a futuristic combination of art and technology. It comes with modern execution, superior performance, and unparalleled technology.
To be at the top, technologically, electric cars have various components. These parts are sometimes insourced and sometimes outsourced. It all depends on increasing total efficiency.
End consumers can purchase many electric parts from an electric car parts company. This allows the end consumer to repair a damaged part, or upgrade their existing electric car.
In general, an electric car’s main electrical components include:
- A motor;
- A reducer;
- A battery;
- A charger(s);
- An electric power control system/ a power inverter;
- A transmission;
- Thermal cooling system.
Some of the non-electrical or other components may include:
- Car seats;
- Tires;
- Electric car’s interior body;
- Electric car’s external body;
- Lights.
Read Are Electric Cars Better for Environment
Motor
The motor of an electric car is an essential component. If the motor breaks down, the electric car owner could go to an electric car parts company.
There they could either get the motor fixed, or purchase a new one. The motor of an electric car has the same function as an engine in a gas car.
It is responsible for converting electrical energy to kinetic energy. The kinetic energy allows the movement of the car’s wheels.
The electric car’s motor has many advantages over a gas car’s engine. Some of these advantages are:
- It allows the car to be stable and much quieter. This is achieved by eliminating the vibration and noise produced by a conventional car engine; As a result, the ride is more comfortable and smoother;
- The size of the motor, in comparison to an engine, is significantly smaller. This compact size allows the electric car to have more space for other technological components. The extra space also increases the electric car’s cabin space;
- It allows extra electric charge storage to the battery when the car is neutral. This makes it more efficient;
- It allows extra electric charge storage to the battery when the car is braking. Regenerative braking system and the motor together allow this to happen;
- The increased battery efficiency due to the motor allows higher battery life. As a result, the electric car can cover more distance.
Electric car motors contain magnet-based rotor, aluminum, copper, cobalt, etc. Future motors are predicted also to have materials like silicone-steel, iron, boron, etc.
Read How to Invest in EV Car Charging Stations
Reducer
An electric car’s reducer functions similar to a transmission. This means, that a reducer also moves power from the motor to the wheels. However, it is also different in some ways.
Unlike a general car engine, an electric car’s motor has a much higher RPM. While a transmission system allows the tires to pick that RPM, the reducer reduces and controls that RPM.
The controlled RPM allows the electric car to move appropriately and responsibly.
Battery
The battery is the heart of an electric vehicle. Poor driving and maintenance could reduce the battery’s range and even kill it. This is a major problem, as battery repair or exchange can be very expensive.
The table below shows different Tesla car models, their battery capacities, and their life per charge.
| Tesla Car Models | Battery Capacity (kWh) | Battery life Per Charge (miles) |
| Model S 60D | 60 | 242 |
| Model S 75D | 75 | 305 |
| Model S Standard Range | 80 | 280 |
| Model S 85D | 85 | 328 |
| Model S 100D | 100 | 395 |
| Model S Long Range | 100 | 405 |
| Model S Performance | 100 | 370 |
Since the electric car’s battery is so critical, it is essential to understand its system and types in depth.
Electric cars can have either of the three types of batteries:
Read Electric Vehicle Charging Station Requirements in California
Lithium-ion battery
The most recent and widely used type of electric car battery. It has proven to be superior, more efficient, and more advanced in many ways.
These batteries are great for optimizing and saving electric energy. As result, the electric car’s performance and battery range are high.
These batteries have an extended lifespan and have longer more charging cycles.
However, these batteries are also extremely sensitive and get damaged in extreme temperatures.
Moreover, a poor recharging routine can also damage the battery’s range and efficiency.
Nickel battery
The two kinds of nickel batteries are the Nickel-Cadmium battery and the Nickel-Metal hydride. These batteries are far less efficient than lithium-ion batteries.
They have a lower voltage, lower capacities, and lesser power. As a result, fewer electric cars carry this type of battery.
However, this battery is less sensitive to temperature changes and charging routines. Hence, many heavy-weight and 4×4 electric vehicles still carry this battery type.
Read How much money do you save with a Tesla electric car
Lead battery
These are the least efficient and least preferred types of electric car batteries. Their technology is old, and they offer lower capacities and range. As a result, only the very old electric cars now have these batteries.
The battery of an electric car stores electrical energy. Its primary function is the same as a fuel tank in an engine.
The higher the electric car’s battery capacity, the more distance it would cover. As a result, the bigger the battery size, the less often an electric car would need to be recharged.
However, having a large and bulky battery is not always great. Larger batteries have more power, but they also need more space. This means the extra storage or cabin space would be compromised.
Moreover, heavier electric car batteries have poorer energy and fuel efficiencies. Hence, getting a bigger battery does not make your electric car superior.
Having a battery with high energy density would allow you to have a high-performance vehicle. Smaller, lightweight batteries that can store maximum electric charge are the real winners.
The great thing is that most advanced electric cars come with an advanced battery management system (BMS). This system allows the battery to optimize its performance and life.
The BMS keeps a check on the battery’s charging status. Moreover, it allows the electric car owner to know if the battery has malfunctioned.
Due to this, the car owner remains well-informed and vigilant. As a result, they can take necessary actions to save the battery before it is too late.
Electric car batteries are sensitive to temperature. For this, the battery heater ensures that the battery adjusts its temperature according to its surroundings.
Charger
Most electric cars come with multiple factory-provided chargers. For instance, the Tesla cars come with three different types of chargers:
- The NEMA 5-15, 120 volts
- The NEMA 14-50, 240 volts
- The wall connector, 480 volts
Electric cars also have the option of using a public DC supercharging station.
The charger is a device used to charge the electric car battery. They take the electrical charge from an external source and convert it into direct current. The direct current can then be stored in the electric car’s battery.
There are mainly two types of electric chargers; onboard and off-board. The onboard charger converts alternating current from slow or portable charging sources into direct current.
The Off-board charger is not installed inside the car.
Read How Much to Install Electric Car Charger in Garage
Power Inverter
An electric car has an inverter to help convert the battery’s stored direct current to an alternate current. The alternate current then supplies the electric energy to the motor.
A power inverter is essential for controlling the car’s acceleration and deceleration.
Thermal Cooling System
The thermal cooling system is designed to control and regulate temperatures. It controls the temperature of the motor, engine, and other electronic components.
Read How Much Does an Electric Car Weigh?
Why Are Electric Car Parts Companies on the Rise?
The increasing popularity of electric cars has led to a boom in the electric car parts industry. The rise of business, new market entrants, and profits can be examined for many reasons.
- It is easier to invest in a spare parts business than to start an EV company or dealership;
- The relatively smaller investment allows growing business people a chance to enter the electric car trade;
- Due to Covid’19, many people have lost their jobs and have lower incomes. As a result, buying spare parts is far more affordable than purchasing a new electric car;
- Due to global inflation, the general public’s spending power has reduced significantly. As a result, people can mostly change their car parts, but not their cars;
- With growing global sales of electric cars, starting a spare parts company is a safe business;
- With abundant manufacturers worldwide, arranging and finding spare parts is not hard. As a result, more companies can easily gather material and start operations;
- People have become more aware and involved. This means they like to get new parts and upgrade their electric cars to suit their taste.
For instance, many people go to spare part companies to get custom-made batteries.
Final Thoughts
The electric car industry is on the rise, allowing complementing industries to experience similar growth. Electric car parts companies have high sales and amazing potential. These companies allow small businesses to enjoy the EV industry boom, enabling end-users to get cost-effective changes and repairs.
Related electric car articles:
- How Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Works
- Can I Charge My Electric Car in the Rain?
- How Many Gears Does An Electric Car Have?
- Are electric cars expensive to maintain?
- Why Is Tesla Better Than Other Electric Cars?
- Electric Car Paint Sprayer
- Should You Put a Cover on Your Electric Car? [3 Prime Points]
- Can You Charge an Electric Car From a 13 AMP Socket? [8 Informative Motives]
My name is Matthew, staying in Seattle, Washington. Electric Vehicles (Electric Cars & Electric bikes) caught my attention for the last few years and my love for electric cars and bikes is everlasting. I spend many of my weekends traveling to various places all over various cities with my electric vehicle (e-bike and electric car). Here I am sharing my expertise, experience, and invaluable information about electric cars and electric bikes. Check out more.