What special tools do you need for EV repair?

Different from traditional fuel vehicles, the maintenance of electric vehicles involves more high-tech fields such as batteries, electronic control systems, and electric motors, so some specialized tools need to be used. We will take you through the special tools needed for electric vehicle maintenance and help maintenance personnel better cope with various challenges.

1. Power battery testing tools

The battery is at the heart of an electric vehicle, and any battery-related issues can cause the vehicle to lose power or not work properly. Therefore, testing the health of the battery becomes the most important step in the maintenance of electric vehicles. In order to do this, maintenance personnel need to use the following tools:

– Battery Management System (BMS) Diagnostic Tool: It helps maintenance personnel read the battery’s charge and discharge records, check the battery for faults, and evaluate the remaining life of the battery. The BMS tool is usually connected with the vehicle through the OBD interface to obtain the battery data.

– Battery Voltage Tester: This tool can detect the voltage level of the battery and help the maintenance personnel identify if the battery is in working order. If the battery voltage is abnormal, it may be that the battery is faulty, and the maintenance personnel need to take measures in time.

– Insulation Resistance Tester: It is used to measure the insulation resistance between the battery and the car body to ensure the safety of the battery system and avoid problems such as electrical leakage.

2. Motor maintenance tools

The electric motor is another critical component of an electric vehicle, and any problem with the electric motor can cause the vehicle to lose its driving force. Therefore, repairing the motor requires some special tools to ensure the accuracy and efficiency of the work:

– Motor disassembly tool: The internal structure of the motor is complex, and special tools such as torque wrenches, puller tools, etc. are required to ensure that the internal parts of the motor are not damaged during the disassembly process.

– Motor Tester: This tool can test the working state of the motor, check the current, voltage, speed and other parameters of the motor. With this data, maintenance personnel can judge whether the motor is working properly and whether it needs to be repaired or replaced.

 3. Diagnostic tools for electronic control systems

The electronic control system controls many important functions of electric vehicles, such as power distribution, energy management, brake control, etc., so when there is a problem with the electronic control system, it often affects the overall performance of the vehicle. In order to accurately locate the fault of the electronic control system, the maintenance personnel need to rely on the following tools:

– OBD-II Scanner: This is a standard on-board diagnostic tool, which is connected to the vehicle through the OBD interface, and the maintenance personnel can read the fault code of the electronic control system and identify system problems. Especially for electric vehicles, the OBD-II scanner can help maintenance personnel obtain real-time data of the electronic control system, such as battery charging status, motor working status, etc., so as to provide maintenance basis..

– Electronic control system test equipment: This equipment can simulate the different working states of the electronic control system to help maintenance personnel check whether the electronic control unit is working properly. It is often used in conjunction with the dedicated software of electric vehicles to diagnose any abnormalities in the electronic control system.

4. Charging system maintenance tools

The charging system of an electric vehicle directly affects the charging efficiency and safety of the battery. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain the normal operation of the charging system. When repairing, maintenance personnel need to use some special tools to detect and repair the charging system:

– Charging interface tester: This tool can check whether the contact of the charging interface is good and ensure the normal transmission of current. If there is a problem with the interface, it may cause slow charging or even failure to charge.

– Charging power detector: This tool can detect changes in charging voltage and charging power, thus assisting maintenance personnel in determining whether there is a problem with the charging system, such as unstable current or insufficient charging power.

5. Electrical safety tools

The high-voltage system of electric vehicles requires very high safety for maintenance personnel. In order to ensure electrical safety during maintenance, Minda reminds maintenance personnel that they must be equipped with some specialized electrical safety tools:

-High Voltage Insulated Gloves: These gloves protect maintenance personnel from high voltage electric shocks and are essential when handling electric vehicle batteries and electrical systems.

– High-voltage insulated tools: such as insulated screwdrivers, pliers, and other tools that ensure that maintenance personnel are not accidentally exposed to high-voltage currents when operating an electric vehicle’s battery or electrical system, ensuring safety during the repair process.

6. Tire and suspension system maintenance tools

While EVs are very different from gasoline vehicles in terms of powertrains, they still require regular inspection and maintenance of tires and suspension. The heavier batteries of electric vehicles can lead to increased tire wear and tear, so the repair tools for the tires and suspension system are more demanding. Common tools include:

– Tire Balancing Machine: The large weight of electric vehicles may cause uneven wear of tires, and the use of dynamic balancing machines can detect the balance of tires to ensure a smooth ride.

– Suspension System Diagnostics: It helps maintenance personnel check the stability of an EV’s suspension system to avoid potential problems such as brake failures and misdirection.

7. Summary

The tools required for the maintenance of electric vehicles are different from those of traditional combustion vehicles, and they require higher technical requirements and professional tools to ensure the normal operation of the vehicle. For maintenance personnel, mastering the use of these special tools can not only improve maintenance efficiency, but also reduce potential risks in the maintenance process.