Eric Berg, who is behind the YouTube channel 'I Do Cars', investigates in a new video why an electric car engine for an Audi e-tron failed after 2 years. The result, he says, is rubbish.
On his YouTube channel "I Do Cars", Eric Berg has taken apart a damaged electric motor from an Audi e-tron. The verdict is clear: the motor is rubbish.
Among other things, the engine has a design that causes it to leak coolant, which is collected in a small container. This canister must be emptied frequently.
Eric Berg's investigation sheds light on potential problems with electric motors. The motor was just two years old when it died, and has now been disassembled.
– I don't know how long it has been around, but since it's only two years old, we can safely conclude that it broke down far too early, says Eric Berg.
Unlike diesel and gasoline engines, electric motors lack components such as cylinders, pistons, connecting rods, crankshafts and camshafts. A timing belt or chain is also not required.
It is the factory's fault that the engine dies after 2 years
So, due to the much simpler electric motor, the car shouldn't cause nearly as many problems. However, Audi has given the electric motor in the e-tron a problem right from the start, says Eric Berg.
It – the engine – is simply poorly designed. Specifically because of the coolant leak that occurs and accumulates in the engine itself.
– The engine is liquid-cooled, and in several important places in the engine there are various gaskets to keep the coolant out.
– When the seals break, it can cause major damage to the system, causing the electric car to stop working completely, explains Eric Berg.
The container that collects the leaked coolant should be emptied regularly. However, if it is left to overflow, the owner risks permanent engine damage.
– When the container is overfilled, it should trigger a warning in the car's display and various error codes, which in most cases require the Audi to be towed to the nearest workshop, says Eric Berg.
During his investigation, Eric Berg found a label indicating that the engine was produced in China.
The engine's construction makes it difficult to disassemble, as it is not designed to be disassembled at all.
However, most of the components appear to be in good condition. Eric Berg finds what he believes is a defective gasket. At least he thinks that could explain the problem in one case.
After disassembling the engine, Eric Berg concludes that it was not and is not particularly difficult to work with, and that it only requires very few tools.
However, he is not a fan of the design itself, which makes it almost impossible to repair the parts individually. The bill only ends up in one place – the car owners.
"It's a shame today that we don't fix things, but instead just buy new ones. All this is waste because of a defective package," he states.
