• Please be sure to read the rules and adhere to them. Some banned members have complained that they are not spammers. But they spammed us. Some even tried to redirect our members to other forums. Duh. Be smart. Read the rules and adhere to them and we will all get along just fine. Cheers. :beer: Link to the rules: https://www.forumsforums.com/threads/forum-rules-info.2974/

Effects of road salt on electric vehicles

NorthernRedneck

NorthernRedneck

Well-known member
Anyone who lives where there's snow in the winter will understand what I'm trying to convey. With the shift to electric vehicles being the trend, I have to wonder what will happen with the electronics on these new vehicles. 🤔 My truck is a 2017. I'm already having electronic sensor issues due to salt corrosion. I've replaced the trailer wiring receptacle on the back of my truck truck twice already due to corroded terminals. My backup camera and rear park aide only work intermittently due to corrosion. Most vehicles up here over 5 years old are rusted over the fenders and often missing sections of their rocker panels and cab corners. I traded my last truck that was only 11 years old because the frame was rotten. Seriously, I brought it to a shop to have some work done and when they went to lift it, the frame began buckling. I spray this truck with undercoating every summer and with the aluminum body panels, I don't have to worry about rust. But all the electronics are starting to cause issues due to salt getting into the connections. Any electric vehicle up here will be prone to the exact same issues.
20240125_090804.jpg


www.cnet.com

Tesla Model X recalled for not playing nice with road salt

It seems road salt can corrode a power-steering motor bolt, which may spell trouble for drivers of older models of the electric SUV.
www.cnet.com www.cnet.com
 
So here's the thing. Half the time the sensors on my truck are useless and don't work. I haven't bothered to get it fixed as it's electrical garbage that'll just corrode in a matter of years anyway and no longer function. And they want me to trust electrical sensors to do hands free driving? I don't think so. And backup cameras are useless in the winter as you can see.


20240125_100053.jpg
 
I don't think this is an EV issue so much as any newer vehicle issue.

The newer vehicles seem to have big screens that control lots of features. Used to be the screen was "infotainment" and everything else was part of the dash, separate and apart from the infotainment screen. But newer vehicles seem to all be integrating everything. Our 2023 Toyota Venza has 2 screens and they are integrated to each other, and to the heads up display. Our 2022 Honda Ridgeline is somewhat behind Toyota in integration. Some brands are going to 1 screen to control everything, but I see that more in the EV sector now.

But things on new vehicles include 24/7/365 GPS that knows exactly where you are, tell you what the speed limit is on the road you are driving on, and that happens even when the navigation system is not used. Others chart and display your past paths, again even when the navigation system is off. Back up cameras and full surround view cameras are going to be prone to all these problems. I think tire pressure monitors are sufficiently reliable, but beyond those, most anything else is going to be subject to electronic problems . . . some of those problems may be exacerbated by road salt.
 
Yes. Any new vehicle with electronics is going to be prone to corrosion. Half the time, my 4x4 kicks out because the electrical switch underneath the truck gets gummed up with salt and kicks off the 4x4.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top