
Challenges with the EQV Electric Motor: Insights and Observations
Over the past decade, experiences with vehicles under the three-pointed star emblem have highlighted recurring challenges, regardless of the type of drivetrainābe it diesel, hybrid, or electric. These challenges often stem from design oversights that can lead to serial defects, with warranty coverage that leaves owners feeling unsupported.
A well-known courier service, which has integrated several Mercedes-Benz EQV vehicles into its fleet, recently faced such issues. One of their vehicles, with only 28,000 km on the odometer, experienced an electric motor failure. Despite being under two years old, the motor was not covered under warranty, leaving the owner with an estimated repair cost of ā¬7,500.
Diagnosis and Repair Attempts
Upon conducting a system reset, the motor briefly resumed operation but deactivated again under minimal load, triggering a familiar “anomaly” error. Diagnostics, both independently and through authorized service, confirmed the electric motor as the root cause.
Dismantling the motor revealed its considerable size and weightāover 250 kilogramsāincluding its steel housing. Despite its weight, the motor’s power output of 80 kW seems insufficient for a vehicle with a mass of 3,200 kg, raising concerns about underengineering for this specific application.
Upon inspection of the drive unit, which is reportedly manufactured by ZF in Serbia, coolant leakage was discovered within the stator. The cooling system, using antifreeze similar to early Tesla Model S designs, showed evidence of glycol entering the stator. Thermal expansion appeared to have cracked the insulation on the windings, leading to a short circuit and localized burning of one phase. Fortunately, the inverter remained undamaged.
Parking Lock Design and Its Impact
One of the more notable design challenges lies in the parking lock mechanism integrated into the electric motor. Each time the vehicle is parked and the parking function is engaged, even minor wheel movement causes the rotor to spin approximately nine times faster. Simultaneously, the parking lock engages, violently halting the rotor. This repeated action can lead to a cascade of issues:
- Bearing damage in the differential where the lock engages.
- Failure of the bearing at the opposite end of the rotor, compromising the coolant seal and allowing antifreeze leakage.
Despite having sensors capable of preventing this scenario, the system lacks the necessary safeguards to disable the parking lock when wheel movement is detected. Alternative solutions, such as an electronic parking brake, could mitigate these issues.
Insights and Recommendations
The EQVās motor design raises questions about its long-term reliability, particularly in heavy vehicles. While other vehicles like the Renault Zoe or Smart use similar systems, the EQVās mass amplifies these challenges. For owners of such vehicles, a key recommendation is to avoid engaging the parking lock while the vehicle is in motion. Instead, manually apply the brake before shifting into the parking mode to prevent potential damage.
For those considering an electric vehicle, opting for models with separate electronic parking brakes, rather than integrated parking lock systems, may offer longer motor lifespan and reduced maintenance risks.
Local Solutions and Opportunities
One positive aspect of electrification is the opportunity to support local economies and craftsmanship. In this case, the restoration, analysis, and parts procurement for the motor repair were completed within a 2-kilometer radius of the workshop, showcasing the potential for localized repair ecosystems to thrive outside the traditional fossil fuel industryās monopoly.
Warranty Limitations
In this instance, the electric motorās warranty, limited to two years, was a key barrier to cost-effective repair. For fleet operators and individual owners alike, understanding the scope of warranty coverage is crucial when investing in electric vehicles.
HRVATSKI:
Izazovi s elektriÄnim motorom EQV: Uvidi i preporuke
Posljednjih deset godina iskustva s vozilima pod znakom trokrake zvijezde ukazala su na ponavljajuÄe izazove, bez obzira na vrstu pogonskog sustava ā bio to dizel, hibrid ili elektriÄni. Ti izazovi Äesto proizlaze iz nedostataka u dizajnu koji mogu dovesti do serijskih kvarova, dok pokriÄe jamstva Äesto ostavlja vlasnike bez podrÅ”ke.
Jedna poznata kurirska služba, koja je u svoju flotu uvrstila nekoliko Mercedes-Benz EQV vozila, nedavno se suoÄila s ovakvim problemima. Jedno od njihovih vozila, s prijeÄenih samo 28.000 km, doživjelo je kvar elektriÄnog motora. Iako je vozilo staro manje od dvije godine, motor nije bio pokriven jamstvom, Å”to je vlasnika suoÄilo s troÅ”kom popravka od procijenjenih 7.500 ā¬.
Dijagnoza i pokuŔaji popravka
Tijekom resetiranja sustava, motor je nakratko ponovno proradio, ali se ubrzo deaktivirao pod minimalnim optereÄenjem, prikazujuÄi poznatu greÅ”ku “anomalia”. Dijagnostika, provedena neovisno i u ovlaÅ”tenom servisu, potvrdila je da je uzrok problema elektriÄni motor.
Rastavljanje motora otkrilo je njegovu znaÄajnu veliÄinu i težinu ā preko 250 kilograma, ukljuÄujuÄi ÄeliÄni okvir. UnatoÄ težini, snaga motora od 80 kW Äini se nedovoljnom za vozilo mase 3.200 kg, Å”to dovodi u pitanje prilagoÄenost dizajna ovom specifiÄnom modelu.
Pregled pogonske jedinice, za koju se navodi da je proizvedena u ZF tvornici u Srbiji, otkrio je curenje rashladne tekuÄine unutar statora. Sustav hlaÄenja, koji koristi antifriz, sliÄan je dizajnu ranih Tesla Model S vozila, no u ovom sluÄaju, glikol je prodro u stator. Toplinska ekspanzija uzrokovala je pucanje izolacije na namotajima, Å”to je dovelo do kratkog spoja i izgaranja jednog dijela faze. SreÄom, inverter nije oÅ”teÄen.
Dizajn mehanizma zakljuÄavanja i njegov utjecaj
Jedan od znaÄajnijih problema dizajna odnosi se na mehanizam zakljuÄavanja u parkirnom položaju, koji je integriran u elektriÄni motor. Svaki put kada se vozilo parkira i aktivira parkirna funkcija, Äak i minimalno kretanje kotaÄa uzrokuje da se rotor okrene devet puta brže. Istovremeno, mehanizam zakljuÄavanja nasilno zaustavlja rotor. Ovo ponavljano djelovanje može dovesti do kaskadnih problema:
- OÅ”teÄenja ležaja diferencijala na mjestu gdje se zakljuÄavanje aktivira.
- Kvara ležaja na suprotnom kraju rotora, Å”to ugrožava brtvu rashladne tekuÄine i uzrokuje curenje antifriza.
Iako sustav ima senzore koji bi mogli sprijeÄiti ovu situaciju, nedostaju potrebne zaÅ”tite kako bi se deaktiviralo zakljuÄavanje kada je detektirano kretanje kotaÄa. Alternativna rjeÅ”enja, poput elektriÄne parkirne koÄnice, mogla bi ublažiti ove probleme.
Uvidi i preporuke
Dizajn motora EQV-a postavlja pitanja o njegovoj dugoroÄnoj pouzdanosti, posebno kod težih vozila. Dok drugi automobili poput Renault Zoe ili Smart koriste sliÄne sustave, masa EQV-a dodatno pojaÄava ove izazove. Za vlasnike takvih vozila, kljuÄna preporuka je izbjegavati aktiviranje zakljuÄavanja dok je vozilo u pokretu. Umjesto toga, ruÄno aktivirajte koÄnicu prije prebacivanja u parkirni položaj kako biste sprijeÄili potencijalna oÅ”teÄenja.
Za one koji razmatraju kupnju elektriÄnog vozila, preporuÄuje se odabir modela s odvojenim elektronskim parkirnim koÄnicama, umjesto integriranih sustava zakljuÄavanja, jer oni mogu osigurati dulji vijek trajanja motora i smanjiti rizik od skupih popravaka.
Lokalna rjeŔenja i prilike
Jedan od pozitivnih aspekata elektrifikacije je prilika za podrÅ”ku lokalnim gospodarstvima i obrtima. U ovom sluÄaju, obnova, analiza i nabava dijelova za popravak motora obavljeni su u radijusu od 2 kilometra od radionice, Å”to pokazuje potencijal za razvoj lokalnih ekosustava popravaka izvan monopola fosilne industrije.
OgraniÄenja jamstva
U ovom sluÄaju, jamstvo na elektriÄni motor, ograniÄeno na dvije godine, pokazalo se kljuÄnom preprekom za isplativ popravak. Za upravitelje flota i pojedine vlasnike, razumijevanje opsega jamstvenog pokriÄa kljuÄno je pri ulaganju u elektriÄna vozila.
Part number: A4473402401, A4479004711, A4479013905, LE6000, A4473407600, 601-20857-00, 634-05058-03, 3840000462, M4160A1288, A4473400501, 7899019100, 2229021821, 7899045800,
Errors: P2C8500, Electric motor making noise,
Warranty: declined (2years)
Processor: TC277T
OEM Price: 7500ā¬
EV Clinic Price: 2500-3500ā¬






















