On paper a purely electric vehicle should be less overall maintenance... Have no idea what studies have shown, but let’s face it...its a much simpler system, at least mechanically.
Electronics is a whole other ball of wax, but saying service techs can’t handle them is a bit of a stretch... every ICE car has a myriad of sensors and computer controls that they need to service. They don’t work right, the rest of the car tends not to work right too, regardless of whether the engine burns gas or not.
I think you may be underestimating your average automotive tech these days. I have no doubt a tesla has a ton of proprietary things in their software etc, but that doesn’t mean your average tech can’t handle it... though will they have the right equipment on hand to do so? That is a legitimate question.
My local car-repair shop now requires a week notice before sending a car in. I wonder, will his guys train on Tesla's? Will some retire rather than go through it? What sort of investment will be needed to get them fully up-to-speed in Tesla repair? I will definitely enquire next time I see the owner.
Perhaps I should say that given brand new systems, and more (or at least different) kind of complexity that must be learned and implemented, in today's economic environment, expect the "new supply chain" on Tesla repairs to be a complete and expensive mess, at least for several years.
One short in a battery and there will be a huge fire. No chance of escape. Big lawsuits. Hertz to file for bankruptcy again.
See Chinese electric bus fire. Lucky no one was in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T71cVhxG_v4