A Vehicle That Needs Few Consumables
An electric motor requires much simpler maintenance than an internal combustion engine. With no friction between any moving parts or exchanges between liquids and gases, it needs neither lubricant nor exhaust. This means no oil, filter or exhaust system changes. All this can be taken off the cost of the cars upkeep. Maintenance therefore involves far fewer mechanical elements than in a combustion-powered car. In fact, the tires, windshield washer fluid, brake pads and air conditioning filters are the only consumables that require regular changing in an electric car.
Electric Car Maintenance: Cost Schedule And Requirements
Team AckodriveJun 6, 2022
Do you worry about the extent of major maintenance requirements that add to the cost of owning a car? Then, switching to an electric vehicle might be the right choice for you.
Having an electric motor instead of a petrol or diesel engine makes Electric Vehicles so much easier to maintain. However, people who have only owned a diesel or petrol car may not know much about EV maintenance.
Hence, here is a guide to help you understand all about electric car maintenance. You will also find out about the ease and cost-effectiveness of maintaining an EV. So, lets dive right in!
Electric Cars Are Far From Maintenance
While electric cars require less maintenance than traditional internal combustion vehicles, they are not maintenance-free. With an electric motor, EV owners have no oil changes to do or engine air filters or spark plugs to change like with an internal combustion engine . However, EVs still share some components with traditional vehicles that require periodic maintenance. Plus, EVs have a few extra components ICE vehicles donât have that require some maintenance.
Here are some of the electric car maintenance items you can expect to perform. Check your owner’s manual for specifics on what maintenance your EV needs and the maintenance schedule.
You May Like: What Happens When You Pay Off Your Car Insurance Policy
A Small Number Of Parts
The design of the electric cars motor considerably reduces the number of parts required for it to function. Among these, none are whats known as wear parts, which can affect the running of the motor. So, in an electric vehicle, theres no timing belt, no cylinder head gasket and no cooling hose which can all cause engine breakdown when worn. As for traction, these vehicles are reliable over hundreds of thousands of kilometers. For drivers looking for peace of mind as well as easy maintenance, the electric vehicle is an obvious choice. Especially because simplified maintenance doesnt mean its any less thorough: every part in the vehicle is checked by experts within the manufactures network.
What Goes Into Maintaining An Electric Car
While the initial cost of an electric car may be more than the equivalent petrol or diesel car, youll likely spend considerably less on maintenance. That makes running electric vehicles more affordable than you might think.
But as previously mentioned, that doesnt mean an EV looks after itself. They do still need to be routinely maintained by yourself as the driver and regularly serviced by a qualified mechanic.
Regular checks you can do include:
- Air filtration system
Its also recommended that you replace your wiper blades every 15,000 miles and the air filter every 36,000 miles .
On top of this regular maintenance , there are other times during your EVs life when its recommended to give it some TLC.
Read Also: How To Add Remote Start To Your Car
Brake Pad And Rotor Maintenance:
Every electric car comes with regenerative braking. When you ease off the accelerator pedal, the electric motor becomes a generator and uses your vehicles kinetic energy moving forward to generate electricity, recharges the lithium-ion battery, and slows down your car in the process. As a result, the electric vehicle uses the brake rotor and brake pad far less frequently than an ICE vehicle. So, these brake pads and rotors last a long time.
Still, you do need to check the wear and tear on these parts and change them if necessary. However, according to EV owners, their brake pad and rotor last 2X more than conventional vehicles. Moreover, clean and lubricate the brake calipers every year.
Brake Wear However May Be Reduced
On the other hand, because electric cars use the motor as a generator to both slow down the vehicle and recover braking energy back into the battery , brake pad wear is typically reduced.
How? Because the motor is helping to slow the car before you’ve even touched the brake pedal, you’ll ultimately rely less on the brakes themselves. And, in some models, you can use the strongest ‘regen mode’ to drive with one pedal only. Find out more at the link below.
Recommended Reading: When Can A Child Stop Using A Car Seat
Electric Vehicle Maintenance 101
Lets be honestas the machines they are, we take cars for granted. Its hard not to. A push of a button, a pull of a lever and a step on a pedal and we can travel anywhere we like. But behind that façade of simplicity is a complex machine comprised of a litany of moving pieces.
Keeping all those pieces humming along in working order is a primary responsibility of car ownership. Not only does proper car maintenance extend the lifespan of the vehicle, it ensures the car is safe to drive.
With this importance in mind, lets examine how electric vehicle maintenance compares to that of a gas-powered car.
What Maintenance Is Required On Electric Cars
Electric cars are relatively new to the market and, as such, not a lot is known about their long-term maintenance needs. However, we do know that electric cars require less maintenance than traditional gasoline cars. For example, electric cars have no oil changes, tune-ups, or engine filters to replace. Electric cars also have regenerative braking, which means that the brakes last longer and there are no brake pads to replace. In addition, electric cars have fewer fluids to top off and no spark plugs to replace.
In an electric vehicle, the battery consumes the most space under the hood. The device is bulky, heavy, and complex, but it does not necessitate daily maintenance. You cant do anything about it because the battery is dying faster as time passes. Tires for electric vehicles are 20-30% heavier than those for ICE vehicles due to the massive electric battery. Tires tend to wear out faster on ICE vehicles than they do on normal vehicles. The wheels should be aligned every 6 to 12 months, especially if you have a hard pothole or a curb. If you dont change the cabin air filter within two years of your purchase, it will most likely be fine.
Regular updates ensure that EV runs smoothly and longer, as well as performing various security functions. You wont have anything to worry about if you have the option of updating over-the-air. If you take good care of the chassis of your car, you can minimize your mechanics bill as well as your worry about having to replace it.
Recommended Reading: Can You Cancel Car Insurance
How Maintenance Is Different For Evs
EVs have fewer parts than gas-powered cars, meaning fewer mechanical pieces that need to kept in good condition and less of a chance of anything breaking or wearing down. Because of this, EVs require significantly less maintenance than their gas-powered counterparts.
The primary advantage of EVs, in regard to maintenance, is the lack of an internal combustion engine. Without this major piece of equipment, there is no need for common maintenance tasks like motor oil changes and engine air filter replacements. EVs also dont require components such as radiator fluid , drive belts, sparkplugs, and fuel filters, just to name a few. All of these things need to be inspected and eventually replaced in vehicles with internal combustion engines.
Another major point of difference is in the brakes. EVs utilize a braking system known as regenerative braking, which converts the cars forward momentum energy into electricity to power the motor. The system has the additional benefit of drastically reducing the wear and tear of the vehicles brakes and brake pads. As such, an EVs braking system typically lasts longer than that of a gas-powered car.
Tyres Can Wear Out Faster On Evs
Its worth noting that because their big battery packs make EVs significantly heavier than their ICE counterparts and because in some cases, their motors are programmed to deliver rapid acceleration the tyres on your EV may wear out faster.
However, specifically-developed EV tyres can reduce that stress by using a more durable material construction and a different tread pattern, while improving grip and efficiency.
Don’t Miss: How To Remove Hail Dents From Car
Do Electric Cars Need Servicing And Maintenance Everything You Need To Know About Electric Cars Maintenance
In this century, while climate condition is the biggest issue to rise in any conference, the first concern pivots around what to do with the transportation system. This transportation system is mainly responsible for emitting greenhouse gases. That is why the government decided to introduce electric vehicles with low running costs and environmentally friendly features. Maintaining an electric vehicle is completely different from traditional fuel vehicles. People generally think this is an innovation therefore, the price will be sky-high, and maintenance costs will be quite a pocket trimmer.
Do not fret! There are several areas that can make maintenance simpler and cheaper for electric vehicles than the usual fuel cars. Generally, electric vehicles have fewer parts and different operational methods, which mean these vehicles, actually require less time and money to maintain. Servicing also tends to cost less in the case of these vehicles due to the nature of their technology.
Ev Maintenance And Leasing Packages
With the rise of Personal Contract Purchase car financing, leasing an electric car is becoming more popular.
Most lease companies offer a service and maintenance package for EVs. This includes our leasing partner DriveElectric who offer a package which covers servicing and tyres.
Make sure to ask for your leasing deal to include maintenance in the monthly cost before ordering
Recommended Reading: Can They Take My Car In Chapter 7
Take Good Care Of Your Electric Car Battery
The battery pack is the largest, most expensive, and most critical component in an electric vehicle. Its crucial that owners understand battery care and charging: The choices you make about your battery and charging habits will directly impact your EVs longevity. The good news is that the steps for proper battery care are simple and easy to follow:
There’s No Oil Or Spark Plugs To Change So What Does Servicing An Electric Car Involve And Will It Be Cheaper Than A Conventional Car
Sales of electric cars rocketed 186 percent in 2020, to nearly seven percent of all new car sales. And as EVs become more popular, many people have questions about maintaining them
Obviously, there are no oil changes, spark plugs or fuel filters to worry about. Nor indeed an exhaust emissions test.
So what exactly does servicing an EV involve? And will it be cheaper than a conventional petrol or diesel car?
Read Also: How To Change Ac Filter In Car
Whats The Cost Difference For Evs
CR gathered data from hundreds of thousands of its members in its 2019 and 2020 spring reliability surveys to get information on real-world maintenance and repair costs for all types of vehicles.
After a comprehensive analysis, CR found that BEVs required an estimated $0.031 on average for per-mile repairs and maintenance costs over the lifetime of the car. PHEVs required an estimated $0.030 on average over the cars lifetime. Meanwhile, ICE vehicles required a whopping $0.61 on average over the cars life.
Added up, the lifetime maintenance and repairs costs for both BEVs and PHEVs averages out to $4,600, while ICE vehicles average $9,200. This is a difference of $4,600 in savings for both BEVs and PHEVs.
The study used 200,000 miles to represent the normal service life of an automobile. On that basis, its analysis of total vehicle mileage had cost estimates divided into three categories: 0 to 50,000 miles, 50,000 to 100,000 miles and 100,000 to 200,000 miles. This allowed the studys authors to get a more robust data set that could be averaged together for its final tally.
What Kind Of Maintenance Do Electric Cars Need
Iâve only ever had a gas-powered car, and Iâm used to getting my oil changed and my tires rotated. If I buy an electric car, what kind of routine maintenance does it need?
thankfully, they do require less upkeep than traditional combustion vehiclesBattery maintenance/replacement:Brake inspections:Fluid replacement:Tire rotation:
Don’t Miss: How To Get My Registration For My Car
Maintenance For Electric Cars
If youâve owned a conventional gas-powered car, youâre familiar with the typical maintenance that is required to keep it on the road. There are the engine oil and filter replacements every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, the tire rotations and new tires when needed, the brake pads and eventually, rotors. Thereâs checking all the fluids including brake, power steering, transmission and coolant. You also have to check and sometimes replace the hoses, belts and seals, replacing the windshield wipers and even the battery every few years.
Compare all of that with what is required for an all-electric car, which is both cheaper in maintenance costs over the long haul and more affordable to keep running when charging at home. Conventional autos have dozens of mechanical components that require service, repair or replacement. With an electric car, you donât have to pay for tune-ups, oil changes, cooling system flushes, spark plugs, drive belts, transmission and differential servicing. Thereâs no fuel pump or water pump to go bad, no radiator to service or replace, no leaking engine gaskets, no gummed-up fuel injection system. In fact, electric cars with all their amazing technology are really quite simple to maintain and cost roughly one third of what youâd typically spend to keep a gas-powered car serviced.
Electric Car Routine Maintenance
The past decade of electric vehicle sales has shown that the vast majority of fully-electric models require less maintenance than combustion counterparts. So much so that automakers promote maintenance cost savings in their marketing campaigns for the dozens of EVs coming out in 2022.
EVs have a higher upfront cost, so its important to find ways of making up for the difference with fuel savings and todays focus: electric car maintenance.
Heres what you can expect when transitioning to a fully-electric vehicle.
You May Like: When Was The First Self Driving Car Made
Do Electric Cars Have Fewer Moving Parts
Yes. Electric cars have far fewer moving parts than conventional cars because they have an electric motor instead of an ICE.
Internal combustion engine parts
ICEs have hundreds of moving parts. Even as many as 2,000, according to this research by Forbes. Here are just a few of a conventional cars parts:
Car parts common to all vehicles
There are lots of parts which are common to all cars. That means EVs have components for:
All of these components are subject to the usual wear and tear and could need to be maintained, repaired or replaced over the cars lifetime.
Discover more about how electric vehicles work.
Maintenance And Safety Of Electric Vehicles
PHEVs and HEVs require the same general maintenance as conventional vehicles, but all-electric vehicles require less maintenance because they have fewer moving parts and fluids to change.
Maintenance needs and safety requirements for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles are similar to those of conventional vehicles, while all-electric vehicles require less maintenance. Manufacturers are designing these vehicles and publishing guides with maintenance and safety in mind.
Don’t Miss: Where Can I Get Speakers Installed In My Car
How Do They Differ From Hybrids
Because theyre not 100% electric and have an internal combustion engine, hybrids do still have many of the mechanical components of standard petrol and diesel cars.
That means hybrids still require more or less the same level of maintenance and servicing as other combustion engine cars. And as a result, youre not likely to save money on maintenance.
Ev Car Battery Maintenance
As per the common belief, the electric car batteries are very expensive, and when they lose their power, the maintenance cost would be quite difficult to deal with. But the good news is that this is not the case. Car batteries use different technology than mobiles and laptops. These EV batteries have a long life therefore, the maintenance should be done accordingly.
Electric vehicles eliminate almost two-dozen mechanical components that generally require periodic service. That is why the vehicles are considered as the cash-savers of their owners. Research shows that an EV owner normally spends roughly a third of the maintenance cost of the fuel-powered cars. The owners do not need to pay for tune-ups, oil changes, cooling systems, and flushes. Despite all these, the maintenance cost of an EV is not free. The automakers suggest the owners follow a series of periodic checks to maintain the vehicle’s warranty in effect.
Don’t Miss: How Can I Sell My Car
Petrol/diesel Car Vs Electric Car Maintenance
Here are the factors that make electric cars more cost-effective to maintain than petrol/diesel cars.
1. Minimal powertrain maintenance
Electric cars run on electric motors, usually installed on the vehicle axle to directly operate the wheels. As it runs on electricity, the motor practically doesnt require any maintenance unless any specific issue comes up. This is not the case with a petrol or diesel engine.
Usually, a conventional fuel engine requires regular maintenance including fluid changes, tune-ups, repairs and replacements of parts like timing belts, drive belts, etc.
2. Lesser transmission maintenance
Unlike petrol/diesel engines, EVs employ much simpler gearboxes. The instant torque from the electric motor removes the need for a traditional multi-speed gearbox. This is why most EVs come with a single-speed gearbox.
The simplicity of an EV transmission makes it much easier to maintain. You dont need to worry about performing regular services usually required for traditional gearboxes. In fact, some of the new-age EVs dont even mention gearbox servicing in their maintenance manuals.
3. Fewer brake repairs
Another maintenance advantage of EVs over petrol/diesel cars is the reduction of braking system services. Majorly, electric cars use regenerative brakes that reverse the energy generated from decelerating the wheels to the battery pack.
