Do I need to service my EV?
Electric drive trains have far fewer moving parts than internal combustion engines (ICE), meaning that electric car service costs are much lower when compared to ICE vehicles.
Despite that, they do still require some regular maintenance that incurs cost, such as:
Electric drive trains are simpler, so EVs require less maintenance
How difficult a machine is to maintain is usually directly proportional to its number of moving parts. The number of moving parts in an electric drivetrain is vastly lower than in an internal combustion engine and therefore maintenance is much easier. There is also no metal on metal wear in the same way as, for example, a clutch system.
Of course, plug-in hybrid maintenance is more like conventional car maintenance, as they still have conventional components like exhausts, clutches, gear boxes etc.
We focus this guide on maintaining pure electric cars.
Battery repair/replacement
Though manufacturers tend to offer compelling warranties (e.g. 8 year from Jaguar, Nissan, Renault and Tesla) on the longevity of EV batteries, battery degradation has been a big worry for many about electric cars. In particular the fear that replacing the battery will be necessary and expensive.
While different car manufacturers are experiencing slightly varying results, overall evidence from the real world is that the rate of decay is much less than feared - and some manufacturers are now expecting their batteries to outlast the rest of the vehicle.
Tyres
Pressure:
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Tyres should be maintained at the recommended pressures (usually listed on a plate inside the door frame). You can do this with a pump at home or at a petrol station. Tyres that are running under pressure can significantly reduce your car’s efficiency and thus reduce their range, while over-pressure tyres have reduced lifespan.
Wear:
Electric cars are generally heavier than their equivalent conventionally fuelled vehicles, this can lead to slightly accelerated tyre wear. Tyres should be regularly checked for wear and changed once they have worn down the tyre wear indicators, they should be replaced.
Brakes
While electric cars have fairly conventional disc brakes, they are really used just as emergency back up to the more regularly used regenerative braking. This means substantially reduced brake wear to the extent that Elon Musk recently stated that brake pads actually outlast the life of Tesla vehicles.
Windscreens, wipers and washer fluid
Electric cars’ windscreens are just as liable to chips and cracks, and they use their wipers and washer fluid every bit as much as conventionally fuelled cars. So you need to maintain the windscreen, replace the blades when they wear and keep the fluid topped up just the same.
Wear and tear
Of course, electric cars are still machines. They still have plenty of components. And those components do occasionally go wrong. So investing in a regular service to keep on top of things can be useful.?
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