Mechanical things need care to keep them running efficiently and smoothly. Electric cars are no different. Although EVs need less care than combustion engine cars, they still require occasional attention. The good news is, that EV service and maintenance tasks tend to be quicker and easier because there are fewer moving parts in these engines.

Electric engines still need servicing, brake pads and discs will wear, and you’ll need to keep an eye on fluids too. If this sounds a lot like taking care of a petrol or diesel car, stay with us.

All engines need occasional servicing and an EV engine does too, but not as often as combustion engines. Regenerative braking means EV brakes take longer to wear. As for checking fluids, coolant and oil for the transmission is pretty much the extent of it, and this is generally managed when servicing. That’s aside from windscreen wiper water, of course.

So, in a nutshell, EV service and maintenance tasks are fewer and farther apart. Go Ultra Low found service and maintenance costs for EVs to be 23% lower than traditional petrol or diesel cars. There are just 4 must-do EV service and maintenance tasks you’ll need to stay on top of.

EV service and maintenance for motor and battery care

There’s not a lot to do here, but what little you do, do, will have a big difference. Make sure you follow the servicing plan for the electric motor. As a general rule of thumb, this requires a mechanic (who has EV engine knowledge) to check things at half the frequency of a combustion engine vehicle.

As for the battery, avoid overcharging and running it completely flat too often. This will reduce its life. Instead, aim to keep it between 20 – 80% charged the majority of the time.

Battery care is one key element of any EV service and maintenance regimen. Avoid extreme temperatures, take regular short trips and take it easy in colder temperatures to prolong your EV battery life.

Brakes and tyres

The regenerative braking found in EVs puts less pressure on discs and pads. This is because the power generated from braking is fed back to the battery instead of being absorbed by the discs and brake pads. Even so, they will still wear, albeit at a slower rate.

Your mechanic will check brakes when servicing comes around but don’t expect to be replacing them very often at all.

Tyres are a bit of a different story. The near-instant acceleration you get with an electric engine puts more pressure on the rubber. Combine this with the heavier weight of the vehicle (thanks to the battery) and you may find these wear a little faster than you’re used to.

Check your tyres at least once per month for tread depth and pressure. The same rules of tyre care for internal combustion engine (ICE) cars apply to EV service and maintenance.

Check your fluids

EV batteries get hot. To stop the heat inhibiting performance, coolant circulates around the battery pack. The coolant is a little different to your regular ICE coolant too because, well, electricity and fluids don’t mix so well.

Coolant needs to be replaced in an ICE car around every three years. For EV service and maintenance, it’s around every six years. It’s a bit of a tricky job so it’s likely to be taken care of by your mechanic. Even if you’ve trained up in EV engines and want to try your hand at it, doing so could invalidate your warranty. Check this before you tinker.

It’s a good idea to get into the habit of checking fluids when you charge your car. Particularly if your EV is a used one with 100,000 or more miles on the clock. That way, you’ll never get caught out.

Windscreen wiper water has a reservoir under the bonnet. Other fluids like brake fluid or coolant may also have gauges and reservoirs here to check too, but it depends on the make and model. Check your car manual to be sure of optimal levels and specific locations.

Suspension

The only other component of an electric car that needs to be taken into consideration with your EV service and maintenance is the suspension. How often this needs attention is partially dependent on your driving style and the roads you traverse.

EVs are generally heavier than ICE vehicles. This means more pressure on springs and dampers. These will get checked when you take your baby in for a service, as will the air con filters and pumps.

Parts that wear, naturally need replacing over the life of the vehicle. With the suspension, it’s unlikely this will be more often than an ICE car but it could be on a par with one. Take it easy on the road and you’ll pay less on your suspension in the long run.

EV servicing and maintenance isn’t extensive and in terms of day-to-day care, it’s pretty straightforward too. The tasks that are essential tend to be faster to complete, even for mechanics. That’s simply because there are just fewer parts to keep an eye on. Of course that equates to less time spent in the garage and more time enjoying driving your EV! What’s not to like about that?

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