Maintenance of your electric vehicle (2024)

FAQs

Maintenance of your electric vehicle? ›

Every 7,500 miles:

The battery, motor, and associated electronics require little to no regular maintenance. There are fewer fluids, such as engine oil, that require regular maintenance. Brake wear is significantly reduced due to regenerative braking. There are far fewer moving parts relative to a conventional fuel engine.

There are typically three types of services for electric cars: interim, full, and major service. An interim service usually includes an oil and filter change, a check of the brakes, and a general safety check.

Electric cars (EVs) typically require less maintenance than vehicles with internal combustion engines. The electric motors that propel EVs have fewer moving parts than gas engines.

One key disadvantage of electric cars is the battery life. Like all batteries, the capacity decreases over time. Researchers suggest battery capacity decreases by approximately 2.3% every year. Battery longevity is highly dependent on temperature.

According to Consumer Reports, in 2020 electric cars cost about $900 per year to maintain, while gas cars cost about $1,200 per year.

When it comes strictly down to numbers of miles and years, an EV will likely outlast an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. With regular use, the average lifespan of a gas vehicle is 150,000 miles or eight years, and EVs can last up to 200,000 miles, or about 12 years.

The company you purchased your EV from will give you clear instructions on how regular maintenance is required, however a general rule of thumb is approximately once a year or every 15,000km driven. The electric motor used in these vehicles differentiates it from that of a petrol-powered car's engine.

Most last between 10 and 20 years; for context, the average car on American roads is 12.5 years old. The battery life can vary slightly or significantly depending on certain factors. Let's take a look at those factors. EV batteries typically last 10 to 20 years, but certain factors can impact that lifespan.

Electric cars use completely different drivetrains, so you will never have to worry about routine oil changes that are necessary for traditional cars. Though your electric car does not need oil, it requires a routine check on these 3 fluids in EVs; coolant, brake fluid, and windshield washing fluid.

Why do electric cars wear out tires faster? ›

Weight is one of the main contributors to tire wear on electric vehicles. Due to their large battery packs, EVs are often heavier than conventional ICE vehicles. This extra weight puts more load on the tires and can increase wear.

EV-specific tires could set you back between $150 to $300 per tire.

While bigger batteries allow drivers to travel farther between charges, they also make the cars heavier, more dangerous, more expensive, and worse for the planet. The "range anxiety" that has resulted in massive batteries is another reason EVs don't work as a replacement for gas cars.

Firstly, and most importantly, EVs are expensive. An EV's average price in the U.S. for 2023 was around $60,000. Even as the variety of EV models available rises and prices fall, and the U.S. brings in tax credits, EVs remain much more expensive than their gasoline-powered counterparts.

You can charge your electric car using standard 120 volt(V) home outlets (Level 1), 208-240V outlets like those used by your dryer (Level 2), or dedicated 480V+ public fast chargers (DC Fast Charging). The time it takes to charge using each of these three options depends on your drive and the size of the battery.

How much does an EV battery cost to replace? EV battery replacements range from $6,500 to $20,000 based on the pack, size and manufacturer. If a battery is within its manufacturer warranty, typically 8 years and 100,000 miles, then you should get a replacement battery at no extra cost.

Electric cars use completely different drivetrains, so you will never have to worry about routine oil changes that are necessary for traditional cars. Though your electric car does not need oil, it requires a routine check on these 3 fluids in EVs; coolant, brake fluid, and windshield washing fluid.

Most last between 10 and 20 years; for context, the average car on American roads is 12.5 years old. The battery life can vary slightly or significantly depending on certain factors. Let's take a look at those factors. EV batteries typically last 10 to 20 years, but certain factors can impact that lifespan.

EV owners suffer from 79 percent more reliability issues than gasoline or diesel vehicles. Plug-in hybrids are even worse, with 146 percent more reliability issues, although straight hybrids are more reliable than conventional vehicles.