Electric Vehicle Maintenance Costs: What You Need to Know!
As the auto industry embraces a shift towards more viable methods of transport we are learning more about the advantages electric vehicles have over petrol cars; but are electric vehicles cheaper to maintain?
Here we tell you everything you should know about the cost to maintain an electric car including servicing and battery life. We then tell you why the right mechanic is crucial to reap the long term savings benefits of electric vehicles.
Do Electric Vehicles Need Regular Servicing?
Key Facts:
Yes, there are fewer moving parts in an electric vehicle, and:
Yes, they still need regular servicing.
Time between servicing depends on the manufacturer. Some manufacturers recommend a service every 2 years (or every 30,000 kms), whereas others may still recommend a yearly service but set longer distances.
Your top range manufacturers – Tesla, BMW and Mini – only require servicing when your car’s sensor indicates that certain maintenance tasks are needed.
Purchasing a used electric car shouldn’t put you any more in the red: the older the car, the more frequent the required servicing, but as long as the battery is in good condition a second hand electric vehicle will go the distance.
What Parts of an EV Need Servicing?
Fewer moving parts means a reduction of wear and tear. When it is time for a service, the following will be checked:
- Brakes
- Suspension
- Steering
- Air Conditioning
- Lights
- Battery Terminals
- Instrument Warning Lights and Gauges
- Safety Systems
- Tyres
- Diagnostic System Check
If you’re driving a PHEV or hybrid there will be additional servicing requirements.
How Much Does it Cost To Service An Electric Vehicle?
A typical EV service might set you back anywhere from $250-$600, with the lower range covering the first few services and the price often climbing as the car ages.
Here’s the kicker:
Your EV is a complex system of gadgets and technology – your average mechanic will not be equipped to service it (yet).
You need to use a professional with the right training and equipment: this means a specialized service could drive the price higher.
How Long Do EV Batteries Last?
You can expect your average EV battery to last around 10 years, or 160,000kms, for the typical driver before it needs replacing – that’s a fair bit of bang for your buck.
EV’s use regenerative braking; that’s when kinetic energy is converted into electric energy during the braking process and stored in the car’s batteries. As such the brakes on your EV require less maintenance than on petrol or diesel cars.
The Drive Away
All in all, EV’s work out slightly cheaper to maintain over their lifetime compared to petrol vehicles.
Simplified mechanical structure, efficient braking systems and reduced reliance on fluids and lubricants contribute to lower ongoing maintenance costs. Growing demand for EV’s will increase the availability of trained mechanics and this will drive servicing costs back down in the future.
Greater financial benefits are noticed in running costs, particularly if you use solar power to run your EV charger at home.
No matter what kind of car you’re driving, regular servicing is critical to maintaining its safety and reliability. If that doesn’t win you over, think of the resale value, which is notably higher for a regularly maintained EV.
