How Is Maintenance for an Electric Vehicle Different than a Gas-Run Vehicle?

Electric cars (EVs) may very well become the default type of car in the future. Industry trends indicate that the sale of EVs has been steadily rising, and the market will soon reach a tipping point of favoring them over traditional, internal combustion engine vehicles.

Maintenance of Electric Vehicles vs Fuel-Run Vehicles

You may be curious about how maintenance of EVs differ than fuel-run vehicles. Because the engine on an EV is so different, so is the maintenance. Electric engines don’t require things like oil changes, transmission servicing, or replacing the air filters, spark plugs or drive belts.

Some maintenance items will always need maintenance, whether you drive an EV or fuel-run vehicle. Tires will need to be replaced or maintained on a typical car schedule, with periodic rotation and replacement. Brakes, by contrast, tend to need replacing at a much lower rate than on a fuel-run car due to the different engine type. For specific recommendations, it’s always best to refer to your car’s user manual.

As far as differences between the two, EVs require coolant flushes or refrigerant recharges, which a fuel-run vehicle doesn’t need. This should be done every five years, or as directed by your vehicle’s manual.

Maintaining an Electric Vehicle Battery

Sometimes, an electric car’s battery pack or motor will need to be replaced. This can be very expensive and requires specially-trained mechanics – but don’t worry. These parts are designed to last a very long time, often with long warranties to match.

There are some things you can do to extend the electric car’s battery life, including:

• Avoid routinely fully charging and fully depleting the battery. This can wear out your battery more quickly. Fortunately, many manufacturers actually don’t let a battery become fully charged, helping to mitigate this issue.
• Avoid extremely hot or cold temperatures when you can, as they can negatively impact an EV’s battery. Cars are built to handle these changes, so don’t panic if you can’t avoid extreme heat or cold, but they can wear down your battery over time.
• Avoid “fast chargers” – chargers that promise to charge your car’s battery very quickly. Slower charging methods are preferred, as they’re gentler on a battery.

Are Electric Vehicles Harder to Repair after an Accident?

So, what’s it like if your electric vehicle is ever in an accident? In a recent report by CCC Intelligent Solutions, industry data showed that while EVs are more likely to be able to drive away after a collision than fuel-run vehicles, EV repairs can cost up to three percent more due to the complex technology systems that make those vehicles run. On the one hand, electric vehicles are simpler than their fuel-run counterparts because they have fewer systems, yet those systems are more complex and require different calibration methods and advanced technology to repair. Like most vehicle purchases, it’s all about finding the right trade-offs to suit your needs, preferences and budget: with an electric vehicle, you’ll pay far less in fuel costs and routine maintenance than with a gas-powered car, but you may need to pay more if your EV ever needs a repair following an accident.

Find a Collision Repair Shop Near You

If your electric vehicle is ever in an accident, Carwise.com is here to help you find the right collision repair shop near you to get it back in working condition. Carwise.com can make the search simple, showing shop certifications for EV repairs, reviews from real customers, before and after photos, shop hours and location. Start your search of more than 21,000 shops today: https://www.carwise.com/auto-body-shops /.