Electric Car Repairs: Comprehensive Maintenance for Electric Vehicles

Weighing up buying an electric car? Or do you have a vehicle already sat on your drive awaiting maintenance? Either way, electric car maintenance is insightful to learn about when diving into ownership. They function differently from traditional cars, so knowing the specific requirements for their care is vital for promoting longevity and day-to-day safety on the road.

In this guide, we’ll teach you all about EV cars maintenance. You won’t be worrying about oil changes and spark plugs; instead, these are the things to remember.

Is Maintenance of Electric Vehicles Harder?

Actually, electric vehicles are known to be easier to maintain than combustion engines for the simple fact that there are fewer parts. They simply require an EV maintenance schedule to keep everything ticking over. Servicing an EV should be done every two years on average, but adjust this as necessary depending on user wear-and-tear.

What if it goes beyond maintenance? What if you need electric vehicle repair services? Well, electric vehicles can be repaired, but often require specialist garages to do so (one small negative). Electrical car repair just requires a bit more planning and organizing.

With the right care, you will likely avoid any expensive EV car repair costs. The lifespan of an electric vehicle is nearly identical to that of a traditional car. Expect your motor to be road-worthy for around 12.5 years.

Types of EV Maintenance To Keep In Mind

Everything needs tender love and care sometimes. As the saying goes, the grass grows better where you water it. The same goes for an electric car.

Here are the maintenance demands to keep in mind for an EV vehicle.

1. EV Battery Maintenance

The biggest problem with electric cars is that everything hinges on their batteries. No pressure, but that means you’ve got to do a great job maintaining them! The average lifespan of an EV battery is at least 10 years or 100,000 miles, with some reaching over 20 years.

To promote a healthier battery, keep it between 20% and 80% at all times (100% isn’t actually optimal). Be wary of rapid chargers, too.

Speaking of chargers, that’s another thing to factor into your maintenance. EV chargers are replaceable, but a better option is to keep on top of basic care, like ensuring cleanliness and conducting regular inspections. EV charger maintenance is mostly common sense. And even an electric vehicle charger repair is better than a full replacement, which can cost as much as $40,000.

2. Tires

Your electric vehicle isn’t immune from tire issues — sorry! In fact, since EVs are heavier and often require specialist tires, it’s a wise idea to be even more mindful of all four wheels.

Taking care of these is the secret to a healthier car and happier passengers. Depending on your vehicle type, book it in for annual tire rotations. You should also regularly check for pressure and wear, with optimal data listed in your manual.

3. Braking Systems

Electric vehicles use regenerative braking, meaning the kinetic energy converts to charge your car battery. How handy is that? Regenerative brakes generally need less maintenance than “normal” car braking systems, as wear-and-tear is less.

Brake fluid and pads will still need replacing; experts should check both around the two year mark. Lower maintenance doesn’t mean no maintenance.

The Ideal Maintenance Schedule To Avoid EV Repairs

Whether dodging that dreaded EV charger repair or extending your battery's lifespan, a maintenance schedule is key. You should consult your local garage about the maintenance requirements for you and your vehicle, but we can provide you with some food for thought beforehand. Let’s break things down into what you should uphold on a daily, monthly, annually, and two-year basis.

Daily

To promote longevity, you should ensure that your battery is always between 20% and 80% charged. Allow plenty of time for charging so you can steer clear of rapid chargers too, which add extra strain to your batteries.

Take care when driving on uneven road surfaces to protect those precious tires and braking systems.

Monthly

Check tire pressure and tread and evaluate all fluid levels. Also, inspect your EV charger, checking for any signs of damage rather than leaving small issues to expensively snowball.

Annually

At a minimum, book in for a tire rotation to help encourage optimal and even wear on your wheels. Consult your mechanic and vehicle manual for more directions.

Every Two Years

If it’s not been needed before now, the two year mark is where to book in for the full works. Think expert evaluations of the brake fluid and pads, cabin air, and condition of all the essential components.

For those of you wondering about electric vehicle maintenance costs, repair and maintenance should total to $4,600 less than a traditional car over its lifespan. EV maintenance costs aren’t drastically dissimilar to normal vehicles. A word of advice, though: Prioritize paying electric car maintenance costs so you’re more likely to avoid bigger repair bills.

Don’t Forget Interior Electric Vehicle Maintenance

Never forget interior electric vehicle maintenance. We don’t know about you, but we don’t want to factor a moldy, rotting interior into your electric vehicle repair costs. The best way to protect and maintain your car’s interior is through waterproof car mats.

There’s so much bacteria and dampness on your shoes. And without floor mats, this just gets trampled into your vehicle, encouraging long-term damage. Check out mats for your exact vehicle dimensions in our custom EV accessories today.