Like any automobile, you need routine maintenance to maintain your Electric Car care is important to keep it in excellent condition. Now, here’s the thing: Compared to traditional gasoline burners, EVs are a little more complicated. Fewer mechanics can fix them if something goes wrong; they have sophisticated new systems and other things.
The good news is you can do much of the maintenance yourself if you put in a little elbow grease. This post will explain the significance of maintaining the health of your EV, understanding electric vehicle services and maintenance, and how to do some of that TLC yourself.
Why is Electric Car Care Important?
Because they don’t require oil changes or tune-ups, electric automobiles (EVs) may appear more low-maintenance than gasoline-powered vehicles; nonetheless, regular maintenance is still essential to EV lifetime and performance. Preventative maintenance for your electric vehicle helps find small problems before they become major ones that require costly repairs, much like routine checkups at the doctor’s office.
Electric car maintenance features fewer moving components but more complicated systems than gasoline-powered vehicles. The importance of electric car care helps in maintenance and ensures that these specialized parts function together seamlessly for maximum performance, like a bike tune-up. Above all, regular maintenance prolongs the life of your electric vehicle’s battery, which is its vital component.
Basic Maintenance Tips for Your Electric Car
Maintaining an electric car is generally simpler and less costly than maintaining a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. Here are some basic maintenance tips to keep your electric vehicle (EV) running smoothly:
Battery Upkeep
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the United States, EV batteries today should last 12 to 15 years in temperate conditions. If frequent use takes place in harsh conditions, this decreases to eight to twelve years. Whatever the case, EV batteries require very little maintenance over their lifetime. Nevertheless, drivers may do some things to increase the battery pack’s lifespan in their EVs.
Avoid Extreme Heat Conditions
Batteries are their worst enemy when exposed to extreme temperatures (both hot and cold). Because of this, automakers design their EVs with supplemental heating and cooling systems to help maintain the battery’s temperature at a reasonable level.
Avoid Using Fast Chargers
Frequently Fast chargers deteriorate battery packs more quickly than slower 120- or 240-volt charging, despite the ease of quick recharging. In these relatively early days of contemporary EVs, it is unknown just how much quick charging affects battery life.
Fast charging is required for a road trip and shouldn’t be avoided. But from an economic and battery life standpoint, purchasing an EV to use rapid charging only isn’t a smart move. Fast charging can raise the cost of EV gasoline to the same as that of gas-powered vehicles, costing three to four times as much per kilowatt-hour of energy as you would spend at home.
Upkeep of EVs Versus Gas Vehicles
Heat is produced when electricity is converted to mechanical energy, and much like gas-powered automobiles, electric vehicles must maintain the proper temperature of their powertrain components for everything to function properly. Some use air to stop components from overheating, while others use coolant or refrigerant.
Inspect the Wiper Fluid and Cooling System
It can be required to clean or recharge the system on EVs that regularly utilize coolant or similar substances. These electric bruisers require the ideal temperature conditions. Open the hood once every six months and refer to the owner’s handbook for details on conducting a cooling system inspection. To prevent overheating accidents, ensure the coolant is strong and at the proper level and the hoses are in excellent condition. Your car’s windshield washer fluid must be frequently refilled, regardless of the engine. This also applies to changing the windshield wipers.
Examine the Wiper Fluid and Cooling System
Maintenance and Safety of Electric Vehicles really easy to maintain the cooling system in your electric car! For certain electric vehicles (EVs), such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning, maintaining your coolant (the vehicle’s antifreeze) is as simple as popping the hood every six months and consulting your handbook to make sure the coolant is strong, correctly poured, and the hoses are in excellent shape. As with checking the battery on your phone, the Porsche Taycan advises keeping an eye on the coolant levels when doing periodic maintenance.
Watch the Brake Pads and Fluid
Electric cars (EVs) might be like the low-maintenance houseguests you always want around, but even they need a little TLC now and then. Even though they don’t require as much maintenance, there are still a few considerations.
- Brake System: EVs require brake pads and braking fluid, just like gas-powered vehicles. However, EVs wear down these components far more slowly because of regenerative braking, which slows the vehicle down and recharges the battery using the electric motor. As advised by the manufacturer, the brake fluid should still be drained and changed regularly (for example, every three years for Ford Mustang Mach-E and Lightning).
- Lubrication: EVs may need more maintenance in regions with severe winters when salt is used on the roadways. For instance, Tesla advises maintaining the brake callipers annually or every 12,500 miles to reduce corrosion.
- Tires: It’s important to remember your tyres! Because of the battery packs, EVs typically weigh more than gas-powered automobiles. Because of this additional weight and perhaps longer-lasting tyre types, tyre changes may become more frequent. Ensure you often check your tyre’s tread depth and replace them as needed.
Tire Damage
It may seem apparent, but Electric Vehicle Maintenance Tips are mandatory to read for anybody who owns a car. The car still requires new tyres. You may need to change them more often. The greater weight of EVs (large batteries) is partially to blame.
For example, the tread depth of the Michelin Primacy MXM4 tyres on our long-term Tesla Model 3 is less than that of regular all-season tyres. We believe this is being done to increase the range figure. However, this shortens the life of these all-season tyres. After 30,000 miles, the ones installed in our Model 3 needed to be replaced, which cost us an astounding $1157.
Also read: Top 10 Longest Range Electric Vehicles in Australia
Conclusion
Adhering to a regular maintenance plan can ensure that your electric vehicle (EV) operates securely and smoothly for many years to come. This will help you get the most out of your electric car’s driving range and general enjoyment and save you money on maintenance. For other services, Essential Tips for Electric Car Maintenance is there to help you out. Additionally, finding a qualified car mechanic who understands EVs can be crucial for more complex repairs.
