With fewer moving parts, it’s no surprise that for a lot of drivers, less maintenance is one of the biggest advantages of switching to an electric vehicle. If you are considering getting an electric car for your next vehicle, you will be glad to hear that regular maintenance tasks like oil changes are going to become a thing of the past. However, that being said, owning an electric car isn’t a completely maintenance-free experience, and there are some maintenance jobs you’ll need to do to ensure that your electric car remains in good condition and lasts for a long time.
When you make the switch from an internal combustion engine car to an electric car, maintenance differences can often be one of the biggest things to get used to. Here are some of the main components of an electric car that you’ll need to maintain regularly. Also, to maintain EV cars prefer the high-quality EV Charging Cables that are safe for your vehicle.
Battery
The battery of an electric car is the most expensive and the most important part of the vehicle. Replacing the battery can be just as expensive as replacing the entire car, so it’s an important component to keep well-maintained. As long as you take care of the battery properly, the good news is that it is likely to last a long time and may even outlive the rest of the car. EV batteries that are given the right maintenance and care are designed to last for a very long time, and the technology is only getting better.
When it comes to maintaining your battery, you should always take it to a trained professional. Batteries in electric cars are sealed for safety reasons and it can be dangerous to try and work on it yourself if you’re not trained or qualified. However, as a driver, there are some everyday things that you can do on top of professional battery maintenance to keep it in better condition. For example, how long you charge the battery for and the kind of charger that you use can make a difference. You can find out more about standard vs rapid charging times here.
Tyres
Electric cars are quite similar to traditional petrol and diesel cars when it comes to their extensive wheel and tyre system. You may need to purchase specific tyres for your car depending on the EV that you drive. It’s even more important to ensure that you maintain the correct tyre pressure and tread depth when you drive an electric car, as these vehicles are heavier in weight in comparison to petrol and diesel cars due to the battery, meaning that the tyres can wear down much faster.
Along with this, the instant torque of an electric car can also cause faster wear and tear. If you own an electric car, it’s important to make sure that that your electric car tyres are in good condition with regular inspections and sticking to a schedule to ensure that they are inflated correctly. You should also rotate your tyres on a regular basis.
Brakes
Like any car, the brakes of your electric car should always be maintained regularly to keep them in good condition. When it comes to maintaining your brakes, it’s important to be aware that the braking system of an electric car does work slightly differently to a traditional internal combustion engine car. EVs use regenerative braking rather than the friction brakes on a traditional car. As a result of this, there are generally fewer maintenance requirements for the braking system with less wear and tear on the brake pads and discs. It’s important to make sure that you’re keeping an eye on this regularly, making sure that any worn brake components are replaced as soon as possible. It’s also important to perform regular maintenance checks on other brake system components and the brake fluid.
Motor
The good news for EV drivers is that electric motors are quite simple, and it is unlikely that you are going to need to replace them throughout the lifetime of the car. Unlike the motor in a standard combustion engine car, the majority of EVs have a single, multi-speed option with no transmission to shift the car between different gears. As a result of this, there’s no transmission fluid to worry about. Most of the time, a simple check as part of your EV’s regular MOT each year is enough for keeping the motor in good condition.
Climate Control
Compared to a traditional petrol or diesel car that will heat the car with the engine, electric cars are typically fitted with a resistance heater or heat pump. Cooling the vehicle also works in a similar way, with electric cars that are fitted with an air conditioning compressor. Because of this, there’s usually less maintenance required for keeping the climate control system in good condition compared to a car with a petrol or diesel engine. However, you will need to make sure that it is checked on a regular basis, and that the filters are also replaced regularly.
Software Upgrades
Electric cars run on electrons, so it’s important to ensure that everything is kept up to date when you are driving an EV. Ensuring that all software and firmware is updated as and when it is needed will help you ensure that you’re able to access any new features that are released. It will also improve the electronic security of the car and make sure that it is running as efficiently as possible. Depending on your specific electric vehicle, there are several ways that these updates can be downloaded and run. Some manufacturers require you to be in range of a Wi-Fi network, while others will ask you to go into the dealership for an upgrade. Other cars are able to receive updates over the air, similar to other digital devices like a smart TV.
Windscreen Wipers
Like any car, another aspect of your EV you’ll need to keep on top of maintaining are the windscreen wipers. Just like a traditional petrol or diesel car, your EV might fail its MOT if it is found that the windscreen wipers are not fully cleaning the front or rear windscreen when in use. Just like with a traditional internal combustion engine car, you will need to make sure that the windscreen wiper fluid is topped up adequately, and that your wipers themselves are replaced on a regular basis.
Keep an eye out for any signs that the windscreen wipers are becoming worn down, such as a scraping sound when you are using them or them not cleaning the windscreen enough when it’s raining or if you’re cleaning dirt off. It’s a good idea to check the windscreen wipers each time the season changes, and check more regularly during the autumn and winter months, or after long periods of heavy rain as they will be subject to more wear and tear the more they need to be used. Many electric cars will automatically notify you if you need to top up the windscreen washer fluid or change the wipers themselves.
With electric cars becoming more and more popular, if you are thinking of getting one of your own, then it’s important to be aware of the kind of maintenance you are going to need to conduct regularly to keep your car in the best condition.