Electric vehicles ( EVs ) are popular nowadays as the world shifts towards using green cars instead of gasoline cars. One of the leading factors for this is that EVs entail much less maintenance expenses than conventional internal combustion engine automobiles. To that end, this article will explore the type of maintenance that EVs require and a rough estimate of how much it costs.
One of the primary causes of such low EV maintenance costs is that electric motors rely on a significantly smaller number of moving parts than gas engines. Simply put, there’s no need for essential services such as oil changes, tune ups, engine air filters, spark plug replacements, and other services that are considered standard for internal combustion maintenance.
Here are some of the EV components that don’t need regular service:
– In the case of the engine air filter no
– No fuel filter
– No spark plugs
– No oil changes
– As noted, the vehicle has had no transmission fluid changes.
– Again, the overall time spent on exhaust system repairs was zero.
There are far fewer components and fluids, and this lasts for quite a while before they need to be replaced, which saves a lot of money in the total cost of ownership of an EV.
Tires and Brakes
The safety precautions for EVs are similar to those for any other car. As with any other vehicle, they require some level of maintenance. Wheels and tires: Tires and brakes as in any other vehicle will degrade over time but there is no significant difference between the two. The costs incurred in such services like rotation of tires, alignment of wheels and changing of brake pads are almost similar to that of gasoline cars.
Nonetheless, some EVs employ regenerative braking so that owners can achieve many miles before brake pad wears are even noticeable. They do not have to scrub as much during regular operation since electric braking functions slow the car and charge the battery simultaneously.
Battery Pack
The power battery system is one of the most critical systems in an EV, which can affect its performance and safety. Fortunately, modern lithium-ion batteries are highly reliable and made to last much longer than a car’s useful lifespan. Typical EV battery packs have at least 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on them, provided by the battery makers.
A battery replacement is not generally something that needs to be done frequently. Unless there is a defect, you probably will not incur any cost during the entire ownership period. We also find that the cost of replacing batteries is reduced after the warranty period has elapsed due to advancements in technology.
Electric Motor
Electric motors are dependable devices designed to operate for extended periods, even in the hundreds of thousands of miles, without needing a single service. No fluids need to be altered and quite a few less parts must move around compared to a gas engine. In the unlikely event, they would require repairs, these would mostly be encompassed under the lengthy powertrain warranty.
Software and Firmware
Whereas ordinary gasoline-powered cars do not need software and firmware updates, this is true for electric vehicles. They enhance different circuits, electrics, electronics parts, along with infotainment systems and their range/charging. Although the use of these updates through the air is most often free, one might have to pay for upgrades that offer a wide range of enhancements.
Fuel Cost and Maintenance Comparison with Gas Vehicles
To sum up, it means that the only maintenance that costs money about EVs is tires, brakes, and checkups. Averaging a five-year car ownership, you’ll be able to save several hundred dollars (if not thousands) as opposed to a gasoline-powered vehicle.
The maintenance cost regarding electric vehicles is approximately $300 per year, as per information obtained from Recurrent Auto. On the other hand, the general maintenance costs of gas cars each year is roughly $1,100.
The actual amount to be saved may also depend on the age of the car, it’s usage, which may include the distance to be covered, how the vehicle is driven among other factors such as warranties. Nevertheless, it is found that in majority of the cases, the maintenance cost of EV is about one-third to one-fourth compared to ICVs.
Summary: Low-Cost EV Maintenance
To summarize, the yearly everyday e-maintenance prices are estimated at approximately $300 for a usual checkup, tire changing, brake pad, and other slight repair. It is a fact that electric automobiles have a lot fewer working parts than automobiles that run on gas or diesel; hence, they need negligible periodic maintenance.
The total savings for an electric vehicle are in the thousands over a 5 to 10-year time period when it comes to the costs of owning and running a car. The cost savings are often sufficient to offset the relatively higher upfront costs when purchasing EVs in most circumstances.
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