Tips For Maintaining Electric Cars – If you’ve ever driven an electric vehicle, you’re probably aware that they don’t have a lot of moving parts, such as the combustion system. As a result, they are significantly easier to maintain and do not require routine maintenance such as oil changes and oil filter replacements, among other things.
Although owning an electric vehicle is fantastic, you must still conduct some types of maintenance to get the most out of its lifespan. This post will give you tips for maintaining electric cars that you should follow and be aware of so that you don’t have to deal with significant failures unexpectedly.
Tips for Maintaining Electric Cars
While electric vehicles are more expensive to buy than gasoline cars, they usually don’t require as many repairs down the road. As a result, buying an electric vehicle will save you a lot of money.
It’s vital to remember that electric vehicles aren’t without flaws. To put it another way, you’ll still have to maintain the vehicle and prevent significant failures if you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on mechanical fixes.
The good news is that there are certain strategies you can do to extend the life of your electric vehicle without having to worry about significant failures. Let’s take a closer look at what specialists in the field of automobiles recommend:
Read the vehicle’s owner’s manual.
The first tip in our tips for maintaining electric cars would be to read the car’s manuals. Although electric vehicles owner’s manuals do not include routine maintenance such as oil changes or fluid flushes, it is still beneficial to read through the manual and comprehend all of the advice.
When you own an electric vehicle, you won’t typically see or require an oil change. If you own a Tesla Model S, however, a transmission fluid service may be required once every 150,000 miles or 12 years, whichever comes first.
The more you learn about your vehicle’s owner’s manual, the better you’ll be able to recognize basic and tiny things that can help you extend the life of your electric vehicle without spending a lot of money.
Ensure that your battery is fully charged
Because the battery is the most important component in any electric vehicle, it must be kept in good working order at all times. However, because the battery is the most expensive component in an electric car, dealing with serious difficulties necessitates a large number of repair charges.
Typically, automotive experts recommend that you keep your electric vehicle’s charge between 20 and 80 percent. There’s a good risk you’ll lose some of your car’s lifetime if it doesn’t have enough charge. Furthermore, overcharging your car’s battery can cause serious issues that may cost you more money than having a low charge. As a result, keep the charge % specified for the optimum and most efficient usage of your vehicle’s battery.
Make preparations for extended road trips.
You must prepare beforehand if you want to take your electric vehicle on long road journeys. In other words, in the event of a long road trip, completely charging the electric battery should be alright. That should not, however, be a daily decision.
You won’t always need a 100 percent charge on your daily commute, so keep the charge closer to 80 percent to avoid concerns with range anxiety. As a result, as soon as you discover that your vehicle has hit 80 percent, you should disconnect it immediately.
Excessive exposure to severe temperatures should be avoided.
Extreme temperatures have an influence on most electric vehicles, especially when charging the battery. As a result, you must protect the battery from extreme temperatures such as extremely hot or cold. For example, if you used to leave your car outside on hot summer days or very cold winter days, it might be more convenient to park it within the garage. Also, get some isolation material to keep the battery at the right temperature range so it lasts as long as possible.
Purchase a 240-volt household charger.
The majority of electric vehicles should be able to be charged using a standard 110-volt household outlet. If you’re looking for a more convenient choice, a 240 Volt home charger might be the way to go.
These chargers are faster, and you can get a good battery charger in a short amount of time with them. However, while trickle charging systems using 110-Volt household outlets are possible, they are inconvenient because it takes roughly an hour to charge enough for a two- to five-mile run. When on road trips, this is inconvenient.
Keep the brakes in good working order.
The brakes on electric vehicles often last significantly longer than those on fuel vehicles. Electric cars have a unique braking mechanism that not only assists in slowing and stopping your vehicle but also generates the energy required to replenish the battery.
When you take your foot off the accelerator and place it on the brake paddle, the engine acts as a generator, sending additional energy to the battery to charge it.
Even if you don’t have to worry about braking difficulties on a regular basis, you may need to replace your brakes once every 100,000 miles. There are, however, some vehicles with brakes that have been in service for over 200,000 miles and have never needed to be replaced.
Maintain all of your tires.
Whether you drive an electric car or a traditional gasoline vehicle, you must maintain your tires on a regular basis. In comparison to fuel cars, electric vehicles have similar tires.
You may need to replace the tires more frequently than usual depending on how hard you use the car and how rough the roads are. Some consumers, for example, stated that electric cars require more frequent tire replacements than gasoline vehicles because they are heavier, especially when equipped with a large battery.
Many automotive experts, however, suggest that if you drive your electric vehicle properly and don’t over-stress it, you shouldn’t have to worry about having to replace your tires as frequently as you would with a gasoline vehicle.
As a result, whatever you did to maintain your tires in your gasoline vehicle should apply to your electric vehicle as well. For example, if you drive on slick roads, you should check the tire pressure and tread depth on a regular basis to ensure that your car does not skid.
Keep an eye on the fluid levels.
Electric cars have less fluid than gasoline ones. However, in order to keep your vehicle in good working order, you must keep these fluids at optimal levels. While electric cars have less coolant than gasoline cars, the thermal management system requires a specific level of coolant to function effectively and prevent electric cars from overheating.
Likewise, it is not required to cope with electric cars. However, you’ll still need enough windshield wiper fluid and brake fluid to keep your vehicle running and avoid safety hazards related to visibility and vehicle control.
Take advantage of the warranty.
The extended warranty coverage is one of the best characteristics of electric cars. Many experts believe that electric vehicles offer superior warranty coverage than gasoline vehicles, with most warranties lasting up to 100,000 miles or eight years, whichever comes first.
As a result, take advantage of the warranty and contact the dealership to learn more about what’s covered and what isn’t. You won’t have to worry about repair costs this way, and the sooner you get these repairs are done, the better for your electric vehicle.
Recognize the frequency of maintenance.
Some standard maintenance frequencies may apply to your car regardless of whether you read the owner’s manual or not. However, we urge that you double-check the following maintenance intervals with your vehicle’s owner’s manual:
- Maintenance on a monthly basis: You should check the tire pressure, tire wear, and windshield fluid washer at least once a month.
- Twice a year: To get rid of any corrosive material, flush the underbody of your vehicle with plain water at least twice a year.
- Once every 15,000 miles: Replace the wiper blades
- Every 36,000 miles: The cabin air filter should be replaced.
- After Every 75,000 miles: Replace the gas struts that support the body lift.
- Every five years: Replace the coolant in the thermal system and replace it fully.
- Every seven years: Get rid of any moisture or dirt, inspect and repair the air conditioning system.
How often should an older vehicle be serviced?
Your electric car, according to automotive specialists, requires various servicing at a specific frequency, as listed in the previous list. Typically, the air filter should be replaced every 12 months or 15,000 miles, whichever comes first. Additionally, you should rotate the tires every six months or 7500 miles.
You suggested reading your vehicle owner’s manual and determining when specific maintenance is required so you can determine how often your electric vehicle should be serviced, which varies substantially based on the brand and model year.
Is it expensive to maintain an electric vehicle?
It’s the other way around, not the other way around. According to recent statistics, maintaining an old vehicle is far less expensive than maintaining a fuel vehicle. For example, some owners stated that the first year of ownership of a gasoline car cost them only $30, whereas the first year of ownership of an electric vehicle cost only $7.00.
Conclusion
Electric vehicles provide a number of advantages that benefit both the environment and you as a driver. Although electric cars are more expensive at first, the long-term cost should be lower due to the lower maintenance requirements for electric vehicles compared to gasoline vehicles.
Although you won’t have to worry about much maintenance, there are some tips for maintaining electric cars to use in other to help your electric vehicle last longer. If you don’t follow these suggestions, you may find yourself in an unpleasant position that may cost you thousands of dollars in repair fees.
Regardless of what tips and tactics you use, if your electric car has serious mechanical issues that require you to deal with essential components, it may not be worth your time and money. Instead, experts advise evaluating if it’s worth selling your electric vehicle now and putting the proceeds for a better automobile with fewer issues.
