Electric vehicles are so smooth and silent we might imagine they could keep going forever. We wish that this were true, and we did not need a post about electric vehicle maintenance and safety. However the opposite actually applies. EVs may lack internal combustion engines that need fluids changing. But there are batteries beneath the floor and we still need to keep an eye on them.
Electric Vehicle Maintenance Tips and Advice
We turned to U.S. Department of Energy for comments, because we know this is a trusted source. Their Alternative Fuels Data Center confirmed the following overview of our topic:
- Hybrid-electric vehicles require the same general maintenance as gasoline ones.
- However, all-electric vehicles require less attention, since there are fewer moving parts.
The difference is down to hybrids still having internal combustion engines, and transmission systems. Whereas all-electric vehicles simply have batteries and variable-speed electric motors driving the wheels.
But that’s not all there is to maintenance-related benefits of fully-electric cars. Their braking systems, including disc pads, last longer thanks to regenerative braking. But this does not mean there are no electric vehicle maintenance chores to remember.
Managing Electric Vehicle Drive Trains
Nothing lasts forever in this imperfect world, and this applies to electric vehicle batteries too. These indispensable energy sources do not last forever. Thus it is best to know their expected lifespan, and allow for it.
However, many electric vehicle batteries do already carry eight-year / 100,000-mile warranties nowadays. During this period they should require minimal maintenance, beyond checking their battery coolant if this is provided,
All-electric and hybrid-electric vehicles have high-voltage electrical systems, and often lithium-ion batteries too. These systems require dealer inspections in the event of collisions, accidents, or water damage. Beyond that, electric vehicles should offer an excellent chance of trouble-free, low maintenance-free driving.
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