Electric Car Maintenance 101: What You Need To Know
Like vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE), electric vehicles (EVs), including all-electric, battery-powered vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and traditional hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), all require maintenance to keep them running smoothly.
In general, BEVs tend to require less maintenance than vehicles with an ICE, as the latter contain many more moving parts. Meanwhile, PHEV owners can also benefit from less frequent maintenance of many aspects of their ICE if they primarily use their vehicle’s electrical capabilities.
Here are some of the top electric car maintenance considerations that EV owners should keep in mind, including battery maintenance, tire maintenance, and more.
Why does the maintenance of BEVs differ from that of gas-powered vehicles?
Consider for a moment a gas-powered car’s ICE. A very abbreviated list of components common to any ICE includes the pistons, crankshaft, connecting rods, cylinder head, camshaft(s), valves, crankcase, and oil pump. On top of these are the components necessary to ignite and control combustion in your engine as you motor down the road.
As all these moving parts, well…move, they wear, and the lubricants required to facilitate that movement deteriorate as well. These parts and lubricants need to be replaced and/or replenished over time as part of ICE ownership, thus the need for oil replacements, new spark plugs, and so on.
Meanwhile, a BEV handles most of the primary propulsion functions of the ICE with its electric motor and battery pack using fewer moving parts and reducing the need for maintenance significantly.
That said, any EV is more than its electric motor and battery pack—EVs need to stop and turn, an EV battery needs to be cooled, and an EV will need to provide cooling and heating for you and your passengers. All the parts involved in these functions will still need maintenance.
How do EV maintenance costs compare to those for gas-powered vehicles?
While it may cost more to purchase an EV than a similar gas-powered vehicle today, it also typically costs less to maintain EVs year to year. The U.S. Department of Energy puts it succinctly:
“Although energy costs for electric vehicles are generally lower than for similar conventional vehicles, purchase prices can be significantly higher. Prices are likely to equalize with conventional vehicles, as production volumes increase and battery technologies continue to mature.”
For example, one 2021 study by the Argonne National Laboratory (a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory) studied light duty vehicles and found that the estimated scheduled maintenance cost of conventional ICE vehicles was 10.1 cents per mile compared to a PHEV’s 9 cents per mile and 6.1 cents per mile for BEVs. With the average person driving well over 10,000 miles a year, those cents can add up quickly.
Keeping in mind that these are estimates and that every individual’s situation will be different, BEVs and PHEVs offer a potential savings benefit that’s worth consideration.
What maintenance does an electric car need?
Battery maintenance
The lifespan of a battery may vary based on factors like differences in usage, charging type, and temperature among others. Batteries perform better if not subjected to extreme hot or cold temperatures. If you drive in more extreme climates, battery life can be reduced to between approximately 8 and 12 years.
To proactively maximize your car’s battery life, try:
• Avoiding extreme temperature swings
• Using DC fast charging sparingly, as it degrades battery packs (if your EV supports DC fast charging)
• Not fully charging or depleting your battery
Brake rotors and pads
EV battery packs are heavy, so EVs usually weigh more than similarly sized ICE vehicles. The heavier the vehicle, the more brake force is required to stop. The good news is that most EVs’ electric motors have a regenerative braking function, allowing the motor to slow the vehicle by recovering its kinetic energy and sending that recovered energy back into the battery pack.
In short, the vehicle’s brakes share their responsibility with the electric drivetrain itself, reducing wear on your EV’s brake rotors and pads.
2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus with options shown throughout
Tire rotation and wear
The weight of your EV’s battery pack is again at play here. Because of this extra weight, your EV’s tires will typically experience more aggressive wear and tear than an average ICE vehicle of the same size. Typically, tires for electric vehicles need to be more durable, have lower friction (to increase range), and reduce noise.
Given an EV tire’s specialized construction and rate of wear, it’s often more expensive to replace an EV’s tires than the tires of a similarly sized, gas-powered vehicle. However, these costs are frequently offset by savings on other maintenance needs associated with an ICE vehicle.
It is generally suggested that EV owners rotate their vehicle’s tires roughly every 5,000 to 8,000 miles and replace them every 30,000 to 40,000 miles. Always check your owner’s manual for specific recommendations for your vehicle.
Fluid refills and replacements
Check your owner’s manual for how often you should check and/or replace the following car fluids:
• Coolant: Some, but not all battery-electric vehicles utilize a cooling system for the battery pack. The hoses associated with your EV’s cooling systems should be checked and fluid levels monitored, as they would in a car with an ICE.
• Brake fluid: While regenerative braking should reduce wear and tear on your brakes, you will still need to have these components and the brake fluid serviced regularly.
• Windshield wiper fluid: Helpful for keeping your windshield clean and improving visibility and safety, you can choose between summer and winter blends of windshield wiper fluid, the latter of which won’t freeze in cold weather.
The Mazda EVs
Vehicles of all types will always require some level of maintenance. The key is to start with a vehicle that’s built to last. Mazda is committed to high engineering standards while crafting sustainable, efficient, and thrilling driving experiences.
With its advanced hybrid powertrain that includes all-electric capabilities, both the Mazda CX-90 PHEV and the CX-70 PHEV were crafted to empower and uplift, all while driving us toward a more sustainable future.
Join the Mazda family. Learn more, compare specs and trims, and build yours today.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is based on the latest competitive information available at the time of posting. Information herein is subject to change without notice and without Mazda incurring any obligations. Please review a variety of resources prior to making a purchasing decision. Visit Resource Center for more articles.