Maintaining your vehicle is crucial to keeping it running smoothly and efficiently. While all vehicles require regular maintenance, electric vehicles (EVs) generally require less service than conventional gas or diesel-powered cars and trucks. In this blog post, we’ll break down the reasons why EVs need less maintenance and how it can save you money in the long run.
With combustion-powered vehicles, you have to pay attention to spark plugs, timing belts, oxygen sensors, fuel filters, oil changes, transmission flushes, and more. However, with EVs, all of these maintenance tasks are eliminated, saving you time and money. While EVs still require some maintenance, it is significantly reduced compared to traditional vehicles.
For example, the 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV requires rotating tires every 7,500 miles, changing the cabin air filter every two years or 22,500 miles, draining and filling the coolant circuits every five years or 150,000 miles, and changing the brake fluid every five years. These maintenance tasks are minimal compared to the long list of maintenance requirements for combustion-powered vehicles.
Some maintenance tasks for EVs are similar to gas-powered cars, such as changing wiper blades, filling the washer fluid reservoir, lubricating door latches, and replacing brake pads and rotors. However, components on EVs generally need far less service due to regenerative braking, which reduces wear and tear.
One of the biggest maintenance concerns with EVs is tire wear. Electric vehicles tend to be heavier than combustion-powered vehicles, leading to accelerated tire wear. Additionally, EVs often run on special tires with lower rolling resistance, which can be more expensive to replace. Despite the cost of new tires, EVs can still save you money on maintenance overall.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, scheduled maintenance for an EV costs about 6.1 cents per mile, while an internal combustion vehicle costs 10.1 cents per mile. This represents a savings of about 40% on maintenance costs for EV owners. AAA estimates a similar cost difference, with EV maintenance costing 7.7 cents per mile compared to 9.55 cents for ICE vehicles.
Over the course of 13,500 miles, the average distance driven by Americans each year, EV owners can save nearly $250 on maintenance costs alone. This annual savings can add up over time, resulting in significant cost savings for EV owners.
In conclusion, maintaining an EV is generally less expensive and time-consuming than maintaining a traditional vehicle. By investing in an EV, you can save money on maintenance costs and enjoy a more efficient and environmentally-friendly driving experience. So, if you’re considering making the switch to an Electric Vehicle, know that you’ll not only be saving money on gas but also on maintenance in the long run.
