A BMW i3.
So you’re considering buying an electric car and have done some research.
You’ve found out how much the car will cost and how much you’ll roughly be paying each time you charge it.
But if you’re wondering about electric car servicing and maintenance charges, read on!
Electric car servicing – what needs replacing?
Electric motors don’t require engine oil or oil filters.
Neither do they require air filters or spark plugs.
Fuel filters, timing belts and radiators are not part of electric car servicing either.
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So, what needs to be checked during electric car servicing? Do I even need to send my car in?
An electric car will still have parts that need replacing.
Tyres, for instance, still need to be rotated, balanced and checked for signs of uneven wear.
The brakes, though hardly used due to the regenerative braking from the electric motor, will also need to be inspected.
The wiper blades, suspension components and air-conditioning system should also be examined, too.
Other than these, the dealer will probably want to ensure that the software governing the systems is updated.
What kind of intervals can I expect?
Electric car maintenance intervals depend on individual dealers.
Jaguar Singapore for instance, recommends servicing the I-Pace every two years or 34,000km, whichever comes first.
Is electric car maintenance more expensive than regular car servicing?
No. In fact it should be much cheaper since there are so few parts to change.
Generally speaking, electric car servicing costs should only be a third or 30 percent of what it costs to service a regular vehicle.
Of course, dealers will try to up-sell you certain things such as maintenance packages.
There is nothing wrong with this. Just make sure you choose the services that will actually benefit you.
Can I send my electric car to any workshop?
According to our resident engineer, Shreejit Changaroth, most workshops today are not equipped to work on electric cars.
The major component that may require replacement in the long run is the battery pack.
There’s not much info on how much this costs, though.
That said, most authorised dealers selling electric or even petrol-electric hybrid vehicles usually guarantee the batteries to last the lifetime of the car, or 10 years.
Unless something has gone very wrong the electric motor should easily outlast the rest of the car.
