All you need to know about your electric car service

Electric vehicles do need to be serviced and at the same intervals as vehicles with internal combustion engines. Now that we have answered the most frequently asked question regarding EV motoring, lets continue to demystify electric car servicing.  

Servicing your electric car is just as important as a car service on any vehicle with an internal combustion engine.  It is true that there are fewer parts to an electric car and therefore less to go wrong, or check during a service, it is still essential to have the car serviced regularly.  Check the manufacturers manual if you need to access the recommended schedule or contact your motor dealership/mechanic and they will assist.   

 What we do at an electric car service

At Peter Hanley Motors, we are fortunate to have expert technicians specializing in the service, repair, and maintenance of electric cars.  The main areas checked in an EV include the electric motor or motors, and the battery back.  The high voltage electric cabling is inspected, as is the suspension, brakes, brake fluids, steering, the wheels, tyres, and the lights.  The cabin air filter may also need to be changed. The usual care is taken in ensuring seat belts, wipers and all bulbs are working. The AA say that the most frequent electric car breakdowns are issues with the 12v battery and punctures.

Checking the battery is a simple operation for and we simply plug into the cars computer and analyse the data.  Having the right state of the art equipment and the know how are key to the successful servicing of electric vehicles.  A visual inspection ensures that there are no breaks or cracks in the protective outer layer of the high voltage cable.  The battery fluid is also checked.  The brakes in an electric car are regenerative. This means the energy that is lost when the car slows down is then converted back into stored energy in the battery. This efficient braking means that there is less wear and tear on your brake system, so the brake pads will last longer. We give them a good inspection just the same. The EV uses the same hydraulic fluid as a conventional vehicle and although there will be replacements of brake pads and fluid over the car’s lifetime, it will not nearly be as often when driving electric.  Your EV uses coolant to regulate the temperature of the battery and to avoid overheating. The technician will check the coolant, keeping it topped up and from time to time, depending on your manufacturer’s recommendations, it will be flushed and replaced.  EVs are generally heavier (20-30% heavier) than an internal combustion engine vehicle.  They deliver instant torque when driving and the sheer density of the vehicle can put a lot of pressure on the tyres and wheels. The tread can wear out at a faster rate than on a conventional car. At Peter Hanley Motors our Electric vehicle car service includes a full tyre inspection and of course, proper wheel-balancing, alignment and as rotating the tyres will certainly make tyres last much longer, we look at that aspect as well.   Electric cars don’t use engine oil,but they do often use oil inside their reduction gearboxes, which may need to be changed over the car’s lifespan.What you don’t have to worry about when getting your electric car serviced, is the replacement of costly parts like the timing belt.

Hybrid Car Servicing

A plug-in hybrid and self-charging hybrid cars are a little more work to service than the all-electric models. The cost may be more that that of a petrol and diesel motors to service. Naturally, there are more components to check and service and it is a specialised task. We, of course, do service PHev and hybrid cars in our Longford garage.  If you have any questions on getting your Hybrid or PHEV vehicle serviced, please give us a call, or drop into Peter Hanley Motors and chat to our experienced and friendly staff.