Unlike regular petrol or diesel vehicles, in many ways, electric vehicles and hybrids are often easier to maintain as they have fewer moving parts and less fluid than a traditional vehicle. That said, there are certain things you need to keep in mind.

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As is the case with all vehicles, electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid vehicles need to be serviced on a regular basis. As electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, their service intervals are extended. With that being said, it is important to know the differences between servicing an electric or hybrid vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle. 

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Note: Just like a regular car, hybrid / electric vehicles will still need a MOT once a year after the vehicle turns three years old.

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ELECTRIC / HYBRID SERVICING EXPLAINED

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In most cases, electric vehicles demand less frequent servicing and less maintenance in general. As a consequence, electric cars should be more cost-effective in terms of running costs. However, just because these types of vehicle demand fewer services does not mean you can simply overlook consumables, such as wipers, lights, and tyres. These elements still need to be checked on a frequent basis as with any vehicle.

 

Another reason why electric vehicles tend to require less frequent servicing is because of their use of regenerative braking. Regenerative braking incorporates the use of an electric motor to slow down the vehicle and recharge the battery under braking. As a consequence of this system being in place, traditional friction brakes are used less often, meaning they will last longer and suffer less wear as a result.

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However, electric / hybrid vehicles do have complicated and complex electrical components. This includes power steering motors, AC pumps, and high voltage relay banks to name just a few, which is why regular servicing is still required - especially concerning the battery.

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WHICH PARTS OF AN ELECTRIC / HYBRID VEHICLE NEED TO BE SERVICED?

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When it comes to having an electric car service, the key areas that must be checked are as follows:

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• Lights

• Tyres

• Wheels

• Steering

• Brakes

• Suspension

• High-voltage electric cabling

• Battery pack

• Electric motor(s)

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Of course, there are sometimes additional checks to make dependent on the specific make and model of vehicle you have.

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One of the most critical aspects with any electric or hybrid vehicle service includes a visual inspection of the high voltage cabling to make sure the outer protective coating has not perished and that all connectors are present and correct.

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Another fundamental check included within an electric / hybrid vehicle service is a battery test. This simply requires plugging the battery into the car’s computers and evaluating the data to make sure the battery is in good working order. 

 

Of course, there are elements of the car that are not electric, which will need to be evaluated during the servicing as well. For example, there are systems in place to protect the batteries from temperature changes, i.e. making sure they do not get too cold or too hot. These systems tend to be dependent on some type of fluid, which again, will need to be checked.

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Very much like traditional vehicles, here at Banner's Auto Repairs we are able to provide you different service tiers depending on your needs. The reason for this is because some parts need to be checked, repaired, and replaced more frequently than others. 

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To discuss your electric / hybrid vehicle servicing needs in more detail, please do not hesitate to get in touch.