Electric vehicle maintenance is often simpler than maintaining traditional petrol or diesel vehicles. Unlike combustion engine cars, EVs have fewer moving parts, meaning EV maintenance requirements are generally lower and servicing can be more cost-effective over time.
The UK government plans to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, with stricter emissions targets being introduced throughout the transition period. As more businesses begin adopting electric fleets, understanding electric vehicle maintenance and long-term servicing requirements is becoming increasingly important.
Electric vehicle maintenance cost: Are EVs cheaper to maintain?
Many businesses have concerns that an EV fleet would be more expensive to run; however, research consistently shows that electric vehicle maintenance costs are typically lower than those of petrol or diesel vehicles. EV servicing costs can be 20–40% lower because electric powertrains have fewer mechanical components that require maintenance.
Lower electric vehicle maintenance costs are mainly due to the absence of components such as engine oil systems, exhaust systems, fuel injectors, and complex gearboxes. Without these parts, EVs generally require fewer routine repairs, thereby significantly reducing fleet operating costs over time.
A flat battery is one of the biggest risks for an electric vehicle, so it’s important to be aware of low-power warnings and to charge your vehicle in advance to avoid a hefty breakdown fee. However, you will still need to pay for an electric vehicle MOT, but this should be charged in line with a typical car, which has a maximum fee of £54.85.
Electric vehicle maintenance vs petrol car maintenance
Although electric vehicles require specialist technicians, EV maintenance is often simpler than maintaining internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
Maintenance differences include:
Component | Electric vehicle | Petrol or diesel vehicle |
|---|---|---|
Engine | Electric motor with fewer moving parts | Complex combustion engine |
Oil changes | Not required | Required regularly |
Exhaust system | Not present | Requires servicing and repairs |
Braking | Regenerative braking reduces wear | Brake pads wear faster |
Transmission | Usually single-speed | Multi-gear gearbox |
Because of these differences, electric vehicle maintenance is usually less complex and involves fewer routine replacements.
However, EV servicing still requires trained technicians because of high-voltage battery systems and specialised diagnostics.
What maintenance does an electric car need?
When considering electric vehicle maintenance, there is no oil, camshaft, or water pump to replace, as EVs do not rely on internal combustion engines. However, a check of the diagnostic machine will be required, as this will pick up any possible fault codes that might need attention, and the battery will also need to be inspected. However, EV maintenance still involves software diagnostics, battery inspections, brake system checks and tyre monitoring.
It’s important to regularly check parts that are common to both EVs and ICE vehicles, such as tyres, brakes, and windscreen wipers. Regular checks help maintain vehicle efficiency and reliability. Our guide on keeping your vehicle in good condition explains some of the key checks drivers should carry out.
How often do electric cars need to be serviced?
Electric vehicles should be serviced just as frequently as their fuel-based counterparts. Many drivers arrange this in line with their MOT and so get their vehicle serviced annually. However, those who drive more frequently should aim to make these check-ups a more regular occurrence.
The frequency of servicing will also depend on your vehicle’s manufacturer; for example, a Porsche Taycan needs to be serviced every 2 years and 20,000 miles, whereas the BMW i3 has condition-based servicing, and so the onboard computer lets you know when a service is due. We, therefore, recommend that you check your vehicle’s handbook for specific servicing requirements.
What kind of repairs do electric cars need?
As electric vehicles tend to be more reliable, they require less maintenance and repair work. However, there are some common repairs that are sometimes needed to keep your EV on the road.
Tyre maintenance
Due to the inclusion of large battery packs, electric vehicles are significantly heavier. This means tyre monitoring is an important part of electric vehicle maintenance, as increased weight can accelerate tyre wear.
Regenerative brake failure
Regenerative braking allows you to charge your EV's battery while you drive. Although they are more durable than traditional brakes, this type of braking can sometimes fail or begin to malfunction, and so it’s important to ensure that your brakes are checked by a professional.
Battery replacement
Most modern EV batteries are designed to last 8–15 years, and manufacturers typically provide battery warranties of 8 years or around 100,000 miles. It’s therefore unlikely that a new EV vehicle will require any battery repair work, but if you have an older electric vehicle, then the battery could eventually need replacing.
Battery cable replacement
Cables can wear over time, so you should inspect and clean them at regular intervals to prevent corrosion from building up. This will help to stop future problems and extend the life of the battery cables.
Fluids
Although EVs do not use liquid fuel, they still contain fluids that need to be checked regularly. They need to have their brake fluid topped up every 4-5 years, their coolant every 3 years, and their windscreen wiper fluid every year, or every 5,000-7,000 miles.
Where can you get an electric vehicle serviced?
Most drivers will get their electric vehicles serviced at a main manufacturer dealer. Although this is likely to be more expensive, they should be more experienced with EV vehicles and so are likely to be the most competent.
You could also visit a local independent garage that has the expertise to service an electric vehicle. However, it’s important to note that some manufacturer warranties stipulate that only manufacturer-approved parts can be used in servicing, as the warranty can be voided if not. Therefore, you should make sure that approved parts are used wherever you go for your service.
Hybrid servicing and maintenance
Hybrid vehicles have all the usual working parts of a traditional petrol vehicle, and so the service intervals are the exact same. However, with hybrid vehicles, there are additional components and technologies added to their conventional operation, and so some specialised checks are required:
Diagnostic hybrid battery health checks and testing
Charging port and high voltage cables check
Inverter coolant check
Brake binding check
Due to the complexity and number of components involved, a hybrid vehicle can be more expensive to maintain than ICE equivalents. Some independent garages or high-street service centres will charge around £20 for the extra work required for a hybrid service. Hybrid vehicles combine traditional engines with electric components, meaning their maintenance requirements can sometimes be more complex than those of fully electric vehicles.
On the positive side, manufacturers tend to give a longer warranty to hybrid batteries, and these usually last for eight years. Regularly charging your battery, preventing it from discharging completely, and making sure it doesn’t get exposed to extreme temperatures for a long period of time can all help to extend the life of your hybrid battery.
EV charge cards and managing electric vehicle running costs
Managing electric vehicle maintenance costs alongside charging expenses is an important part of operating an electric fleet. If your fleet contains electric vehicles, or if you’re looking to make the switch to a greener fuel future, then you can apply for one of our EV charge cards today. These can be used for petrol, diesel and electric vehicles and detail all transactions in one handy invoice.
FAQs about electric vehicle maintenance
Is EV maintenance cheaper than petrol car maintenance?
In most cases, yes. Because electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, EV maintenance is typically cheaper than maintaining petrol or diesel vehicles.
What maintenance does an electric vehicle require?
Common electric vehicle maintenance tasks include tyre inspections, brake checks, battery health monitoring, software updates, and cooling system checks.
How long do EV batteries last?
Most manufacturers provide warranties of around 8 years or 100,000 miles, although many batteries continue performing well beyond this period.
