Electric car maintenance: Useful facts at a glance

As with any vehicle, regular maintenance of electric cars is essential to ensure performance and safety. What is included in the service of an electric car? What are the costs and obligations? Find the answers to these questions and other tips in this blog. 

Maintenance of an electric car differs from that of a car with a combustion engine in a number of essential respects. Electric cars have significantly fewer movable parts than gas/diesel cars. This means that they are less maintenance intensive overall. For example, oil changes, which are regularly required for combustion engines, are completely eliminated. Another major advantage of electric cars is that there is no need to maintain components such as spark plugs, air filters or exhaust systems. 

Electric car maintenance

Maintenance of an electric car involves a series of testing and maintenance tasks that ensure that the car is running safely and efficiently. The focus is in particular on the vehicle’s electrical systems, battery and software as well as wear parts such as brakes and tires. The aim is to maintain the longevity of the vehicle and to guarantee optimum performance. Depending on the manufacturer and model, the inspection of an electric car typically includes:

• Testing the battery: The battery is the heart of an electric car. Its performance is crucial to maintaining the maximum range and performance of your vehicle. But the more often you charge your electric car’s battery, the more its performance decreases. In particular, frequent fast charging and charging up to 100 percent have a negative impact on the condition of the battery. Usually, an electric car battery can be fully charged about 1,000 to 3,000 times. During battery testing, professionals measure the capacity and look for possible signs of deterioration.
• Inspection of brakes: Electric cars often use recuperation (energy recovery when braking). This means that the car brakes as soon as you take your foot off the accelerator pedal without applying the brake. This reduces the strain on the braking system and reduces the wear on the brakes. Nevertheless, it is important to check the brakes and brake fluid regularly and make sure they are working properly. 
• Inspection of vehicle electronics: Electric cars are highly dependent on their software and electronics. Maintenance therefore also includes updating the software and checking the vehicle’s electronic systems. 
• Checking the tires: The tires must be checked for wear and correct air pressure. An uneven distribution can impair the performance of the vehicle. 
• Checking fluids: Even if electric cars don’t have a combustion engine, they still use coolant. This is because the battery and other parts must not overheat. Checking the state and condition of the coolant is therefore also part of the maintenance. Don’t forget the brake and windshield wiper fluid! 
• Inspection of signaling systems: To ensure safety, the maintenance of the electric car includes a check of all lighting and other signaling devices. 
• Checking the mechanical systems: Last but not least, the mechanics of the suspension and steering are examined for wear and correct functioning. 

Maintenance intervals for e-cars and their components

The maintenance intervals for an e-car and its components are primarily based on the manufacturer’s specifications, which can be found in the vehicle’s operating instructions. It’s time to make an appointment at the garage at the latest when a warning light flashes or you notice something unusual about your vehicle, such as a strange noise while driving. However, it is generally advisable to proactively maintain your electric car. This allows defects to be noticed at an early stage and major damage to be avoided. Please also note the manufacturer’s warranty requirements. 

You should also remember to wash your car regularly. Even the smallest dirt particles can become baked onto the paint due to strong sunlight. In winter, for example, road salt can damage the paintwork and underbody of your car.

Maintenance costs of an electric car

The cost of maintaining an electric car can vary depending on the manufacturer, model and extent of work performed. However, in general, the maintenance costs of electric cars are lower than those of cars with internal combustion engines because they have less movable and maintenance-intensive parts.

For the first maintenance of an electric car, the inspection costs are around CHF 100, depending on the scope of service and the garage. This usually includes checking the battery and electrical system, updating the vehicle software, and checking brakes, tires and other wear parts. It is important to note that battery maintenance or replacement of battery components can be more expensive. Some manufacturers also offer included services for the first few years after purchase, which can further reduce costs. With AXA, you can also insure the battery of your electric car.