Electric vehicles’ discussion leans heavily towards their benefits compared to combustion engine powered vehicles. Their environmental friendliness, quite operation and ease of use are some of the reasons why these vehicles are gaining in popularity across the globe. However, this does not mean that electric vehicles do not have their downsides; they do have them just like any other machine.

While electric vehicles require little maintenance compared to gasoline powered vehicles, they still have some parts and components which require constant maintenance and replacement. Considering that EVs are still a new concept across the world, there is still limited knowledge about their maintenance like the replacement of key EV wear and tear components.

This is why anyone who owns and EV or intends to own one soon must first familiarize with the wear and tear and replacement concepts of EVs. Having this knowledge will empower the owner to know when to replace which part to keep their vehicle in a good condition.  That said, here is a detailed breakdown of replacing the wear tear components of an EV:

Electric Vehicle Reduced Wear and Tear

The biggest difference between an electric vehicle and a combustion engine powered vehicle is the source of power.  While combustion engine vehicles have gasoline engines which power the vehicle, EVs utilize batteries and mortars to power the vehicle.  As a result, electric vehicles come with less EV wear and tear components and do not also require regular engine part replacements like spark plugs replacement and oil changes like in the case with conventional vehicles.

Due to this, owning an electric vehicle results in significant cost savings on parts and maintenance compared to gasoline powered vehicles that require regular maintenance on most of its parts. In as much as this is the case, it does not mean that electric vehicles do not need any care at all, they need care to prolong their life and keep them in good health for optimal use and here is how:

Electric Vehicle Components Which Require Attention

Electric vehicles have various parts which require constant attention one of them being the battery; the heartbeat of any Electric vehicle. EVs batteries are designed to last a long time going up to ten years if they are well taken care of.

As EVs age their batteries degrade over time reducing the driving range of the vehicle significantly. In such a case, the best option is to replace the entire battery which can be so expensive especially if the vehicle in question is big. This problem remains one of the biggest dilemma EV owners faces only hoping for better in the coming days. Fortunately, there are new inventions in the EV sector coming and judging by what is out there to see, there is a good chance there will be further discoveries resulting long lasting EV batteries.

At the moment, EV owners can only do DIY EV maintenance tasks of retaining their batteries in the best condition for as long as it is possible. To do so, EV owners must practise proper driving and care to their vehicles.  Driving in adverse weather conditions like snow or water for prolonged periods of time threatens the life of an EV battery reducing its ability to keep power. It is therefore important to note that while EVs are easy to take care of, the life of these vehicles and their components depend heavily on their use and maintenance.

Electric Vehicle Brakes

Brakes are another integral part of electric vehicles which determines the overall electric vehicle driving experience. Electric vehicles come with regenerative braking system which reduces wear and tear but still requires some maintenance attention after sometime for this reason.

Given that these breaks are not frequently used, their brake pads tend to develop glazed surfaces reducing their effectiveness. This is why EV brakes require regular inspection and DIY EV maintenance tasks where necessary to ensure that they retain their optimal stopping power.

Electric Vehicle Tires

Just like the other vehicles, EV tires wear down with time too necessitating replacing EV tires to ensure the safety of the vehicle. The EV battery weight adds additional stress on the tires making regular rotations and inflation checks necessary to maximize the tire’s lifespan. As an EV owner, consider buying tires only designed for EVs as these ones give priority to lower rolling resistance improving efficiency.

The Electric Vehicle Suspension

If there is one thing that EVs share in common with gasoline powered vehicles is the suspension.  EVs have a suspension system that is similar to that of other vehicles and works in a similar manner too. The EVs shock absorbers, struts, and arm bushing can wear over time as the vehicle drives. When this happens, it negatively impacts the ride quality and handling of the vehicle putting the person driving it in a position of discomfort.

To deal with this problem, EV suspension maintenance by a competent and qualified mechanic can lead to the discovery of potential problems within the system and repair them for a smooth and comfortable drive.

The Electric Vehicle Cabin Air Filter

Electric vehicles just like other vehicles come with cabin air filters which need replacing periodically to maintain good air circulation within the vehicle. A clogged air filter in an electric vehicle can restrict or limit air flow within the vehicle leading to poor ventilation resulting in a bad climate control experience.

Checking this vital component of an EV is very important for the overall driving and good experience when driving.  Taking your vehicle to certified mechanics for regular checks and maintenance of your vehicle can help keep this component of your car working optimally.

Maintaining Your Electric Vehicle

While electric vehicles come with a host benefits to users, a lot of these benefits depend on how well these vehicles are taken care of. This is why maintaining your EV is paramount to the health and longevity of your vehicle.  To do so effectively, there are a number of steps any EV owner must take to ensure they keep their vehicles in good a condition; here is a DIY EV maintenance tasks guide you can follow:

Start By Checking Your EV Manual

An EV manual should be like a small bible that any EV owner has to constantly refer to for detailed information about their vehicle. Upon the purchase of the EV, the buyer will be issued with a manual which contains information about the EV model and the recommended DIY EV maintenance tasks and schedules.  

As an EV owner, you are required to follow these guidelines to ensure the vehicle operates at peak performance to guarantee longevity and good driving experience.  In case you don’t understand anything contained in the manual you can seek clarification from the car manufacturer or any certified mechanic dealing with vehicles similar to your model.

Always Find Work with a Qualified Mechanic

The good thing about EVs is that they require less maintenance compared to gasoline powered vehicles. However, this does not mean that these vehicles do not require any maintenance at all, they do need it.  In fact, Electric vehicles need far much specialized repair by mechanics compared to gasoline powered vehicles which can sometimes do with DIY EV maintenance tasks.

If you own this vehicle you need to find the most competent mechanic with skills relevant to the EV model to attend to your vehicle maintenance needs. It is important to stress that EVs are a new concept at the moment and knowledge about its parts and components is still scarce.

As such, the choice of any EV mechanic must be well thought out putting consideration on skills, experience and years spent servicing a model similar to yours.  Doing so will help you place your vehicle in the right hands of a mechanic that will not just take care of your EV but will also keep it in good health for many years.

Always Stay In The Know

The EV world is fast evolving with new concepts coming in every day and replacing the previous ideas.  At this rate, there is a good chance there might be new updates regarding your vehicle in terms of charging and other details in the coming days.  This is why you are required to stay in the know always.

This way, you will get all the new information, updates and everything you need about your vehicle. In case there are any proposed changes, you will know about them and know how to effect the changes effectively to keep your vehicle up to date with latest information on EV wear and tear components.

EV vehicle Service Interval Suggestion

Even though every EV comes with a manual which provides the appropriate service interval suggestion, general knowledge on this issue is vital.  As an EV owner, you need to have a profound understanding of your vehicle model, its specifications and service requirements.

Here are some suggestions regarding EV service interval suggestions you might want to consider.  These suggestions are generic applying to common EVs and as such you might want to check them out and compare them to your EV recommended service interval suggestions and DIY EV maintenance tasks first before applying them.

If you own a Tesla model S then you should service your vehicle after every 10,000 to 12,500 miles or once annually. For Chevrolet Bolt EV you need to service the vehicle after 7,500 miles for the first time then charge it after every 15, 000 miles. For Nissan Leaf owners, you need to service your vehicle after every six months.

Please note that these servicing intervals are advised based on normal circumstances. In an event of a malfunction or any other problem affecting the functionality of the vehicle then immediate checks and servicing are required.  

Fast Repair and Servicing of an EV is Very Important

When it comes to servicing an EV, time matters a lot. The time taken to take this vehicle to a mechanic for checks and repair or carry out  DIY EV maintenance tasks is very crucial. These vehicles run on machines that have to be serviced once in a while to allow the vehicle run smoothly. Taking these vehicles to a mechanic prevents over wearing of the crucial components of EVs giving the vehicle a much longer life especially its vital components like batteries and other accessories.

If by some chance you are unable to take your vehicle to a specialized mechanic on time then better stop using the vehicle for the time being. Only use the vehicle within the specified service range to give it a longer life.

Electric Vehicle DIY Maintenance

While EVs require specialized maintenance and repairs, there are some things about these vehicles which EV owners can do all by themselves. Things like replenishing the wiper fluid checking tire pressure and updating the software can easily be done by EV owners provided they are done with great care using the right DIY EV Maintenance tasks guide.

However, if you have problems pertaining to your battery, high voltage electronics, then you should seek professional help with the issue. Also, if you are uncertain about a certain problem on your vehicle then you should not attempt to handle it all by yourself.  Instead, you should seek further information about the issue first before proceeding or better still look for a professional to help you.

The Cost of Maintaining an Electric Vehicle

The biggest challenge of owning a motor vehicle is the maintenance part which can be so costly.  Servicing a normal vehicle without having to repair is very expensive so how does an EV fair on in this regard. Fortunately, servicing an EV is not as expensive as servicing a gasoline powered vehicle due to the fact that these vehicles do not have many EV wear and tears components.

Even better, most of these vehicles come with warranties which cover repair and maintenance costs for periods going up to seven years.  This allows EV owners to enjoy repair services when they come during the period covered by the warranty.

However, it is important to note that the cost of maintaining an EV depends heavily on driving habits. This is why every EV owner must adhere to proper EV driving habits capable of prolonging the life of the vehicle and reduce issues that might require regular maintenance over a certain period of time.

Also, you need to remember that while most EVs come with relatively low maintenance costs, the cost of acquiring their vital components is very high.  For instance, a standard EV battery can cost upwards of $10,000 which many people cannot afford easily.  Whereas these batteries last anywhere between eight to ten years before requiring replacing, there are instances where EV batteries might degrade after a significantly shorter period of time of even five years translating to costly replacements.

Conclusion Electric vehicles are very much different compared to conventional vehicles when it comes to repair of EV wear and tear components.  These vehicles come with lower maintenance costs due to the fact that they do not have combustion engines known for wear and tear reducing repair costs significantly.