Top 5 Maintenance Tips To Help You Get The Best Out Of An Electric Car

Electric vehicles (EVs) have a vastly different powertrain from ICE cars, but for you, the end user, their upkeep isn’t very different from that of ICE cars. In fact, owing to features such as regenerative braking (reduces brake wear) and a sealed battery casing, they can be easier to maintain than regular ICE cars. 

The primary reason for their ease of maintenance is that the battery, electric motor and high-voltage circuitry have fewer moving parts overall. In most cars, they can’t even be accessed without specialised equipment and tools. In addition, there are fewer fluids for you to check regularly. 

But if you think that you’ll never have to open the bonnet in an EV, think again. Here’s what you need to do to maintain an electric car to get consistent performance and driving range, and to ensure your safety throughout your vehicle’s lifetime. 

Get it serviced routinely: 

EVs have similar service intervals as ICE cars, and diligently keeping up with the servicing can help you avoid major issues. The technicians will usually inspect your car’s fluids, brakes and tyres and ensure that the electronic systems are up to spec. Regular servicing will also ensure that any problems are diagnosed before they become a hazard to your safety. Note that at least for now, company service centres are the best choice for your EVs – you can’t get them serviced in your neighbourhood garage.

Check your tyres: 

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Similar to ICE cars, you need to keep an eye on an electric car’s tyre pressures. Inadequately inflated tyres will reduce your car’s driving range, and can be downright dangerous if the pressures are too low. Get the tyre pressures checked weekly, and get your car’s wheels and tyres balanced and aligned at least twice a year. Also, keep an eye on the tread wear – most EVs come from the factory with low-resistance tyres, so it’s advisable to get low-resistance or EV-rated tyres when you buy a new set. Avoid upgrading to larger, heavier alloy wheels or bigger tyres – stick with the manufacturer’s recommendation. 

Battery care: 

You can take care of your battery by keeping it charged, and by charging the car with a wall box at home instead of public fast chargers. Avoid fully draining your electric cars’ batteries, and if possible, avoid fully charging if you’ll only drive the car in the city – you can always recover electricity using regenerative braking. If you notice any unusual drop in range or performance, head to the OEM service centre to get it diagnosed. 

Keep it clean: 

Cleaning isn’t just about the exterior – clean out your car’s interior and boot, too. Unnecessary weight will affect your car’s range, so ensure that you only keep essential items in your EV’s boot. 

Avoid modifications that will reduce range: 

Petrolheads love to modify their cars by stancing them or adding performance parts. But as previously mentioned, bigger alloys and tyres are heavier and will affect the range you get from your EV. Stick to the OEM specifications when upgrading these components, or go for lightweight alloys if your budget permits. There’s no need to shy away from light performance modifications such as better brake pads or upgraded suspension components, but steer clear of exterior mods (body kits, spoilers, bull bars, etc.) that’ll add unnecessary weight to the car. 

Also read: 

• Tips To Help You Get The Best Range From Your EV During City and Highway Driving
• Tesla Demonstrates How Its HEPA Air Filter Could Beat A BMW SUV In Being Bioweapon Free

Electric vehicle technology is continuously evolving, and newer cars will continue to become more complex – both mechanically and in terms of electronics. Nevertheless, ease of ownership is a top priority for carmakers, so as an EV owner or potential EV buyer, maintaining your car is likely to be simple and straightforward even in the future.