In the coming years, you’ll see more and more electric vehicles on Stamford roads and our car lot. EVs are a hit with owners because they cost less to fuel compared to internal combustion engines. EVs cost less to own, and they also have fewer moving parts than internal combustion engines. You won’t find pistons, spark plugs, engine air filters, fuel lines, and oil changes as part of electric car maintenance. Even better, your purchase has zero emissions as an eco-friendly vehicle.
Despite the reduced cost in ownership for daily Rye drives, weekly errands, and weekend getaways to your favorite mountain or lake destination, you’ll still need to perform some maintenance on electric cars for as long as you own one. Find out more about electric car maintenance from the experts at Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich. Feel free to look over our inventory of new electric cars to see which one fits your budget and lifestyle. We know you’ll want to take a test drive behind the wheel of one of these new vehicles!
Is It Expensive to Maintain an EV?
An EV offers a great long-term investment for New Canaan drivers with plenty of advantages over internal combustion vehicles, including reduced maintenance costs. EVs generally have fewer parts, but they are still complicated machines. However, many of the upkeep maintenance costs you’re used to with an internal combustion engine aren’t found in an EV. Say goodbye to these types of maintenance when you own an electric car:
- Oil changes
- Engine air filter replacements
- Drive belt replacements
- Spark plug replacements
You’ll need to make sure the electric vehicle’s software is up-to-date because the complex computer that maintains your electric car, truck, or SUV will need periodic improvements to its operational program. The overall goal of the software is to monitor the performance of the EV battery and keep you and your family safe. Software updates can also fix glitches and make your car run more efficiently.
Think of your EV battery like you do your phone: never go out with a low battery. Driving around consistently on a low battery will lead to a reduced charge and diminished gains over time. You’ll lower your battery’s overall effectiveness and shorten its lifespan if the electricity level gets too low. Do electric cars need maintenance? Yes, they do. But not as much maintenance as internal combustion engines.
What Maintenance Does an Electric Car Need?
Electric car maintenance includes some familiar tasks such as rotating the tires, replacing fluids like windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid, and sometimes transmission fluid, as well as changing out cabin air filters. There are also a number of EV-specific maintenance tasks that drivers of these battery-electric vehicles need to accomplish.
Battery Maintenance
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the United States predicts EV batteries will have service lives of between 12 and 15 years in moderate climates. Extreme environments may reduce the service life to between 8 and 12 years. It’s a good idea to avoid driving in extreme temperatures, although your EV has cooling and heating systems to regulate the temperature of the battery. A major part of your electric car maintenance comes from keeping your battery in top shape with your driving habits.
Wiper Fluid and Windshield Wiper Replacements
Windshield wipers generally last about six months. Keep an eye on them once in the spring and once in the fall. Use this inspection time to look at the windshield wiper fluid reservoir. Make sure it’s filled up, and use fluid geared for de-icing in the winter for better visibility when it’s icy and snowy. Windshield wiper replacements and wiper fluid fills are some of the easiest car maintenance you’ll need to perform!
Brake Fluid Replacement
EVs don’t wear their brakes as often as internal combustion vehicles because of regenerative braking systems. However, you might need a certified technician to lubricate the braking system once a year to make sure they work properly. Brake fluid is normally clear. If you look at the reservoir and the brake fluid is a rust color, it’s time to change it.
The best thing you can do is bring your vehicle in for a brake inspection annually for the best results. Brake fluid typically lasts around 30,000 miles. Over time, you’ll need new brake pads at around 50,000 to 70,000 miles. Every car needs brake pad replacement at some point.
Tires
EVs are a bit heavier than internal combustion engines. As such, tires typically wear out faster. Inspect the tread on your tires every six months. And make sure to rotate them regularly to reduce the wear.
You might need to replace tires every 30,000 miles, depending on your tires and how often you drive. Normal tires might need to be replaced every 50,000 to 60,000 miles. However, your overall costs of ownership are still lower than internal combustion vehicles because you won’t need to worry about oil, transmission fluid, and a radiator.
Cabin Air Filter
Your cabin air filter needs periodic replacement because it will eventually get pollen, dust, and debris in it. This part is typically behind the glove box or the dashboard, and it takes some doing to replace it. We suggest changing the cabin air filter every couple of years. If you notice lingering smells from the air conditioner, bring your EV into our Greenwich service center, and we’ll take care of the cabin air filter for you!
Test Drive an Electric Vehicle at Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich!
Ready to experience a world-class luxury electric car? Contact us or call (877) 634-4150 to schedule a test drive of a new Mercedes-EQ, one of the best EVs you can buy! And look for more EVs coming out in the coming model years. While you’re here, look over our finance center for details on how you can bring home an EV. We’re happy to help in any way we can!
