Electric cars are on the mind lately. That might be because the 15th Street Automotive team is in the process of restoring a Nissan Leaf. We're working on two that were purchased at fantastic prices (one Leaf has a depleted HV battery and the other has a good battery but was in a wreck). Our goal is to combine them into one EV with plans to use it as our future shuttle! You can follow our progress on Facebook.
Now for today's topic: how repairable and maintenance-friendly are electric vehicles?
The short answer—EV maintenance is easy and repairs should be rare until you reach certain age or mileage points, but it's important to know the repairs aren't the typical DIY wrenching jobs that are possible on non-electric vehicles; you'll likely need an EV mechanic for them.
So let's dive into the finer details of EV car ownership for maintenance and repairs, touching on why they're designed like they are and what you can expect.
Electric vehicles are well-known for being low maintenance. It's one of their primary selling points. This is by design and possible thanks to the technology that goes into them, such as regenerative brakes and on many makes and models, a single-speed transmission. In addition, electric cars don't need oil changes because they use a different style of drivetrain than their gasoline-powered counterparts. That's one more maintenance item you can check off the list for good!
Of the routine maintenance services advised for electric vehicles, you can expect them to be simple. These services might include cabin air filter replacement, wheel alignments, suspension maintenance, brake fluid checks, windshield wiper replacement, air conditioning maintenance, tire rotations, cleaning the brakes (in colder climates), and replacing the 12V battery (this is the small battery that EVs use to power electronics) every so many years.
If you have an EV that uses a lithium-ion battery, then you might need to check on the battery coolant. This coolant helps maintain the temperature of the battery, as well as the power inverter and cabin heater.
Some electric vehicles also need fresh transmission fluid. While you won't find transmission fluid in every EV on the market, there are makes and models that use it. For example, the Nissan Leaf uses transmission fluid, also known as gearbox fluid.
Overall, there's nothing too crazy when it comes to EV maintenance.
Less moving parts mean there's less to go wrong, but that doesn't mean issues won't arise with an electric car.
Suspension repairs are probably one of the more common services you can expect since these parts are mostly the same as what you'd find on a gas-powered vehicle.
One of the concerns potential EV owners has is the lifespan of the primary battery. You might remember the story from a few years ago when a family purchased a used 2014 Ford Focus Electric for $11,000 only for it to fail six months later, at which time they received a repair quote of $14,000! However, it's important to remember that model car was using a battery that had been discontinued. Many EV manufacturers include a warranty on the battery for a certain number of years or miles. If you purchase a pre-owned electric vehicle, look into what type of warranty, if any, comes with the vehicle and if the battery is still made and readily available.
Some proponents of electric vehicles speak of them as consumables. They are easy to maintain and rare to repair but are meant to be replaced or traded in before the battery goes. As electric vehicles become more commonplace and the technology improves, battery replacement may become less expensive, or at the least, you might be able to find a pre-owned EV with a good battery (like we did) and use that.
Ultimately, no vehicle is without issue. If a vehicle is newly released and has no major reported issues, it's likely that more time is needed before the common issues become apparent. Some repairs might be more expensive on an electric car, but the tradeoff is that they are often not needed as frequently. There's also the fuel savings to take into account and the reduced maintenance needs.
15th Street Automotive is one of the few repair shops for electric vehicles in Puyallup at this time. If you need an EV mechanic, give us a call or visit. Owner Steve has been attending a Tesla training course (this class included the disassembling and reassembling a Tesla Model S rear drive unit, as well as a deep dive into the diagnostic system of Tesla vehicles) and completed Phase 1 of the Electric Vehicle Repair program at Weber State University.
You can say we're invested in continuing to grow our understanding of electric vehicle repairs so we can meet the maintenance and repair demands of these vehicles and their customers. New tech is exciting, and electric vehicles have been around for a bit but have been gaining traction in recent years. You can count on 15th Street Automotive to keep up on the latest automotive technology and repair practices to best serve you.
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