Electric Cars: What maintenance do they need?

The automotive world is changing. The development and progression in numerous sectors within the industry, means that we are beginning to see changes wherever we turn.

For all of us working in garage services, our attention must be drawn to vehicles and technologies that are next to be introduced to the UK market, and how that affects the garage equipment that we use daily. We’ve already seen how the use of ADAS systems in vehicles, has led to garage owners investing in specialist technology to service such systems, and to technicians undergoing training to keep pace with the technology.

So, what is next?

With more and more Electric Vehicles (EVs) showing up on the roads these days, it can be easily assumed that the maintenance of these vehicles will be the next to grace garages.

But do you really know what you need to service on a customer's EV?

Attending to certain components of Electric Vehicles...

As with any vehicle on the road, certain elements of your customer’s electric vehicle will need periodic maintenance to guarantee safe and efficient functioning.

Although, with fewer moving parts, emissions and liquids present, electric cars need little servicing as they practically run themselves. Even software updates are done remotely without a car dealership in sight. So, what maintenance does an electric car need?

Tyres

Weighing between 20-30% more than internal combustion (ICE) cars, the ongoing maintenance of tyres on an EV is even more important than before.

Due to the density of the battery pack, an EVs tyres is impacted by even more weight meaning the tread will wear at a much faster rate. Consequently, tyres must be checked consistently by owners and then thoroughly by garages, for signs of low tread, tears and other defects.

Other maintenance services to properly check over the tyres such as wheel-balancing, alignment and rotating the tyres will certainly make them last much longer.

Battery

As it is certainly the largest and most expensive single component of an EV; it is arguable, that an EV’s battery is the most important part and needs more continuous maintenance than any other on an electric car.

Like all electrical items, over time your car battery will hold less charge, which may not be noticeable until the vehicle is 10-15 years old.

Although a visual inspection will confirm that the battery isn’t dented, isn’t leaking or causing any corrosion, these tests must be completed to ensure there aren’t any potential faults once serviced. Many manufacturers encase the car battery in tough materials to ensure that this is a rarity.

Assisting in your garage services!

To ensure the customer’s EVs are up to scratch, workshop owners will need to guarantee their service can deal with these vehicles. That is where we come in to assist.