If you do decide to maintain your electric car or van outside of the franchised dealer network, you must ensure the vehicle is serviced within accordance of the manufacturer's service schedule and instructions. For example, the garage must use approved parts and fluids (which must be documented on an itemised invoice).
That said, you may find it cheaper to take it to an independent garage such as Bolton Tyre Service Centre for maintenance; however, as EV technology is still quite new, it can be more of a challenge to find a specialist capable of carrying out maintenance, but the good news is that it’s far from impossible and Bolton Tyre and Exhaust Service Centre is such a specialist.
Overall, servicing and maintaining an EV isn't a daunting prospect. In fact, it should be easier than running an internal combustion-engined vehicle.
Maintaining and servicing electric (EV) vehicles is different from fuel cars. It's also simpler and more cost-effective.
Electric cars have finally come of age. The best offer virtually all the functionality and practicality of traditional petrol or diesel cars, while creating zero exhaust emissions and the potential for very low day-to-day running costs.
With state of the art technology, Bolton Tyre Service Centre is now able to offer the servicing of full electric cars and vans.
What's included as part of an Electric Service at Bolton Tyre & Exhaust RAC Approved Service Centre
Most of the mechanical aspects of car servicing remain the same for electric vehicles. However, there are a few additional checks that are required as part of comprehensive hybrid car servicing, as displayed in the table below.
Checks completed as part of an Electric (EV) Car or Van Service:
- Connect diagnostic for hybrid health check (report live data)
- Check condition of charging point and charging cable
- Visually check high voltage cables and connectors for damage
- Report if inverter coolant is due
- Rotate road wheels to check for brake binding
Electric Car Maintenance costs compared to combustion engines
There are three main areas that make EV maintenance simpler and cheaper than traditional cars. EVs have fewer parts and use different breaking method meaning there's less that actually need to be looked at. Servicing also tends to cost less due to the nature of their technology.
1. Fewer parts
A regular car can contain hundreds of working parts which means there's lots that can go wrong and parts that need replacing over time. An electric car, in comparison, has a lot less to wear out, so maintenance costs can be as much as 50% less.
2. Regenerative braking
All electric cars have some form of regenerative braking, which uses the electric motor to slow the vehicle whilst putting some electricity back into the battery. Braking becomes more efficient, placing less wear and tear on the brakes. Brake disks and pads still need maintaining but this needs to be done less often, saving you money.
3. Cost efficiency
Research shows that an electric car costs at least 30% less to service and maintain than a traditional car (depending on the car, of course). One thing that is still comparable between traditional and electric vehicles, is tyre wear. Tyres will need to be changed regularly.
Electric Car Servicing Frequently Asked Questions at Bolton Tyre and Exhaust Service Centre
Before you book in for an electric car service, it's important to choose a reputable garage. Due to their many specialised parts and the dangers associated with high voltages, not all garages will be willing or even qualified to work on an electric vehicle.
While you don't have to use a main dealer to get the service work done, many manufacturer warranties stipulate that only manufacturer-approved parts can be used in servicing otherwise the warranty can be voided. So make sure wherever you go approved parts are used.
An annual routine inspection of all components (such as brakes, suspension and steering, air conditioning, lights and wipers, battery terminals, instrument warning lights and gauges, safety systems, tyres (including tyre rotation), a diagnostic system check.
An electric car needs to be serviced as often as any car. The service will include: Tyre wear and tear & tyre pressure check, Windscreen wiper replacement, Brake fluid change, MOT but with no emissions test and with fewer parts to test, repairs could be minimal.
Most EV's (Electric Vehicles) have a fixed service schedule like combustion-engined vehicles. The first inspection due after two years, following that, it is recommended that a service is carried out annually or every 18,000 miles, whichever comes up first.
Generally speaking, you should aim to service your electric car just as often as you did your original petrol or diesel car. More often if you feel it's needed. Many drivers follow the MoT schedule and arrange for a service annually, which is a good general rule to follow.
How much does an electric vehicle cost to service? Similarly to fuel costs, electric vehicles are also cheaper to service and maintain. Although there is a noticeably higher purchase price upfront, EVs cost far less to get serviced.
