Maintenance Tips for Owning an Electric Vehicle

Written by Staff Writer | Edited by Michael Purser

In some ways, maintaining an electric vehicle (EV) is simpler than maintaining a traditional vehicle with an internal combustion engine. EVs have fewer moving parts than gas-powered cars, which can mean fewer service appointments and lower maintenance costs over time.

That being said, electric vehicle maintenance is still important. Keeping up with maintenance tasks will help you prolong the life of the vehicle and keep you and your family safe on the road.

Top Electric Vehicle Maintenance Tips

These are some of the most important electric car maintenance tips and offer a good starting point for caring for your EV. Remember, though, that different makes and models may have unique quirks. Be sure to read your owner’s manual to find out what those are for your vehicle.

Where possible, we have listed average costs for various services. Costs can vary widely, however, depending on where you are located and what kind of vehicle you have.

Rotate Your Tires Regularly

EVs are heavier than comparable gas cars and deliver torque instantly, which accelerates tire wear. Rotating your tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles helps extend their life and maintains safe handling.

It can be difficult sometimes to make time for tire rotation services, especially when you don’t see any noticeable damage to your tires. Try to stick to your regular rotation schedule because skipping a service can lead to uneven tread wear and the need to replace your tires sooner than necessary.

Charge Smartly to Protect Your Battery

Avoid routinely charging to 100% or letting the charge drop near 0%. Keeping your daily charge range between 20% and 80% reduces stress on the battery cells and helps preserve long-term capacity.

When you charge to 100% or discharge to 0%, you are taking the cells to the extreme ends of their range. That can lead to early degradation. Many EVs let you set charge limits in the vehicle’s settings.

Limit DC Fast Charging for Everyday Use

DC fast charging is convenient for road trips, but relying on it daily generates excess heat inside EV batteries. Use Level 1 or Level 2 home charging as your primary method whenever possible.

Having access to rapid charging is great, of course. Sometimes you don’t have time to wait for hours to refill and get going. Just don’t come to rely on a rapid battery charging system daily because it will cause strain on the battery.

Inspect Your Brakes Annually

Regenerative braking significantly reduces brake pad wear, but it can also cause rotors to rust from underuse. Have a technician inspect your brakes at least once a year to catch corrosion or uneven wear early.

Getting your brakes checked doesn’t cost much, rarely more than $200. That’s a relatively inexpensive way to verify that your vehicle can stop safely and predictably. Frequent checks also save you hundreds of dollars on unnecessary wear and brake pad replacements.

Replace Your Cabin Air Filter

This is one of the most overlooked but straightforward EV maintenance tasks. Most manufacturers recommend replacing the cabin air filter every 15,000 to 25,000 miles to keep your climate system running efficiently.

The average cost of replacing a cabin air filter is about $100 when performed by a mechanic. It can be even cheaper if you do it yourself. Of all the car upkeep jobs you might try yourself, replacing the cabin air filter is one of the easiest.

Check and Flush Your Fluids on Schedule

EVs still use brake fluid and coolant for the battery thermal management system. Both can degrade over time and should be tested and replaced according to your manufacturer's recommended schedule.

Many of the latest EVs claim to use lifelong coolants, so it’s possible that coolant fluid replacement won’t be an issue for your vehicle. However, if you own the vehicle long enough to exceed its expected lifetime period, you should be prepared to eventually replace the coolant.

A brake fluid flush usually costs about $150. Coolant replacement can vary widely depending on the vehicle.

Keep Your Software Updated

Modern EVs receive over-the-air software updates that improve performance, range efficiency and safety features. Keeping your vehicle's software current is a uniquely important part of EV ownership that has no equivalent in gas cars.

Monitor Your 12-Volt Auxiliary Battery

Most EV owners are focused on the main drive battery, but your vehicle also contains a smaller 12-volt auxiliary battery that powers accessories like door locks, lights, the infotainment system and other low-voltage electronics.

These batteries will wear out over time and eventually need to be replaced, much like the battery in a traditional gas-powered car. Many auto parts stores will switch out the battery for you if you purchase a new one from their shop.

Store Your EV Properly During Extreme Weather

Temperature extremes are not kind to lithium-ion battery chemistry, and both intense summer heat and deep winter cold can affect your vehicle's range and long-term battery health.

Parking in the shade should help on hot days. For intense cold, many EVs offer to warm up your battery before you start using the car. You can schedule a time on your car’s app to start the service. For example, you might warm up the battery before you leave for work each morning.

Schedule Annual Multi-Point Inspections

Even though EVs don’t require many of the traditional service visits, they still benefit from a thorough annual inspection by a qualified technician familiar with electric vehicles.

How Does Maintenance Differ Between Electric and Gas Cars?

Gasoline-powered engines include many moving parts and support systems. Every moving part produces friction, which eventually causes parts to break, leading to repairs. EVs feature significantly fewer moving parts. No oil changes, spark plugs, fuel filters or exhaust system components. There are fewer fluids to monitor. It all adds up to lower overall vehicle maintenance costs.

According to Consumer Reports, EV and plug-in hybrid drivers pay half as much to repair and maintain their vehicles. It saves them an average of $4,600 over the life of their vehicles.

The biggest maintenance concern with electric vehicles is the battery. If it wears out or malfunctions, and there is no warranty coverage, replacement can be expensive — often costing more than an entire used passenger car!

Get Driver Training and Vehicle Maintenance Tips Online

Vehicle maintenance and safe driving practices in general are important subjects that every driver should learn more about. This kind of education benefits you as a driver and vehicle owner, as well as everyone you encounter on the road. Fortunately, it’s never been easier to learn more about these topics.

At SafeMotorist, we offer high-quality online education courses designed to help you stay safe and drive with confidence. Our courses, like those covering basic vehicle maintenance and defensive driving, are perfect for anyone who wants to improve their skills.

You can also use our courses to prepare for licenses, reduce insurance rates, dismiss traffic tickets and more. Sign up for a class today!