EV Maintenance – What you need to know?

Are you thinking about getting an electric vehicle (EV) or have bought one recently? If so, your EV’s maintenance may be something you’re starting to consider.

Here are some key maintenance pointers for servicing electric cars.

Male changing tyre on an electric vehicle

How often should you service an electric car?

Unlike a traditional car, an EV has an electric motor and significantly fewer moving parts. This means your electric car can require less maintenance as it doesn’t need regular oil changes and there aren’t as many parts that can breakdown.

Having said that, EVs are still cars that need maintenance with regular services. How often your EV needs servicing depends on the car.

Tesla sells the highest number of electric cars and has no regular service requirements. According to the Tesla owner manual, service intervals for the vehicle are on an “as-needed basis”, so you should only take it in when something stops working or your car notifies you to do so.

Unlike Tesla, many other manufacturers still recommend regularly servicing your electric car. Popular models like BYD Atto 3 come with an 8-year servicing plan with minor services at 12-month intervals or after every 20,000 km.

Similarly, service intervals for Volvo electric vehicles are every two years or at every 30,000 km.

Although servicing an EV is less intensive compared to a petrol or diesel car, they still require maintenance so it’s always best to check with the manufacturer or your EV’s owner's manual.

Does my battery need regular maintenance?

Although the traction high-voltage battery is one of the largest items in an electric car, they don’t require much maintenance.

The Tesla vehicle owner manual states that “the battery requires no owner maintenance”.

If there’s an issue with the battery, the car will notify the driver to contact Tesla immediately to have the car looked at.

Most manufacturers also offer an 8-year warranty on the traction battery of an EV. BYD offers an 8-year/160,000 km battery warranty and during this period minimal maintenance is required.

What about my EV’s tyres and wiper blades?

EV’s tyres, like all other cars, need to be replaced when the tread wears out past a certain depth. Tyre professionals like Tyrepower recommend car owners replace their tyres before they get below the minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm. This is a legal requirement in Australia and the car is considered unroadworthy if it falls below this depth.

Brands like Tesla recommend regular inspection of the tyres to help ensure your car is safe on the road.

EV tyres can cost slightly more than regular tyres as they're designed to consider weight distribution, instant torque delivery, and regenerative braking systems. In addition, some have special acoustic treatment to help reduce road noise in the cabin along with unique tyre load ratings. These tyres can also have improved rolling resistance which makes them more expensive to purchase.

Make sure you check with the manufacturer on what the tyre requirements are for your vehicle in your State and only use tyres recommended for your vehicle.

As for wiper blades, they’re also subject to regular wear and tear. Wiper blades are made from rubber and can degrade due to regular use and exposure to sunlight. EV makers like Tesla recommend “for optimum performance, replace the wiper blades at least once a year.”

Like any car, regularly inspecting your EV and replacing items like tyres and wiper blades can help maintain your vehicle’s condition and keep it roadworthy for longer.

Allianz Comprehensive Car Insurance provides cover for electric vehicles

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This article has been prepared by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFSL234708 ("Allianz"). In some cases, information has been provided to us by third parties and while that information is believed to be accurate and reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed in any way.

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Top tips to maintain your EV