Looking after your Electric Vehicle

In our last blog post, we expressed why we place such huge importance on the upskilling of our trained technicians in the specialist work of servicing and repairing Electric Vehicles. We explained more about their professional qualifications, namely industry recognised IMI TechSafe. This enables them to safely carry out EV servicing & repairs here at Star Tech in Poole.

Looking more closely at the importance of regular servicing and maintenance, here are some of the main electric car parts that will need ongoing care and attention…

Electric Motor and Car Battery

The majority of car manufacturers offer a 10-year guarantee for electric car batteries. This means that as long as you are charging your EV correctly and efficiently, then it shouldn’t need a new battery until it’s older.

One important reason to keep up with your routine servicing is that your battery will need inspecting. Diagnostic checks to assess your battery health will be carried out. This includes checking the performance of individual cells and ensuring no fault codes are present in the system that require action. Electrical cables will be checked for loose connections and wear and tear.

Oil & Coolant

To chill the battery, electric cars have a cooling system which ensures it functions at an optimum temperature. A small top-up of liquid coolant may be required from time to time coupled with a visual inspection. A routine service will pick this up.

Oil is still present in electric vehicles as it’s used in transmission as well as wheel bearings and some other mechanical parts. You won’t need to have your oil checked in the traditional sense, but oil-lubricated parts will require checking to ensure there are no leaks and that there is adequate lubricant to support smooth function.

Suspension

Various suspension parts such as springs and dampers will still need replacing over time. The increased weight of an electric battery may lead to a slightly shorter lifespan of suspension parts. Checking they are safe and functional will make up part of your routine service.

Brakes

Brake fluid will require checking and replacing at certain intervals to maintain efficient and safe brakes. Most EV brakes tend to last longer due to their regenerative braking (aka recuperation braking), which means brake pads and discs are worn through over a longer period of time compared to combustion engine cars.  Although likely to last longer, brakes will still wear out and need to be replaced periodically.

Other systems and parts will require checking and replacing at certain intervals. As with any other car service, items like wiper blades, cabin filters, bulbs and tyres will still require renewal.

As mentioned in our last blog post, tyres can wear more quickly on EV’s due to the extra weight of the electric battery.

How often should I get my EV serviced?

The good news is that, in general, your electric car will not need servicing as often as your petrol or diesel car. Service schedules are based on the recommendation stated by each manufacturer based on time or distance. Don’t be tempted to skip or delay, especially as road safety and longevity of the vehicle (& it’s occupants!) are first and foremost.

Looking after your EV with regular servicing is the best way to keep it safe, reliable and performing at its best. At Star Tech EV, our IMI TechSafe qualified technicians specialise in the servicing, maintenance, diagnostics and repair of electric vehicles, using the latest equipment and manufacturer-approved procedures. To find out more about our EV services, visit our dedicated EV website and see how we can help keep your electric vehicle in top condition.

Call our friendly service team on 01202 694758 for more info.