Before you buy an electric vehicle (EV), you’ll no doubt want to know how long you’ll be driving it. After all, Consumers Reports says most gasoline care powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE) can make it well over 100,000 miles with proper care.
Every EV driver needs to know a few basics including the types of electric cars and how to care for them, EV charger tax credit, and more before they get their new car.
Even though the technology for electric vehicles has been around since the mid-1800s, alternative fuel vehicles weren’t part of the mainstream until recently. Now, more than a dozen EV makers offer 40-plus models. And despite the pandemic and economic recession, the IEA’s Global Electric Vehicle Outlook 2021 found that a record 3 million new electric cars were registered in 2020. Sales in the first quarter of 2021 climbed still higher, running nearly 2.5 times those for the previous year.
Most automakers now plan to switch to an all-electric fleet in the next 10 to 15 years to meet the demand for zero-emissions vehicles. But as the technology improves, EVs are also expected to outlive gasoline cars. Let’s take a look at how proper maintenance, battery best practices, and warranties can all play a role in extending the life of your EV.
Easier EV maintenance
Fewer parts mean less to go wrong in an EV—and EVs skip about two dozen mechanical parts that you’d be servicing regularly in an ICE-powered conventional vehicle. So, you won’t find yourself taking the car in for oil changes, tune-ups, transmission service, or cooling system flushes. You also can skip replacing the drive belt, spark plug, and air filter.
But to keep your warranty in effect, you’ll still need to take in your EV for regular checks and services. Expect to rotate the tires, replace the cabin air filter and wiper blades, and top off the wiper fluid. In addition, you’ll need to take your EV in for regular inspections. Here’s what that looks like for the Nissan Leaf:
- Rotate tires every six months or 7,500 miles
- Change cabin air filter every 12 months or 15,000 miles.
- Replace brake fluid every 24 months or 30,000 miles.
- Change coolant after 15 years or 120,000 miles.
Things will wear out and go wrong, so you’ll eventually need to replace tires, service brakes, replace hoses and lights, and address the steering and suspension if you find yourself veering off the road. But the #1 component that requires special care is the battery—and it will also cost you the most if it ever degrades to the point where it needs replacement.