Do electric cars need oil changes

Do Electric Cars Use Oil? And Other FAQs

It seems that every day, there are more and more electric vehicles on the road. And while these vehicles look a lot like traditional gas-powered vehicles (or even identical), the truth is that their maintenance needs are unique. Lets cover some of the most frequently asked questions about electrical vehicles and electric car maintenance, starting with the major one: do electric cars use oil?

DO ELECTRIC CARS USE OIL? WHAT ABOUT HYBRIDS?

Well tackle the big question first: do electric cars use oil? No. But its important to distinguish between true electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles. Electric vehicles are powered by a battery and an EV engine with an electric motor. There are no pistons, valves, or other moving parts that require lubrication, and therefore, EVs dont use the traditional engine oil that would help maintain those parts.

In contrast, hybrid vehicles do contain an internal combustion engine, which charges the batteries and provides assistance in powering the vehicle. The internal combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle requires the same maintenance and care as the engine in a traditional car. Just like in those vehicles, the engine in a hybrid requires periodic oil changes to prevent overheating and maintain the health of the engine. So, a hybrid vehicle does require engine oil, but an EV does not.

WHAT ELECTRIC CAR MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED, THEN?

When you invest in an EV, you can say goodbye to oil changes for good. But an EV still requires preventative maintenance. And just like owning a car with an internal combustion engine, you can expect to visit your preferred maintenance provider for occasional tune-ups. The good news is that an electric car engine typically eliminates more than two dozen moving parts when compared to a traditional gas-powered vehicle. But while an EV requires less maintenance overall, there are still a few areas that require your attention:

BATTERY COOLANT

Like vehicles with an internal combustion engine, managing heat is the major challenge for electric vehicles. To counteract the heat generated by an EVs lithium-ion battery, the vehicle contains coolant that helps regulate the temperature of the battery, power inverter, and cabin heater. While the cabin heater is less important, these other components are critical to the vehicles safety and performance. So, battery coolant should be checked routinely in an EV.

BRAKE PADS

While EVs are powered differently, they still use brake pads to stop. So, brake pads should be periodically checked and replaced. However, because EVs use a regenerative braking system, you can expect to see less wear on your brake pads and service them less frequently than a traditional vehicle. This regenerative braking system is another clever innovation of EVsit converts kinetic energy into electric energy to help generate more power for the vehicle. Because this braking system is so important for both safety and power generation, checking the system is a key service of an electric car service visit.

MAINTAINING THE SOFTWARE

All modern vehicles contain an engine management system within their software, and thats no different for electric vehicles. While your EV should come set up with the latest software, some EV manufacturers are also able to send over-the-air updates to provide your vehicle with new enhancements. This makes software updates at the dealership unnecessary, giving you new features and efficiency-boosting tweaks without another service visit. If youre driving an EV, ask your manufacturer how to stay up to date with the latest software.

TRANSMISSION FLUID

Do electric cars use oil? Nope. But some still use transmission fluid. Its not common, but its important to know for sure. So, if you own an EV or are considering buying one, make sure to consult the owners manual to find out any requirements for transmission fluid.

IS IT EASIER TO TAKE CARE OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE?

In the short term, absolutely. Because EVs are simpler overalland there are fewer complex parts in an electric car engineyour most frequent tasks will be things like lubricating door hinges and inflating tires to the proper levels. As a day-to-day car owner, there are certainly fewer things to worry about.

WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM COSTS OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE?

Most drivers of EVs dont plan to keep their vehicles for ten years. But if they do, they should probably expect some major electric car maintenance needs. Approximately every seven years, an EV requires an extensive coolant service that involves draining, cleaning and refilling all of the cars coolant lines. At this time, the power-transfer circuitry will also need to be examined, and components may need to be replaced, including the inverter and electric motor. At about 300K miles or 12 years of consistent use, the battery in an EV could also require replacement. All of these can be costly services, with the battery replacement alone costing between $1,000 and $6,000 installed.

The Ultimate Guide to Electric Car Maintenance: Batteries, Tires, and More

The main difference between the maintenance of an electric vehicle and a gasoline car is that there's less of it. Without an internal combustion engine, there are far fewer parts in an EV to need repair or replacement. The running joke among EV owners is that all you need to maintain are windshield washer fluid and air in the tiresbut there is certainly more to do than that.

EV Maintenance Overview

The elements that EVs share with gas vehicleslike wheels and brakesdo need maintaining. Filters get dirty. Taillights burn out. As with any machine with moving parts, lubrication is needed to make the vehicle run, well, fluidly. Coolants are needed so that parts don't overheat.

But as their name suggests, internal combustion engines run much hotter than electric vehicles (190 degrees C compared to 40/50 degrees C), which means EV coolants break down more slowly and need less frequent replacement.

Along with the lower price of electricity compared to gasoline, the cost to maintain an electric vehicle is one of its greatest selling points in terms of the lifetime cost for owning an EV. Consumer Reports estimates that, on average, the maintenance of an electric vehicle adds up to $0.03 per milehalf that of a gasoline-powered car.

If a function or part of an electric vehicle isn't mentioned in this maintenance guide, it's because it's the same as on a gas-powered car. But some functions in common with gasoline cars have different maintenance requirements, as do elements that are unique to EVs.

What Doesn't Need Maintenance in an EV

• Alternators
• Catalytic converters
• Engine air filters
• Engine gaskets
• Fuel pumps
• Mufflers
• Oil changes
• Oil filters
• Pistons
• Serpentine belts
• Spark plugs
• Timing belts
• Tune-ups

Batteries

The battery pack is the most expensive component in an EV, and replacing it can wipe out the average lifetime savings of $4,600 in maintenance costs for owning an EV. A replacement battery for a Nissan Leaf, for example, can cost $5,500 plus installation fees.

Despite worries about having to replace expensive lithium-ion batteries, however, an EV battery is likely to outlast the rest of the vehicle, especially if you take care of it properly, and that likelihood is bound to increase. Unlike internal combustion engines, which haven't changed much in the past 40 years, new developments in EV battery chemistry (such as lithium iron phosphate) hold out the promise of extending the lifetime of EV batteries to more than a million miles.

The lithium-ion battery that fuels an EV is sealed for safety reasons, and any maintenance should be performed by a professional. An EV battery is actually a pack of thousands of individual lithium-ion cells, with electronics and a thermal cooling system tying them all together. The thermal cooling system has coolants that need flushing periodically; EV batteries have long warranties, so this may be covered under your warranty.

You may be surprised to learn that there is a second battery in an EV: a standard, lead-acid 12-volt battery like the one you'll find in a gasoline car. Without it, you wouldn't be able to unlock your car, since it's needed to run electronics like lights, door locks, and other low-energy functions that have long run on 12 volts. Scaling down the energy from a 300+ volt lithium-ion battery to run electronics that run on 12 volts is highly inefficient and costly, not to mention dangerous. Periodic inspection is required.

Tires

As with internal combustion vehicles, EVs have tires, rotors, shocks, struts, driveshafts, and boots that periodically need regular rotation, inspection, maintenance, or replacement. Maintaining proper tire pressure and tread depth is important on any car but may be more even more so on an EV.

EVs have instant torque (rotational force of the wheels), which on slippery roads can increase the likelihood of spinning. And EVs are, on average, heavier than comparable gas-powered cars in the same category, so once the vehicle begins to slide, it may be more difficult to control. Proper tire maintenance, a good set of snow tires in the winter (where applicable), and sensible driving habits can prevent slippage.

Brakes

Since electric vehicles primarily use regenerative braking rather than traditional friction brakes, discs and pads are subject to less wear and tear. While Tesla CEO Elon Musk has tweeted that brake pads on a Tesla literally never need to be replaced for [the] lifetime of the car, brake pads can still wear out, depending on how you drive. Even the Tesla Model 3 Owner's Manual recommends replacing worn brake pads. Brake drums, linings, hoses, and fluid also need regular inspection.

Motor

Compared to an internal combustion engine, an electric motor is a rather simple machine that will in all likelihood never need replacing. Most electric vehicles have a single multi-speed motor, meaning there's no transmission that shifts the vehicle between multiple gears. (Some EVs have two to four motors, but power is distributed electronically between them rather than through shifting gears.) That means no transmission fluid, at least in the traditional sense.

EVs do have a reduction gearboxwhich some people call a transmissionbetween the motor and the wheels that need lubricationwhich even EV manufacturers may call transmission fluid. Usually, the gearbox is sealed, so a qualified mechanic will need to perform inspection and maintenance on it.

Climate Control

While gas-powered vehicles draw heat from the engine to heat the car, EVs use either resistance heaters that draw their energy from the battery, or highly efficient heat pumps that, in general, need less maintenance. Cooling the vehicle tends to work the same, with an air conditioning compressor that needs refrigerant inspected and air filters periodically replaced.

Software Upgrades

EVs run on electrons, so keeping your electronics updated is more important in an EV than in a gas-powered vehicle. Software and firmware upgrades can increase the efficiency of an EV, add new features, or increase the vehicle's electronic security. Some EV manufacturers offer over-the-air updates, just as you would get for other digital devices. For many vehicles, this requires being within range of your home wifi. Other manufacturers require a visit to the dealership to perform upgrades.

Owner's Manuals for Popular EVs

A Typical EV Maintenance Schedule

Note that schedules vary per model. These are some general guidelines:

Monthly

• Inspect interior and exterior lights.
• Inspect tires for wear and proper pressure,
• Check for loose wheel lugs.
• Inspect windshield washer fluid level.
• Check coolant level.
• Check exterior lights.

Six Months

• Check 12-volt battery connections. Clean if necessary.
• Check body and door drain holes for obstructions.
• Check cooling system fluid level and coolant strength.
• Check door weatherstrips for wear.
• Lubricate hinges, latches, and outside locks if necessary.
• Check parking brake for proper operation.
• Inspect safety belts for wear and function.
• Inspect safety warning lights for operation.
• Inspect windshield wipers and washer spray for wear and function.
• Use plain water to flush corrosive materials like road salt from the underbody.

12 months or 10,000 miles

• Rotate tires.
• Replace climate control filter.
• Perform a multi-point inspection (12-volt battery, lights, fluids, horn, half-shaft dust boots, suspension, steering, tires, windshields, washer spray and wipers).
• Inspect brake pads, rotors, drums, brake linings, hoses, and parking brake.
• Inspect steering linkage, ball joints, suspension, and tie rod ends.

Every 15,000 miles

• Replace the windshield wiper blades.

Every 20,000 miles

Every three years

• Change brake fluid.
• Change coolant.

10 years or 150,000 miles

• Change transmission fluid.
• Change air conditioning dessicant.

Maintenance Required

No machine as complicated as a motor vehicle is maintenance-free, and the simplicity of maintaining an EV can be overstated. Taking good care of your electric vehicle is just as important for your safety and the longevity of the car as it is for a gasoline-powered car. Fortunately, that safety and longevity can come at half the price.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long do electric vehicles last?

  It's often said that electric car batteries last anywhere from 10 to 20 years, but the cars themselves only last about a decade. With EVs being so new to the mainstream, it's impossible to calculate an average lifespan just yet.

• Do electric vehicles need servicing?

  Electric vehicles do need to be serviced occasionally. Regular EV services include tire pressure checks, windshield wiper replacement, and brake fluid changes.

• Do electric vehicles need oil changes?

  Electric vehicles don't use engine oil like gas-powered cars do, so there's no need for EV owners to get regular oil changes. EVs may use oil (or the equivalent of "transmission fluid") inside their reduction gearboxes, which need to be checked and potentially changed over the car's lifespan.

• Do electric vehicles require as much maintenance as gas-powered cars?

  Electric vehicles reportedly require 66% less maintenance and 22% fewer repairs than conventional gas-powered cars.