The Art of DIY EV Maintenance Expert Tips and Tricks

Comprehensive Guide to Electric Vehicle Maintenance (Infographic)

Welcome to our comprehensive guide to keeping your electric vehicle (EV) running smoothly your ultimate resource for maintaining your EVs performance. In this guide, well dive deep into the world of EV maintenance, focusing on crucial areas that will ensure your electric vehicle remains a reliable and efficient mode of transportation for years to come.

Before we dive into the specifics, lets address why regular maintenance should be at the forefront of your EV ownership journey.

For insights into the advantages of electric cars, check out our article on The Benefits of Electric Cars. Understanding these benefits will not only reinforce your decision to drive an EV but also highlight why staying on top of maintenance is key to maximizing those advantages. After all, a well-maintained EV isnt just about performance its about embracing a smarter and greener way to drive.

Electric Vehicle Maintenance Guide: Key Tips for Longevity & Performance

• Prioritize Regular Maintenance
• Focus on Core Components
• Battery Care for Longevity
• Benefit from Maintenance Inclusion
• Compare Subscription and Leasing
• Embrace a Greener Future

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Why Regular Maintenance Matters

While EVs are often associated with lower maintenance requirements due to their simplified mechanical structure, regular maintenance remains a cornerstone of preserving their performance and longevity. Contrary to popular belief, EVs are not maintenance-free. Rather, they require specialized care to maintain their efficiency and optimal functionality.

Consider the battery the lifeblood of your EV. Just like any rechargeable device, your EVs battery degrades over time. However, regular maintenance practices can mitigate this degradation and extend the batterys lifespan. From proper charging habits to managing temperature fluctuations, adhering to a maintenance routine can significantly impact your EVs overall performance.

Moreover, staying on top of maintenance allows you to catch potential issues before they escalate into major problems. This proactive approach not only saves you time and money but also ensures a smoother driving experience.

Key Areas to Focus On

Maintaining an electric vehicle involves paying attention to specific areas that distinguish EVs from traditional vehicles. Lets explore the key components you should focus on to keep your EV in prime condition:

1. Battery Care: The heart of your EV, the battery, deserves special attention. Our guide on battery care will equip you with insights into charging best practices, battery health management, and more. By understanding how to care for your battery, youll optimize its lifespan and ensure consistent performance.
2. Brake System: Unlike conventional vehicles, EVs often feature regenerative braking systems. These systems require a different approach to maintenance. Well delve into the specifics of maintaining regenerative brakes and how they contribute to the overall efficiency of your EV.
3. Tire Maintenance: Proper tire care is essential for any vehicle, and EVs are no exception. Well-maintained tires ensure optimal handling, efficiency, and safety. Learn how to check tire pressure, rotate tires, and recognize signs of wear.

For a deep dive into understanding the world of EV charging, check out our comprehensive guide on How Do You Charge Electric Cars? Everything You Need To Know About EV Charging. Just like decoding intricate lines of code, mastering EV charging methods will empower you to keep your vehicle juiced up efficiently.

By focusing on these key areas, youll not only enhance your EVs performance but also contribute to its overall longevity. Stay tuned as we guide you through practical tips and techniques to maintain your EVs smooth operation.

Stay tuned for the next sections of this comprehensive guide, where well delve deeper into battery care, brake systems, and tire maintenance.

Tips for Battery Longevity

Your EVs battery is the cornerstone of its performance, and proper care is crucial for maximizing its longevity. Here are some practical tips to ensure your battery remains in top-notch condition:

1. Optimal Charging Practices: Charging your EV correctly plays a pivotal role in battery health. Avoid frequent deep discharges and opt for shorter, more frequent charging sessions. Utilize a Level 1 charger for slower, gentler charging when possible, as it reduces stress on the battery.
2. Temperature Considerations: Extreme temperatures can impact your batterys efficiency and lifespan. Avoid exposing your EV to prolonged periods of high heat or extreme cold. When parking, choose shaded areas during hot weather and use battery preconditioning in colder temperatures.
3. Regular Software Updates: Manufacturers often release software updates that optimize battery performance. Stay connected to these updates and keep your EVs software current. This proactive approach can enhance battery efficiency over time.

By following these tips, youll be well-equipped to extend your batterys lifespan and maintain its performance, ensuring that your EV serves you reliably for years to come.

Steer EVs Comprehensive Maintenance Inclusion

At Steer EV, we recognize the significance of a hassle-free EV ownership experience. Our commitment to your satisfaction extends beyond providing exceptional electric vehicles. With our subscription plans, you gain access to comprehensive maintenance packages, ensuring that your EV receives expert care throughout its lifespan.

Our maintenance inclusion covers a range of services, from routine check-ups to specialized repairs. Whether its battery diagnostics, brake system maintenance, or tire rotations, our team of skilled technicians is dedicated to keeping your EV operating at its best.

For a detailed comparison between car subscription and car leasing, check out our article on Car Subscription Vs. Car Leasing: See How They Compare. Just like weighing different marketing strategies, understanding the nuances of these options empowers you to make an informed decision that aligns with your goals.

By choosing Steer EV, youre not only selecting a premium electric vehicle but also a partner in your EV journey. We take care of the maintenance details, allowing you to focus on enjoying the seamless and sustainable driving experience that EVs offer.

Conclusion

Maintaining your electric vehicle is a proactive investment in its long-term performance and your driving satisfaction. By adhering to best practices for battery care, focusing on key maintenance areas, and considering Steer EVs comprehensive maintenance inclusion, youre setting the stage for a rewarding EV ownership experience.

Remember, a well-maintained EV isnt just a means of transportation its a step towards a greener future, reduced emissions, and enhanced driving enjoyment. At Steer EV, were here to support your journey every step of the way, from selecting the right electric vehicle to providing expert maintenance solutions.

Thank you for joining us in this comprehensive guide to maintaining your EV. Were excited to be part of your electric journey and look forward to serving your EV needs with excellence.

Electric Car Maintenance Guide and Tips

Watch for High Temperatures

While extremely low temperatures aren't good for your battery, extremely high temperatures can severely affect their ability to function. Proper battery maintenance keeps vehicles out of high temperatures as much as possible, as these can reduce their range, charge rate, and overall performance. For the most part, lithium-ion batteries have what's known as a battery management system or BMS that regulates their charging rates in relation to their internal temperatures. As temperatures rise, charging rates decrease, and your BMS may halt charging altogether to ensure the battery doesn't stop working.

These systems can only do so much, and if temperatures get high enough, the cells in your battery fail. If this happens, your car will stop accelerating and slowly come to a stop. If the battery stays at high temperatures, chemical reactions within the system could result in a fire or explosion. Heat starts to become an issue at around 86 degrees Fahrenheit and compounds as the environment continues to heat up.

Don't Worry about Oil Changes, But Keep Fluids Full

An oil change is one of the most common EV maintenance tasks you would need to complete with a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle. Oil is responsible for lubricating all the moving parts of an engine and, if neglected, will turn into a damaging sludge. But with electric cars, propulsion comes from its electric battery and motor. Oil isn't necessary because they have different drive trains and lack pistons, valves, and other moving parts that need to be lubricated.

Of course, there are still other fluids that your'll need as part of routine maintenance on electric cars. These include:

• Brake Fluid: One of the ways EVs recycle energy is through their regenerative braking systems, which turns the otherwise wasted kinetic energy lost through braking (that would usually turn into useless heat) and converts it into usable electricity. The brake fluid needs to be replaced regularly to keep this system functioning. While individual needs vary based on vehicle model and manufacturer, you'll want to replace this brake fluid on average every 25,000-45,000 miles.
• Coolant: The battery in your EV relies on its thermoregulation systems to prevent overheating, which requires coolant fluid to function. This fluid will need to be kept at a certain level and replaced, but not nearly as often as with ICE vehicles. You'll want to replace this fluid on average every 30,000 miles; to get the exact amount for your car, check your owner's manual or consult the manufacturer.
• Windshield Washing Fluid: Whether your vehicle is powered by electricity or internal combustion, it will still need a clean windshield. Windshield wiper fluid can remove dust and debris from a dirty windshield, but only if your fluids are topped off. Make sure to check your wiper fluid levels regularly and fill them up if they get too low.

Don't Charge Too Fast or Too Often

While it may seem more convenient to use fast chargers or keep your battery at 100%, doing either can reduce its usable lifetime. Fast chargers accelerate battery degradation, and using anything over 240-volt charging will reduce your range far quicker. The best way to avoid needing fast chargers is to plan ahead and plug in your car well before traveling. Putting your car on the charger overnight is an excellent way to do this, but be careful not to charge your car up too much.

Filling your battery to 100% is also detrimental to maintaining its health and can accelerate degradation, as can draining the battery down to zero. Most manufacturers recommend filling your car up to between 80% and 90% and not allowing it to fall below 10%. Some batteries will have built-in systems to prevent reaching too high of a level, but for all other models, you'll want to monitor your charge level closely.

Take Care of Your Brakes and Tires

You'll want to be incredibly attentive to two essential features of your electric car maintenance: your brakes and tires. EVs have a particular set of components known as a regenerative braking system that converts kinetic energy into usable electricity. So, you need to ensure that the rotors, pads, fluid, and every other one of these systems get inspected and worn-out parts get replaced when needed.

For your tires, you'll need to perform rotations regularly. Tire rotations are the best way to ensure your tread depth remains even, extending the usable lifetime of your tires and saving you money. Just like you would with an internal combustion engine vehicle, you'll want to get a tire rotation every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. For a more precise recommendation, you can consult your owner's manual or manufacturer's suggested schedule for electric vehicle maintenance.

Planning a DIY electric car conversion? Read this first

In a few short years, Australians converting a classic car to electric has gone from an eccentrics folly to something bordering on popular.

Just ask the companies performing these electromods. Theyre booked out for months some for up to a year to carry out EV conversions for an increasingly-eager client base.

Covids numerous lockdowns have focused many on classic car projects, and with no overseas travel likely, people have money to spend. Instead of rebuilding that complex petrol engine at great expense, the idea of future-proofing a classic with electric power has entered the minds of many.

Australia doesnt have a lot of EV conversion specialists although savvy folk are sure to soon tap into this burgeoning market but the key players have formed something called the EV Alliance.

Why? Most classic car owners considering an EV conversion are starting from a low level of understanding of whats involved. That means conversion companies are spending a fair chunk of their workdays answering calls and explaining the process, rather than performing booked work for clients.

In response, the EV Alliance has produced online guides and training courses for those contemplating a conversion. In isolation they arent cheap, but for those serious about doing it, this is the expert information that could save you from sources that arent wholly reliable. Lots of crap on the internet, basically.

Ours is the only course written by people who do this (electric conversions) day in, day out, says Emma Sutcliffe, director of Melbourne conversion specialist Electric Car Caf.

Other members include EV Torque in Sydney, EV Classic in Byron Bay, Electric Vehicles Canberra in the ACT, and Brisbanes Traction EV, Charged Garage and Oz-DIY. International members from the US (including famed converter EV West), New Zealand, the UK and Columbia have also joined the alliance.

Its purpose is to encourage the safe and professional conversion of fleet, classic and modern vehicles to electric drive, and abide by strict compliance standards so they can confidently answer questions, provide components and give advice to anyone wanting to know more.

Essential training

EVCentral has had a try of the courses, and while some of it can be classed as common sense or common knowledge, theres plenty on there that could prove invaluable.

For those planning an EV conversion themselves rather than having a company do so, the electric vehicle high voltage safety training ($299) online course looks money well spent. Without sounding too dramatic, it could save your life.

For safety reasons, you wouldnt balk at $299 for a crash helmet while riding a motorcycle or driving a race car, and be in no doubt, working with high voltage systems can damage you just as seriously as a high speed accident could.

The other course we tried was how to plan an EV conversion ($199). The two courses can be bought together for $399.

The EV Alliance also hosts free monthly Zoom webinars Charged Chat where you can speak with a panel of experts. You hear from other people performing or considering an EV conversion, and can ask your own questions to the panel. This can be done via email to keep things really easy.

Aussie car folk are typically a hands-on bunch, and many will have been doing car work in their sheds for decades. Its a hobby. Its rewarding. You learn on the job. It beats paying heaps to a specialist when you fancy a crack at doing the work yourself.

Emma Sutcliffeacknowledges many want to and will do the EV conversion work themselves, but compels them to go in with eyes open. The technology and principles are completely different to working on internal combustion engines, she says.

Its highly dangerous and you run the risk of personal injury or burning your workshop down. These high voltage systems exceed 300 volts DC, so one wrong move and youre not coming back from that.

Skills required

Its clear the array of skills needed to perform an EV conversion goes way beyond a weekend mechanics learnings.

The EV Alliance suggest required skills include structural engineering and fabrication, basic mechanics, high voltage electric work and vehicle 12V electrics. Not many can boast skills and experience across that board, so count on seeking expert guidance and help along the way.

Heres what youll need to do. Out goes your engine, fuel system, radiator, exhaust and anything else related to internal combustion.

In their place goes one or more electric motors, a battery pack and a power controller/inverter.The latter is like a combustion engines ECU, injectors, heads and intake manifold all in one. It also takes your throttle and brake inputs, plus DC current from the battery pack and inverts it to AC three-phase to send to the motor.

The classics gearbox and shifter can stay if you wish, but even they can be ditched for more weight saving.

The batteries need a cooling system and to be safely and securely boxed and fitted. You also need to fit a charge point or two, while the wiring harnesses and cabling are extensive.

Those are your major points to tackle, but as with any car conversion, you can count on there being other engineering work involved.

The batteries are a significant cost. The more battery modules you want which dictates how much range youll get the more your bill climbs.

New batteries are available but are expensive, so most conversions involve modules from a crashed or scrapped EV. With Australias low uptake of EVs, there arent many to go around and prices are high accordingly.

Not cheap

The EV Alliances latest suggested pricing has your drive unit (motor and controller) between $8000 and $30,000 depending on power needs; batteries for a range between 100-300kms for $10-30,000; chargers, cabling and associated bits for $5-20,000 and an engineers inspection and report from about $2000. Then you need to add your battery box and mounting fabrication.

You can only use public fast chargers if you give your EV conversion DC charging capability. That adds about $2500-3000 to your build cost, but getting about 200km range in 40 minutes is pretty appealing.

Most just fit an AC charge socket where you simply plug in to your home wall socket. That 200km range would be done overnight, but fitting a home wallbox (about $2000 fitted) would do the job in about three hours. You can also use public AC chargers.

A turnkey conversion at Electric Car Caf costs upwards of $70,000. Traction EV can get you on the road from about $40,000, while EV-Torques conversions are from about $48,000. There are many variables of course, and these prices are working with an already roadworthy car.

If you plan on going it alone, before starting, you must speak with a registered engineer to ensure the finished build will be completely safe and compliant. The very first thing we do, on the first day, is speak to an engineer, says Emma Sutcliffe. We ask how do we ensure that when we finish this build its completely safe and compliant?

You may need to add safety features such as additional structural members, while changes to vehicle weight, performance and horsepower could exceed OEM design limits. Everything must also comply with applicable Australian Design Rules.

Nobody said itd be easy, and watching YouTube clips where it appears an EV conversion can be done in a weekend arent to be believed, as fun as they are.

Its best practice to begin with a roadworthy vehicle, and you must be smart choosing which car youll convert.

Choosing your classic

Modern cars dont make good conversion projects. Anything running CANBUS electronics (cars post mid-1990s, basically) make things complex software-wise, including power steering, heating, traction and stability control. Remove the engine and ECU and all those bits get incredibly grumpy.

Anything with limited space for batteries makes life hard, while something weighing over 2000kg isnt great as the weight of the conversion may overload the vehicle design limit.

Electric Car Cafs Russ Shepherd says you have to consider the cars weight, age and coolness factor. Small cars arent really ideal as you pull out a reasonably light engine and gearbox, add a lot of battery weight and you can end up with a compromised vehicle.

Russ says he likes converting something with a cast iron engine block: sling that away and you remove a huge chunk of weight. This means when you add hundreds of kilos of batteries you could actually end up with a lighter car.

Old LandCruisers, Land Rovers and Range Rovers are his thing. Theyre cool, attractive and already have a loyal following, he says. For resale, the buyer will think its awesome too.

The cool car bit is integral to your choice. The conversion costs involved mean theres little point converting a Hyundai Excel.

Were currently doing a DeLorean, and have converted an FJ40 LandCruiser and Range Rover Vogue, says Russ. These would have turned plenty of heads anyway, but they turn everyones head once theyre electric.

Electric Car Cafe are currently converting an MG B, showing smaller stuff is possible, while Brisbanes Traction EV has worked on VW Beetles, a Mazda MX-5, 1965 Ford Cortina and a 1987 Nissan R31 Skyline. For commonly converted cars like the VW Beetle, off-the-shelf conversion kits help make life a lot easier.

Air-cooled VWs are pretty ideal for electric conversions due to their simplicity, lightweight and most having no engine mounts.

James Pauly from Traction EV explained the work on his 1971 Super Beetle: Itstill has its factory transaxle and four-speed manual gearbox. The flywheel and clutch are fitted to the electric motor an 88kW NetGain HyPer 9 which is then bolted onto the transaxle as it was an engine. Its super simple.

As for the EV Alliance, Emma Sutcliffe says that due to the high voltage involved,they do not recommend people convert their own vehicle, but accepts people will. We know that people are doing it anyway so we wanted to set some guidelines, and give them the information theyre going to need to do it safely.

Its a free country, but wed suggest the bare minimum for those considering a conversion is to complete the EV Alliances safety course. Learning from your mistakes with high voltage is no laughing matter.

Part One of its conversion course is also available now, while two other parts are coming through the year to show the steps needed to get your classic car electric powered.

To those having a crack, best of luck. Wed love to see your results.