How much does it cost to maintain an electric car?

How much does it cost to maintain an electric car? These types of vehicles are exempt from the oil and filter changes so common in internal combustion cars. More and more drivers are considering electric cars and, although according to the JD Power study, which claims that consumers do not fully trust fully autonomous and electric cars, the registration figures in our country speak for themselves.

The electric car aims to replace traditional combustion cars in the not-too-distant future, and more and more people are interested in the advantages these vehicles offer in day-to-day use. Today we are going to focus on the maintenance of electric cars: how much does it cost?

It is well known that electric cars are often said to be easier and cheaper to maintain due to the absence of many of the components found in internal combustion cars. An electrified motor has many moving parts, and that leads to fewer mechanical breakdowns.

How much does it cost to maintain an electric car?

In this type of vehicle there is no need for oil, spark plug, oil filter or air filter changes. This means that the classic oil and filter maintenance will not be carried out on an electric car, but brake replacement, shock absorbers, steering alignment or windshield wiper replacement will still need to be done.

These operations are common to all cars on the road today, and on the electric car they will be needed after a time or mileage stipulated by the manufacturer. On the other hand, tyre changes and brake wear monitoring will need to be carried out.

Thanks to the regenerative braking that electric cars have, in many cases the brakes will not need replacing until the car has covered, in many cases, several hundred thousand kilometres. There are cases of electric cars in circulation with more than 300,000 km on the original brake pads and discs, which is possible because electric cars are used mainly in low-speed urban environments, where in many cases it is possible to drive using only the accelerator pedal.

It should not be forgotten that some electric cars have active liquid cooling for their electrical systems, which keeps the electric motors, batteries and inverters at optimal temperatures. It is a system that achieves its goal better than passive air cooling. In some models, this liquid will need to be checked during servicing and fully replaced if necessary to ensure adequate cooling.

When taking the car to a workshop or official service centre, the manufacturer’s recommendations must be taken into account; normally, for this type of car it is every two years. It includes an inspection, fluid levels, tyre pressures, brake fluid and replacement of the cabin filter. It usually costs around 150 euros.

As far as the MOT (ITV) is concerned, it will cost around 40 euros, although this depends on the region where you live and the station chosen. Note that electric cars cannot undergo the emissions or noise test.

In short, deciding to buy and own an electric car means a great saving in terms of maintenance. You will only have to pay for the servicing stipulated by the manufacturer and the MOT from the first four years onwards in the case of a new vehicle. The remaining components will need to be replaced as time and mileage go by. Even so, maintaining this type of vehicle is more affordable than maintaining an equivalent combustion car.