EV Maintenance: How to Maintain Your Electric Vehicle
EV Maintenance: How to Maintain Your Electric Vehicle
Posted on February 20, 2024
In an age where electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more prevalent on Canadian roads, understanding how to maintain your EV is crucial for longevity and performance. At Bennett Dunlop Ford, we're dedicated to helping you keep your EV in top condition. Let's dive into the essentials of EV maintenance, guiding you through the necessary steps to ensure your electric vehicle continues to drive smoothly and efficiently.
Familiar Maintenance Tasks with an EV Twist
Despite the significant reduction in moving parts compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, EVs still need routine maintenance to perform at their best. From tire rotations and multi-point inspections to alignment checks, these familiar tasks remain fundamental to your vehicle's upkeep. At specific milestones, such as 16,000 and 32,000 kilometres, it's important to adhere to a maintenance schedule that includes these tasks along with additional services like brake servicing, battery checks, and the lubrication of hinges, latches, locks, and weatherstripping. Replacing the cabin air filter is also a key factor in maintaining a clean and healthy interior environment for your EV.
The Heart of Your EV: Battery Maintenance
One of the marvels of electric vehicles is the battery pack, which, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the United States, can last between 12 and 15 years under moderate climates. To maximize this lifespan, avoiding extreme temperatures is crucial as they can severely impact battery health. While modern EVs are equipped with systems to regulate battery temperature, it's wise to moderate your use of fast chargers. These convenient charging stations can decrease battery longevity due to the rapid energy intake. For daily charging, consider setting your battery to charge up to 85- or 90 percent to mitigate wear and extend its life.
Cooling Systems and Fluid Maintenance
Electric vehicles convert electricity into mechanical energy, a process that generates heat. To manage this, EVs utilize cooling systems that may require periodic maintenance, such as flushing or recharging. Whether your vehicle uses air or liquid to cool its powertrain components, checking the integrity of cooling system hoses and fluid levels is essential for preventing overheating and ensuring optimal performance.
Brake Fluid and Pads: Not to Be Overlooked
Despite the reduced wear on brake pads and rotors, thanks to regenerative braking, maintaining your EV's braking system is non-negotiable. Regular inspections and replacements of brake fluid and pads ensure your vehicle stops effectively and safely. In particular, areas that experience harsh winters may require more frequent servicing to address corrosion from road salt, keeping your EV's braking system in prime condition.
Tackling Tire Wear
The added weight of batteries means that your EV's tires may face more strain and potentially require more frequent replacements than those of gas-powered vehicles. Monitoring tire condition and maintaining proper inflation are simple yet effective ways to extend tire life and improve your EV's efficiency. Remember, while electric vehicles revolutionize how we drive, they share many maintenance needs with their gasoline counterparts, underscoring the importance of regular check-ups and care.
At Bennett Dunlop Ford, we're committed to providing you with the knowledge and services to maintain your EV. By following a comprehensive maintenance schedule and paying attention to both general and electric car maintenance needs, you can enjoy a seamless driving experience while contributing to a greener future.