Electric Car Maintenance Costs

Electric drive trains are simpler, so EVs require less maintenance

How difficult a machine is to maintain is usually directly proportional to its number of moving parts. The number of moving parts in an electric drivetrain is vastly lower than in an internal combustion engine and therefore maintenance is much easier. But there is also no metal on metal wear in the same way as, for example, a clutch system.

Of course, plug-in hybrid maintenance is more like conventional car maintenance, as they still have conventional components like exhausts, clutches, gear boxes etc.

We focus this guide on maintaining the pure electric cars.

Are electric cars cheaper to maintain?

Electric cars can be cheaper to maintain, especially as servicing tends to cost less on average when compared to an ICE car. In addition to saving on servicing costs, the lower cost of using electricity to power your car when charging at home can add up over time, increasing your savings even more.

While there are aspects of electric car ownership that are clearly cheaper costs associated with an ICE car, you can expect traditional car parts such as tyres and brake pads to cost roughly the same.

Battery repair/replacement

Though manufacturers tend to offer compelling warranties (e.g. 8 year from Jaguar, Nissan, Renault and Tesla) on the longevity of EV batteries, battery degradation has been a big worry for many about electric cars. In particular, the fear that replacing the battery will be necessary and expensive.

While different car manufacturers are experiencing slightly varying results, overall evidence from the real world is that the rate of decay is much less than feared - and some manufacturers are now expecting their batteries to outlast the rest of the vehicle.

Below’s crowd-sourced data on Tesla’s battery degradation shows ~7% degradation after an incredible 250,000 miles.

Though it is rare, should you notice a significant depreciation in the range of your battery, it is possible that the battery pack is experiencing some undue decay. With most pure electric cars on the road today still in warranty, the first task is to contact the manufacturer who can look to service the battery.

Battery repair usually means replacing some sub-optimal cells, rather than the entire battery pack. So this can be thought of like a major engine repair in a conventionally fuelled car.

But we must stress - this is rare!

An estimate from Book My Garage puts the average EV battery replacement cost at £5,378.43. We want to be clear - this is only an estimate. Battery repair/replacement costs will vary between manufacturers and will almost certainly have to be undertaken by the manufacturer themselves. Therefore, in order to establish specific costs, we recommend contacting the EV manufacturer directly - and be sure to check to see if your issue is covered within the vehicle warranty.

Tyres and brakes

Your electric car still has tyres and brakes and thus brake discs just like a petrol or diesel car.

Tyres

Pressure:

Tyres should be maintained at the recommended pressures (usually listed on a plate inside the door frame). You can do this with a pump at home or at a petrol station (where you can amuse yourself with the price of petrol). Tyres that are running under pressure can significantly reduce your car’s efficiency and thus reduce their range, while over-pressure tyres have reduced lifespan.

You can expect to budget anywhere between £45 for a budget tyre replacement to £220 for a top-end tyre. Replacement including labour for a mid-range tyre will set you back £75 (according to Checkatrade).

Wear:

Electric cars are generally heavier than their equivalent conventionally fuelled vehicles, this can lead to slightly accelerated tyre wear. Tyres should be regularly checked for wear and changed once they have worn down the tyre wear indicators.

Tyre prices vary according to their size and how common that size of wheel is. Generally, smaller, more common tyres are cheaper.

In order to get prices, establish the width of the tread that meets the road and the thickness (or profile) of the tyre between the wheel rim (both in mm) and the diameter of your EV’s wheels (in inches).

For example, a smaller Nissan LEAF wheel requires 205mm/55mm 16inch tyres. You can then use the size to search for quotes from tyre supply and/or fitting companies.

Brakes

While electric cars have fairly conventional disc brakes, they are really used just as emergency back up to the more regularly used regenerative braking. This means substantially reduced brake wear to the extent that Elon Musk recently stated that brake pads actually outlast the life of Tesla vehicles.

Windscreens, wipers and washer fluid

Electric cars’ windscreens are just as liable to chips and cracks, and they use their wipers and washer fluid every bit as much as conventionally fuelled cars. So you need to maintain the windscreen, replace the blades when they wear and keep the fluid topped up just the same.

Wear and tear

Of course, electric cars are still machines. They still have plenty of components. And those components do occasionally go wrong. For example, the author of this guide has had an issue with parking sensors and a door handle on his BEV. Clearly neither had anything to do with the car’s drivetrain!

As such, be on your guard for niggles and such, but in general forget the oily rags, EVs make for a far easier life for their owners.

What does it cost to service an electric car?

Surprisingly to some, it costs less to service an electric car than a petrol or diesel car. The average cost for a full service of an EV currently is £143.75, whereas the average cost for an ICE car comes to £174.23 - around 18% more (according to WhoCanFixMyCar).

One of the reasons for a lower service cost is the testing and time required. An electric car has far fewer components than an ICE car, and doesn’t require services such as replacement of filters and oil changes.

Any checks associated with the internal combustion engine are replaced by straightforward diagnostic reports on electric components and the battery, and visual check for damage. Inspection of standard parts such as brakes, tyres, lights, steering and suspension remain the same.

MOT costs for electric cars

MOTs are no more expensive for electric cars than for petrol or diesel cars. The Driving & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) sets a maximum charge for any MOT, whether that’s for a 9-seater van, motorbike or small car. The current charge for a 4-wheel car like the Tesla Model S and Audi Q8 e-tron is £54.85.