11-05-2025
What Kind of Maintenance Does an Electric Car Need?
In general, battery-electric cars need less lifetime maintenance than gasoline ones.
The battery, electric motor(s), and power electronics rarely need service at all.
Items shared with gasoline cars need the same amount of maintenance.
Conventional wisdom has it that the only items you need to service on an electric car are the tires, wiper blades, and cabin air filters. It's not far from the truth: In general, an EV does need less regular maintenance over the course of its life than an equivalent gasoline car.
There's no engine oil or transmission fluid to monitor. Most EVs don't even have transmissions. Like any car, EVs do need windshield washer fluid. They also need brake fluid. But overall, their brake components last far longer because regenerative braking takes over a lot of that task.
Do electric cars cost more or less to service than regular cars?
Over their lifetime, EVs usually cost less to service. For instance, Ford says maintenance costs for its F-150 Lightning electric pickup over 100,000 miles or eight years are 40 percent lower than the cost of regular service and parts for a gasoline F-150.
Do I need to replace the battery?
Do the electric motors need regular servicing?
Do the brakes on an electric car need regular servicing?
Marc Urbano
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Car and Driver
2024 BMW i4.
What parts of an electric car need regular servicing?
How often do you have to replace the tires on an EV?
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2025 GMC Hummer EV.
John Voelcker
Contributing Editor
John Voelcker edited Green Car Reports for nine years, publishing more than 12,000 articles on hybrids, electric cars, and other low- and zero-emission vehicles and the energy ecosystem around them. He now covers advanced auto technologies and energy policy as a reporter and analyst. His work has appeared in print, online, and radio outlets that include Wired, Popular Science, Tech Review, IEEE Spectrum, and NPR's "All Things Considered." He splits his time between the Catskill Mountains and New York City and still has hopes of one day becoming an international man of mystery. Read full bio
