When comparing cars in the search for a new car, there are many factors that play a major role. Often the purchase price is considered first, but it is also good to take into account the other costs. Especially because they come back every month or every year. Comparing insurance premiums, road tax and maintenance costs is a good way to get a more complete picture of the actual costs. But what about the costs for the maintenance of the electric car?
Why are the maintenance costs for an electric car lower on average?
You have undoubtedly come across that the maintenance costs for an electric car are much lower than the costs for a car with a petrol or diesel engine. The explanation for this is quite obvious, because the engine of an electric car has far fewer moving parts.
It is precisely these components that cause high and regular maintenance costs for cars with a combustion engine. The electric motor therefore has great advantages when it comes to maintenance and maintenance costs. But at the same time, isn't it also true that the average repair for an electric car is much more expensive?
Maintenance costs for the EV can be high
People who are not fans of the electric car often come with the extremely high prices for a completely new battery pack and replacement of the drivetrain, plus the fact that you can hardly tinker with the electric car yourself because 'everything is under life-threatening voltage'. The reality is something different. Yes, a new battery pack is quite expensive, but it is extremely rare that a complete battery pack needs to be replaced.
There are also many repairs that you could do yourself, certainly with some technical knowledge of the electric car. Even if the average repair for an electric car is more expensive, the frequency of garage visits is much lower, which makes the maintenance costs of the electric car lower.
There is one factor that does cause higher costs and that is the factor that is often forgotten. The average car tire is not suitable for your EV. Electric cars have a much higher weight, which means that the tires for these models have to be considerably stronger. The tires also often wear out faster on cars that are used by people who have little or no experience with electric driving. This has to do with the much higher torque of the electric car, which makes the car accelerate much faster. Car tires that are optimal for the electric car are always more expensive than the tires for the average car with a combustion engine.
How do you limit the costs of maintaining your electric car yourself?
On the other hand, you can ensure that maintenance costs remain limited. This is similar to how you can save on car tires for a car with a traditional combustion engine. The trick is to measure the tire pressure at least once a month. If you continue to drive on too low tire pressure, the tires will wear out much faster. It is also not good for the range and the car itself.
Overinflation is just as damaging, because the tire then has a much smaller contact surface with the road surface. Make this a routine, for example by measuring the tire pressure on the first weekend of every month. Do you want to do it right? Then also measure the tire pressure before you travel longer distances, for example when you go on vacation with your electric car.
Maintenance costs for the charging station and charging cables
We regularly come across horror stories about maintenance costs for the charging station and charging cables , including complete maintenance contracts that cost hundreds of euros per month. These maintenance costs are not for the charging station at home, but for the charging stations at charging plazas and public locations. Your charging station at home only needs a damp cloth every now and then to look radiant again, but it really does not have to be completely dismantled every year. Certainly not when you order a high-quality charging station online , because these are ideal for home use and have no maintenance costs.
