About to become a first-time electric vehicle owner? Here’s how you can keep your new car in good shape.
The electric vehicle (EV) market is booming, and thousands upon thousands of drivers in the UK are making the switch.
Last year alone, there were 190,727 new EV registrations, which accounted for 11.6% of all new car registrations (1.65 million) in 2021 – according to Heycar.
Maybe you’ve considered making the switch yourself and are tempted by the countless benefits that EVs have to offer.
But are they harder to care for and maintain than traditional petrol or diesel cars?
The specialist mechanics here at CJ Auto Service reveal all in this blog.
Look after the motor
The motor is one of the most important elements of your electric vehicle, but, in most cases, they don’t require the same level of maintenance as a typical combustion engine does.
There are also fewer parts for you to deal with, and the need to change your engine oil or replace your fuel filters for example is eliminated.
Despite making things much easier though, it’s vital to make sure that you aren’t neglecting the parts that do need to be taken care of – including your motor.
You should have your motor serviced as often as you would a traditional petrol or diesel vehicle. Wherever possible, use mechanics that are experienced with EVs – like the team here at CJ Auto.
Understand your braking system
If you’re new to the world of electric vehicles, then you may not be aware that they use what’s known as regenerative braking.
Regenerative braking is what helps keep your brake pads in good condition for as long as possible. And in some cases, you’ll only have to replace them two times less (over the time you own the vehicle) than a traditional car!
When you brake in an electric car, the kinetic energy is converted into electricity that helps power your vehicle – but this isn’t to say that you can avoid servicing your brakes altogether, and understanding how the brakes and battery work together is vital.
Whenever you can, you should avoid driving at high speeds, to ensure your battery lasts for longer and prevent the need for you to slam on your brakes.
We understand this is unavoidable sometimes, but dodging heavy use of your breaks as much as you can helps prevent your EV’s battery from degrading more quickly.
Park strategically
You might be wondering how this makes a difference – but trust us when we say where you park your EV is extremely important.
Believe it or not, paying more attention to where you park your electric vehicle can extend the life of your battery.
For instance, parking your car in the shade whenever you can ensures that your car’s temperature remains comfortable and eliminates the risk of your battery overheating and draining.
Don’t overcharge your battery
You might think this sounds a little counter-productive, but overcharging can pose serious problems for your electric car.
Always aim to charge your battery only to about 80%. You should also make a point of not leaving it with little or no charge at all for more than two weeks at a time.
Limit quick charging sessions
Seeing as you shouldn’t overcharge, short, quick charging sessions seem like the solution, right?
Of course, if you desperately need to, it’s fine and won’t cause your vehicle any harm, but don’t let it become a frequent occurrence.
If you do it too often, you’ll take years off your EV battery’s lifespan, resulting in costly repairs and replacements further down the line.
Book your electric vehicle services with CJ Auto
Here at CJ Auto, our mechanics have over 35 years of experience. This makes us the ideal team to satisfy all of your electric vehicle maintenance requirements in Warrington.
Whether you need to book your routine service or you’re experiencing new problems with your electric car – we can certainly help.
Send us a message at reception@cjautoservice.co.uk or give us a call on 01925 589 066 to speak to us directly.
