Do hybrid and electric cars need servicing?

Anyone who lives in the Dayton, OH area knows that a traditional car often requires service. Internal combustion engines are complex things that need regular maintenance. Causing gasoline to explode and power a moving vehicle is, after all, a difficult thing to do; many moving parts are subjected to significant wear-and-tear. Some Xenia, OH area residents may be wondering: do electric and hybrid vehicles need as much service?

Electric Vehicles and Maintenance

All-electric vehicles remove much of the complexity found in traditional cars. One or more batteries power motors that turn the axles of the vehicle, thus propelling it down the road. While the batteries and overall engineering are indeed still complicated, this mechanical process causes much less wear-and-tear over time - and it calls for fewer fluids than traditional engines do. These vehicles do still require some maintenance, but not nearly as much as internal combustion engine-powered cars.

The parts that need to be checked on an all-electric vehicle will sound pretty familiar to most Ohio drivers. One stills needs to have the tires, brakes, and brake pads inspected regularly, for example. Below, however, we will explain why hybrid and electric vehicles need brake pad changes less frequently than traditional vehicles. Brake fluids, air filters, and coolant are other examples of things that still need to be maintained on electric vehicles. Compared to oil changes and the myriad problems found within internal combustion engines - have you ever needed a head gasket replacement? - these are fairly mild maintenance needs.

 One great example of an all-electric vehicle is the Volkswagen ID.4 (pictured below). You can learn more about it here.

Hybrid Vehicles

Hybrid vehicles have both a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine and an on-board battery. This means that they do need oil changes, and that they can suffer from traditional engine problems. Hybrid vehicles do have some advantages on the maintenance front, however. Their on-board batteries can be partially recharged by a process called regenerative braking. In short, as the motor stops propelling the car forward, it can capture some of the energy created by braking and run it reverse. This allows it to add some charge to the battery, and helps cut down on the need for braking in general, which keeps the pads in good shape for a longer time.

Many hybrids also have the option to drive in all-electric mode for fairly short distances (about 20 miles, though this varies widely by make and model). If you and your family usually just drive around Montgomery County, OH then it's possible that you could largely avoid using gasoline at all. While this would not remove the need for oil changes and similar maintenance entirely, it would make them all less frequent.

Conclusion: Batteries and Maintenance

Vehicles that are powered by batteries and motors require less maintenance than those powered by combusting gasoline. This makes sense on an intuitive level, and it holds true in practice. Buying an all-electric vehicle can really help you save a great deal on car service costs, and even a hybrid vehicle can help you cut down on those.

At Evans Volkswagen, Your Experience is Our Priority. That's why we have services like At-Home Test Drive. Whether you choose to take advantage of this program or to visit our Dayton, OH dealership, we look forward to working with you.