Electric vehicles are steadily becoming more and more common on our roads, and it’s not too difficult to see why – decreased service costs, less moving parts and no more need for petrol (plus some very interesting quasi-futuristic designs) are all very appealing in their own way. With all of these factors making for a quite different car as compared to traditional combustion engines, there is certainly a degree of uncertainty related to long-term care of these vehicles. To assist people who may be considering investing in an electric car sometime soon, we examine the ways that safety, servicing and maintenance differ in electric vehicles.
The costs involved in servicing electric vehicles
Although electric vehicles can cost more than their combustion contemporaries (at least for the moment), this high price tag can very often balance out in the long-run to make an electric vehicle a great investment. With far fewer moving parts than traditional combustion vehicles, electric vehicles are generally cheaper to service, and this shouldn’t matter where your mechanic is – a car service in Perth would be a similar cost to one is Sydney, for example. This is due to electric vehicles not requiring the emission checks, fuel filters, oil changes or spark plug replacements that combustion-powered cars normally require. One thing that isn’t taken into consideration in these services is the decline of batteries in electric vehicles, however. Although these EV batteries are designed to last significantly longer than conventional vehicle batteries and have much longer warranties attached, they will need to be replaced eventually. Depending on the kind of battery your vehicle needs (as the kWh needs of cars will differ), you may have to pay between $2,000 and $12,000. But again, you might not need to replace a battery after 8 years, so it’s still a great investment!
Other costs that an electric vehicle can incur
Despite cheaper service costs overall, there are other costs that you should consider in relation to your electric vehicle other than battery costs. With the need to be constantly recharged, you need to ensure that you have an adequate charging system installed in your home. This has the potential to cost several thousand dollars, so it’s important to factor in the cost to your initial budget. Plus, there’s the actual cost of charging – if you are on a mediocre energy plan, expect your electricity bill to skyrocket. For this reason, electric vehicles are excellent when paired with home solar systems. Although not something many car owners consider if they were to buy an electric car, the resale value of electric cars is often not as strong as their traditional fuel-guzzling equivalents. Although this may change down the line (as most people will likely keep their electric vehicles for a few years), at the moment it can mean some great savings can be had on second-hand electric cars.
Weighing up the pros and cons
If you hate getting your car services regularly and worry about individual parts failing, electric cars are a great idea for you. Fewer fluids that require, such as oil and transmission fluid,as well as less moving parts overall means that there are less things that can go wrong (but that doesn’t mean they can’t!). At this stage the only issue is upfront cost, but if you’re willing to wait a few years, you may very well be rewarded.
