What needs servicing on electric cars?

Apart from 'saving the planet', electric cars can save you time and money.

You see, battery-powered vehicles might appear to be complicated and futuristic, but in fact are quite the opposite as they are much simpler than a conventional car with an internal combustion engine.

Both the electric motor and battery pack are completely sealed units that do not require fluids like oil or items such as spark plugs to be regularly replaced in order to keep them in tip-top condition.

And with significantly fewer moving parts, electric cars are less susceptible to breaking down because of a component failure – and they are therefore more reliable.

But that doesn’t mean electric car owners will never visit a garage again, as the conventional car bits still require regular maintenance in order to remain in proper working order.

So, what exactly does need servicing on an EV?

Let’s use the Nissan LEAF – and the recently added extended-range 2021 Nissan LEAF e+, with its larger lithium-ion battery pack – as an example.

For starters, Nissan has a recommended servicing schedule for all LEAF variants that requires visiting the dealership every 12 months or 20,000km, whichever occurs first.

The annual timeframe is pretty standard fare across the industry – whether your vehicle has an internal combustion engine or not – but the distance interval is much longer than normal (more than double most mainstream hatchbacks), proving that electric cars can be more reliable.

Still, like any other car, there are key components and systems that need to be looked over, and some elements replaced, on a regular basis.

Looking at Nissan’s service operations manual for the LEAF, technicians are tasked at every service to inspect the tyres for wear or damage and rebalance the wheels as required, check the steering, suspension and braking systems, including the condition of the pads and rotors and brake fluid levels, and the oil in the single-speed transmission.

The electric car is then connected to a computer to monitor its overall state of health and rectify any outstanding service or recall campaigns.

The technician also checks items such as the seat belts, headlights, windscreen wipers and washers and the tyre pressure monitoring system for any issues in their operation, replaces the air-conditioning’s micro filter and lubricates the door hinges, locks and the latches for the bonnet and boot.

None of the above is any different when properly maintaining a vehicle, no matter what sort of drive system it uses.

Specifically for the Nissan LEAF though, each service requires the technician to fully charge the lithium-ion battery pack, download a report on its usage, check the unique ‘Vehicle Sound for Pedestrian’ system and inspect the charging port and battery cooling system.

On top of that, every second service adds a few extra preventative measures such as changing the battery in the key, replacing the brake fluid and checking the concentration of the coolant.

But that’s it, there’s no need to replace the engine oil, air and fuel filters or spark plugs every year – all of which add up over time.

That’s another reason to start considering an electric car like the Nissan LEAF and another way that EVs will save you time and money.