If you are shopping for a new or used vehicle, one of the most important choices you have to make is what kind of engine you want to shop for. Although gasoline-powered and hybrid vehicles can also be excellent choices, there’s never been a better time to learn more about the benefits when you buy a new EV. If you are considering going electric for your next purchase, it’s beneficial to understand what’s required to maintain your electric vehicle and keep it working at its best.
The Importance of Regular Auto Maintenance
Whether you own an electric or gasoline-powered vehicle, regular vehicle maintenance is an important part of keeping it working the way it’s supposed to. The benefits of professional automotive service and maintenance include:
- Vehicle safety: Vehicle maintenance is an important part of safety for your electric car, truck, or SUV. Maintenance ensures that the systems in your vehicle remain operational as intended. When it comes to your vehicle’s safety features, proper function is essential to keep you, your passengers, and others on the road as safe as possible when you go for a drive.
- Warranty maintenance: If your vehicle has a warranty from the manufacturer, dealership, or an outside entity, it may include specifications for maintenance care. Keeping your vehicle well-maintained keeps you in alignment with your warranty, and maintenance may be covered for free or at a discount under your warranty.
- Damage mitigation: Getting your vehicle professional maintenance can help to avoid more serious damage and repairs. Because service professionals have the opportunity to examine your vehicle when performing maintenance, they can check for any indications of potential damage that could grow if left unattended.
- Cost savings: Because major problems in a vehicle can be significantly more expensive to repair than small maintenance, routine maintenance and prompt care when you experience warning signs can save you money in the long run. By investing a little in maintenance now, you avoid big expenses for repairs or replacement in the future.
What To Know About Maintaining an Electric Vehicle
If you’re ready to shop for a used EV, then it’s important to know what to expect when it comes to maintaining your new or used electric car, truck, or SUV. Understanding how electric cars are similar and where they differ from their gasoline-based alternatives can help you make a more informed decision as you shop for your next vehicle. Here are the most important differences between gas- and electric-powered vehicles when it comes to maintenance:
- Some similarities: Not everything about owning an electric vehicle is different than owning a gasoline-powered vehicle, which means some of your maintenance expenses will be similar regardless of what you choose. For example, both styles of vehicles include tires that you will need to rotate and replace as they wear out.
- Reduced fuel costs: The fuel you use to power your vehicle is an essential component of keeping it running, and you can do so for a much lower cost with an electric vehicle. The equivalent economy provided by an electric engine is significant and can result in large fuel savings over its life span.
- Fewer moving parts: An electric engine has fewer moving parts than its gasoline counterpart, which provides fewer opportunities for breakdowns and malfunctions. This can help to decrease the frequency of repairs and replacement on your electric vehicle compared to a gas alternative.
- Decreased brake pad usage: Electric engines take advantage of regenerative braking, which decreases the amount of braking responsibility given to the brake pads. While the pads on an electric vehicle will still wear down with use, they last longer because they are not used as frequently, reducing your brake maintenance costs.
- No oil changes: Getting your oil changed is one of the most important responsibilities of a gasoline-powered car owner. Regular oil changes help to keep a gasoline-powered engine lubricated and working correctly, however, electric engines do not require oil, helping you to avoid the cost of routine oil changes.
- Higher repair costs: The one drawback to electric vehicles when it comes to maintenance and repair is that individual instances of repairs are often more expensive than similar work on their gasoline-powered alternatives. The good news is that the decrease in how often your vehicle requires repair work will usually translate to savings in the long run.
Maintenance Costs for Electric Vehicles vs. Gasoline Vehicles
Because the maintenance required for electric vehicles is often quite different from gasoline vehicles, it can be challenging at first to determine which offers the more affordable option. Fortunately, consumer reports completed an extensive analysis of maintenance and repair spending for both electric and gas-powered vehicles. The result of their study found that electric vehicles’ average costs are half as much as gasoline vehicles.
There were many positive numbers over the course of the report for owners of electric vehicles. It found that the average electric vehicle costs $4,600 less to maintain over its lifetime. This came about due to spending an average of $300 per year less on maintaining electric options versus comparable gasoline vehicles. As encouraging as the numbers were for electric vehicles, they may get even better, as the high-end maintenance numbers consisted mostly of early electric vehicles, which do not account for the steep improvements to electric vehicle design in recent years.
Let Rydell Cadillac of Grand Forks Help You Find Your Electric or Gasoline Vehicle Today
If you’re excited at what an electric vehicle can do for you, from the decreased carbon footprint to the lower maintenance costs, then the staff at Rydell Cadillac of Grand Forks can help you get behind the wheel of one today. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us and a member of our staff will work with you to get you the answers you need. If you’re ready to begin shopping, come out and see us in person. We’re excited to get you behind the wheel of your next electric vehicle today.
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