As we all know, regular maintenance of vehicles helps to extend their service life and improve vehicle safety. However, many people are not familiar with the maintenance of new energy vehicles, which include electric and hybrid models. Today, we will discuss whether new energy vehicles should be maintained and how to do it properly.
Should New Energy Vehicles Be Maintained?
The answer is an unequivocal yes. New energy vehicles require maintenance, regardless of whether they are pure electric or hybrid models. Just like traditional vehicles, regular upkeep ensures their longevity and optimal performance.
How Often Should New Energy Vehicles Be Routinely Maintained?
Maintenance for pure electric models is relatively simple. Generally speaking, the first service is at around 5,000 kilometers, with subsequent maintenance every 10,000 kilometers, although this can vary slightly between models. Hybrid models have maintenance cycles similar to fuel vehicles, typically every 5,000 to 10,000 kilometers or every six months to one year, with routine maintenance carried out at these intervals.
Is There a Difference in Maintenance Between New Energy Vehicles and Fuel Vehicles?
The primary difference between pure electric models and fuel vehicles lies in the power system. Unlike traditional cars that require engine maintenance, including oil changes, "three filters", spark plugs, etc., pure electric vehicles do not need such services. Maintenance for pure electric models mainly involves daily inspection and troubleshooting of battery packs and motors. Other components, such as the brake system, cooling system, and shock absorption system, also require regular maintenance, but these have longer replacement cycles and are based on daily inspections. Hybrid models have maintenance requirements similar to fuel vehicles, including traditional engine care. Additionally, they need regular maintenance and inspection of the battery pack and motor.
What Parts Do New Energy Vehicles Need to Maintain?
Generally, maintenance for pure electric models and fuel vehicles can be categorized into small and large maintenance. Small maintenance refers to routine tasks, such as three-electric inspection (battery, motor, controller), chassis inspection, light inspection, and tire inspection, usually taking about 1-2 hours. On top of small maintenance, large maintenance also involves replacing air conditioning filters, steering fluid, transmission oil, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, and coolant. Key areas to check include:
Appearance: Inspect the vehicle's exterior for issues such as faulty lights, worn wiper blades, or damaged paint.
Chassis: Check for wear or damage on various transmission components, suspension parts, and chassis connectors.
Tires: Examine the tires for proper inflation, cracks, damage, and wear.
Fluid Levels: Replace the antifreeze used to cool the motor according to the manufacturer's guidelines (generally every 2 years or 40,000 kilometers), as well as the gear oil or transmission oil, which electric vehicles need to replace more frequently.
Engine Compartment: Inspect the wiring harness in the engine compartment for signs of aging or loose connections. Avoid using water to clean the inside of the compartment.
Battery: The battery, as the power source of electric vehicles, is the most crucial and unique component.
What Should You Pay Attention to When Maintaining the Battery?
Battery maintenance is one of the most important aspects of caring for new energy vehicles. Here are some tips:
- Don't overcharge: Generally, the battery should charge for about ten hours, but it depends on the charging speed of the EV charger, for example, an AMPROAD 40 amp EV charger which supplying faster charging speed can largely shorten the charging time..
- Recharge daily: Regularly perform a full discharge and charge using the portable EV charger or other EVCS, keeping the battery between 20%-90% charge to extend battery life.
- Charge monthly if unused: Charge at least once a month if the vehicle isn't used for an extended period.
- Avoid extreme conditions: Protect against prolonged sun exposure or extreme cold, which can negatively impact battery life.
- Avoid high current discharge: Avoid situations that cause high current discharge, such as during starting, carrying heavy loads, or going uphill.
- Avoid wading: Try to avoid wading, as frequent wading can affect the battery.
All in all, the maintenance of new energy vehicles, like Tesla EVs, Dodge hybrids, or Ford electric models, is generally more straightforward than that of fuel vehicles. Additionally, it can be more cost-effective. As such, choosing a new energy vehicle can be a more economical and wise decision.