Do electric vehicles need servicing?

As of the beginning of 2024, there are now more than 975,000 fully electric cars on the road in the UK and 590,000 plug-in hybrids, making them a popular choice for motorists who want to reduce emissions and save money. While your EV might have less components than a petrol or diesel car, it will still need routine maintenance to help your vehicle retain its value and keep repair costs low.

How often do electric vehicles need servicing?

Generally, EVs need servicing just as often as their petrol and diesel counterparts. While they don’t have a combustion engine, they still contain important components such as a battery, brakes, cables, tyres and suspension that will wear over time.

What’s included in an EV service?

Electrical diagnostics and checks

While it doesn’t have the same sort of engine as a petrol or diesel car, an EV still has a motor to make your car “go”.

In a service, your electric motor, on-board charger and inverter will be checked for any malfunctions or general wear and tear. We carry out full diagnostic checks to seek out any underlying issues with your EV. Here at PTA, our team is equipped with the most advanced tools and equipment to perform checks on all electrical aspects of your vehicle. Including;

• EV Battery
• Charging system
• Electrical components

Tyres, wheels, steering and suspension

We’ll assess the condition of your tyres, checking for any lumps, cuts, cracks, uneven tyre wear and your tyre tread depth to ensure it’s within the legal limit. As well as checking your tyre pressure to ensure your tyres are safe and in good condition.

Your suspension, steering and wheels will also be checked. Your suspension and steering are comprised of several components, so each one needs to be checked thoroughly to make sure your car is roadworthy. This includes your shocks, springs, ball joints arms, links and wheel bearings.

Brakes

As part of your service, we’ll give your brakes a full check, including your brake pads and disks and top up your brake fluid to ensure your brakes are working correctly.

Liquids and filters

As well as topping up your brake fluid we’ll also top up other liquids and change your filters including;

• Screenwash
• Anti-freeze
• Coolant
• Gear fluid
• Pollen filter

Vehicle Body Maintenance

The body of your vehicle will be checked for issues like corrosion and rust. As bad rust can quickly spread from small areas to big ones. As well as impact your vehicle's structural integrity.  

Safety Maintenance

To keep your electric vehicle running efficiently we’ll also run through essential maintenance checks including checks to your safety features such as;

• Seat belts and seats
• Horn
• Mirrors
• Brake lights and headlights

How can PTA help?

Here at PTA, we now offer specialist EV servicing at 5 of our branches, ensuring you get a great service – locally and by highly trained technicians. To book your service simply enter your reg and postcode for a quick quote.