Electric car maintenance

The maintenance of electric vehicles is very different from the maintenance of conventional vehicles and focuses on the reduction of moving parts and the reduction of wear. This article describes basic maintenance methods for electric vehicle owners, such as battery care and tire management. The benefits of reducing maintenance costs and improving reliability of electric vehicles are highlighted.

Battery

Perhaps the most important factor to get the most out of an electric car is to prioritise the health of the battery.A healthy battery means that it will continue to hold the charge tightly and have the maximum range possible. There are many things you can do to improve the condition of the battery and prevent battery degradation.

Temperature

The condition of the battery is closely related to temperature, especially with extreme temperature fluctuations. As a basic rule, we want to avoid situations where the battery can overheat. There are thermal management systems to protect lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, but they are very sensitive to temperature. Therefore, it is very helpful to understand the basics of electric vehicle maintenance to extend battery life.

First of all, think about where you will park your car and how much it will be exposed to the elements. If possible, especially in the summer, avoid parking the car in direct sunlight (very hot), because most of the battery is spent on cooling the battery. Instead, try to find a shady place so that your car is not exposed to such sudden temperature changes. Similarly, it is recommended not to park the car in places that are exposed to very cold temperatures. Therefore, if you have an electric car, keep it in the garage in winter.

Another tip is not to charge an electric car immediately after a long drive. You may want to charge your car as soon as you get home after a long drive. However, if you care about extending the life of the battery, it is recommended to charge and wait until the battery cools. If you have a smart charger, you can set the charging time in advance, so you can connect your vehicle to your home charging station, but you need to cool the battery before charging.

Overcharging

One of the best ways to make sure your battery lasts as long as possible is to not charge your car 100% each time, because overcharging will actually damage your battery in the long run and you will have less range than before. .

A good way to make sure you're not overcharged is to make sure you don't charge more than 80% of the capacity. When you reach this point, you can remove the charging cable or set this in the charging app, depending on your charger, to stop when it reaches 80%. For the same reason, if possible, try not to charge the electric car before it reaches 10-20%. If the manufacturer has more individual recommendations for your model, you can look for specific charging instructions for your car in the owner's manual.

If an electric car has the opportunity to use a fast charging station, charging the vehicle with a fast charger will cause the battery to overheat and require energy to cool down.

Tires

Tire pressure: It is important to check the tire pressure of your electric vehicle every month to make sure it is at a good level. Since, this allows you to check the pressure on a regular basis (this can be useful for longer trips), and if you are not sure what most gas-ideal tire pressure is for your car, you can usually find this information in the information sign on the door frame of your car.

Tread depth: To make sure it is at a safe and acceptable depth, like a car with a gasoline or diesel engine, change the tread depth to a month The tread depth of a new tire is about 8mm and replace it as soon as the tread depth drops to 2mm. The legal limit for tread depth is 1.6mm.

Electric vehicles are actually heavier than other conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, but that does not mean that the tires wear faster, because electric vehicles use different types of tires designed for the higher weight of electric vehicles. In fact, according to KwikFit, ice tires wear 30% faster than tires for electric vehicles.

Brake

Almost all electric vehicles use regenerative braking, so you don't need to change the brake pads as often as the brake pads of a conventional gasoline or diesel engine. Nevertheless, it makes sense to check the level of brake fluid and coolant.

Charging cable

The most common cause of poor charging is due to the fact that the cables and plugs of electric vehicles are not kept clean and dry. The charging cable is designed to withstand some wear, but it is best to store it in a dry place and avoid dirt sticking to the socket. These cables and sockets are designed to withstand moisture, but the cables and sockets should get very wet once. To make sure the cable is not damaged, let it air dry for 24 hours before connecting. Do not try to dry it in the heat of a hairdryer or other tool - it is much better and safer to let it air dry.

A simple tip to keep the charging cable in good condition is to keep it in a small storage bag when not in use. This adds another layer of protection and has the added benefit of being more portable if you take it with you on your trip.

conclusion

Electric vehicle maintenance is generally easier and cheaper than conventional vehicles due to the small number of mechanical parts and less maintenance. By adhering to basic maintenance practices, electric vehicle owners can enjoy a reliable driving experience while ensuring optimal performance, extending battery life and minimizing overall maintenance costs.