Hybrids and electric vehicles (EV) have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their improved fuel economy and reduced emissions. While these cars offer many benefits to their owners, their care and maintenance needs differ from those of entirely gas-powered cars and trucks.
In this blog, we’ll provide an overview of electric and hybrid cars, including how to take care of them and some common problems that you may encounter.
How Do EVs and Hybrids Work, Anyway?
First of all, it’s important to understand how your hybrid or electric vehicle works. Having an understanding about what sets them apart from gas-powered vehicles will help you take better care of your vehicle in the long run.
Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles are powered by an electric motor rather than a gasoline engine, and they use a large battery pack to store the electricity that is used to power the car’s motor.
Hybrid Vehicles
Hybrid cars, on the other hand, use both a gasoline engine and an electric motor for power. They’re able to switch between the two power sources depending on driving conditions, and often have a unique braking system that captures energy from braking and stores it in the battery.
The electrical features of both types of cars allows for improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and quieter operation.
Maintenance Tips for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
Much like gas-powered cars, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule to keep your electric or hybrid car running smoothly. This includes basic maintenance tasks like oil changes, tire rotations and brake inspections. However, electric and hybrid cars also require additional maintenance tasks to keep their systems functioning properly.
Tip #1: Battery Maintenance
One of the most important aspects of their unique upkeep is battery maintenance. This may include regular charging and discharging to prevent the battery from losing capacity, as well as occasional cleaning to remove any debris or corrosion.
Tip #2: Coolant Checks
Another important maintenance task for electric and hybrid cars is coolant replacement. They use a unique type of coolant that is designed to help regulate the temperature of the battery and electric motor. Over time, this coolant can break down and become less effective, which can lead to overheating and other problems. It’s important to check the coolant level at least twice a year — ideally, before summer and winter — and top it off as needed to prevent any issues.
Tip #3: Drive to Promote System Health
For hybrid vehicles in particular, it’s also important to drive in a way that promotes system health. This includes avoiding hard acceleration and braking, which can put extra strain on the battery and electric motor.
Common Hybrid and EV Problems
While electric and hybrid vehicles are generally reliable and low-maintenance, you may encounter some commonplace problems.
One of the most prevalent issues is battery degradation, which can occur if the battery is not properly maintained or if it reaches the end of its lifespan. Inverter issues and problems with the electric motor can occur, but these are less common. You may also encounter issues with the charging system or electrical components — problems which are especially common in EVs that operate in extremely cold climates.
Benefits of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
Both hybrid and electric vehicles share the benefits of improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and quieter operation. This makes them generally more environmentally friendly, and you’ll likely save money on gas, as you won’t need as much (or any) to power your vehicle.
Additionally, despite the small check-ins you should be doing on your hybrid or electric vehicle, they tend to require less maintenance than gas-powered vehicles due to the efficiencies of their electric motors.
Hybrid-Specific Benefits
A benefit specific to hybrid vehicles in particular is the minimization of “range anxiety,” or the fear that one’s vehicle won’t have enough charge to reach its destination or a charging point. This is one of the most prominent barriers to EV ownership, and one that the dual engines of a hybrid vehicle help to mitigate, but owners still retain many of the benefits of an electric vehicle.
Additionally, batteries in hybrid cars are generally resistant to cold temperatures. Even in extreme cold, intelligent hybrid systems will turn on the petrol engine first, improving hybrid efficiency in the cold.
EV-Specific Benefits
The unique benefit of a fully electric vehicle is that it doesn’t use fuel, making it significantly more environmentally friendly than any other type of vehicle. You’ll also never have to spend money on gas, which may reduce the cost of owning your vehicle in the long run.
EVs are also equipped with batteries designed to last longer, and many manufacturers are even offering 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranties. Predictive modeling on EV batteries indicates that they might even last 12-15 years in moderate climates (or 8-12 years in more extreme climates).
METRO: Your Local Hybrid and EV Specialists
Hybrids and EVs boast a number of benefits but need a little extra love to ensure optimal performance and longevity. By following a regular maintenance schedule and performing electric- and hybrid-specific maintenance tasks, you can keep your vehicle running smoothly for years to come.
Be sure to bring your car or truck to METRO, your local hybrid and EV specialists. Our team of experienced technicians understands the unique components, systems and maintenance intervals of these vehicles, and we can help spot and prevent pattern failures before they become a problem.
Call or click to schedule a maintenance or repair appointment for your hybrid or electric vehicle today: https://metropolitangarage.com/
