How Often Should Electric Vehicles Be Serviced?
2 Answers
Electric vehicles should be serviced every 10,000 kilometers or approximately once a year. Currently, the first service interval for pure electric vehicles varies significantly, with the shortest being one month or 3,000 kilometers, while some models require their first service only after 10,000 kilometers or one year. During subsequent regular maintenance, pure electric vehicles have longer service intervals, with most models requiring service every 10,000 kilometers or annually. Although electric vehicles differ from traditional fuel-powered vehicles in their driving mechanisms, they still require routine maintenance and care, albeit with significant differences. The maintenance items for electric vehicles are relatively simpler compared to fuel-powered vehicles. Routine maintenance primarily includes: inspecting the electric motor, chassis, and lights; checking tire wear and replacing them as needed; and replacing the cabin air filter, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, coolant, and brake fluid. The time required for maintenance mainly depends on the specific items being serviced. Most pure electric vehicles are eligible for two free maintenance services: the first and second services. Electric vehicles are powered by an onboard power source and use an electric motor to drive the wheels. They can be categorized into: pure electric vehicles (powered solely by an electric motor), fuel cell vehicles (powered by a fuel cell as the energy source), and hybrid vehicles (which derive power from a combination of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, either simultaneously or separately).
I've been driving an electric car for three years. Based on the manufacturer's manual and my own experience, I recommend servicing it at least every 10,000 kilometers or 12 months. During the last service, the technician showed me a detailed checklist, focusing on basic items like brake fluid, cabin air filters, and tire wear. However, what I care about most is the battery health check, where they use professional equipment to read data and see if there's any significant drop in battery capacity. The service center always advises not to charge the battery to 100% too frequently—keeping it around 80% is enough to extend battery life. My commute route is quite fixed, so an annual service is sufficient. If you frequently drive long distances or often travel on rough roads, you might want to shorten the service interval to every 8,000 kilometers.
