One of the big selling points of electric cars is lower maintenance — and it’s true. But “less” isn’t “none.” Skipping the wrong thing on an EV can still cost you. Here’s what actually needs attention, and what you can finally stop worrying about.
What EVs no longer need
Because there’s no combustion engine, a battery-electric car has nothing to do with:
- Engine oil and oil filters — no oil changes, ever
- Spark plugs, timing belts, and the exhaust system
- Multi-speed transmission fluid — most EVs use a simple single-speed reduction gear
That’s a whole category of routine servicing gone. It’s the main reason EVs typically cost 30–50% less to maintain than a comparable petrol car — roughly $900 a year (₱55,000 at ≈₱61 = US$1) versus about $1,200 (₱73,000) in recent US figures.
What EVs still need
The chassis and the “car” parts don’t change just because the drivetrain did:
- Tires. Arguably more important on an EV. Instant torque and heavier battery packs can wear tires faster, so rotation and pressure checks matter. See the maintenance schedule by mileage.
- Brakes and brake fluid. The pads last far longer thanks to regenerative braking, but the fluid still absorbs moisture and needs periodic replacement — and calipers can seize if the friction brakes are rarely used.
- Coolant. Many EVs actively cool the battery and motor with a liquid coolant that needs checking or changing on a long interval.
- Cabin air filter, wiper blades, washer fluid, the 12-volt battery, and software updates.
The maintenance shifts, it doesn’t vanish
Think of it as trading one checklist for another. Instead of oil intervals, you watch battery health; instead of fuel logs, you track charging costs. The renewal deadlines — registration and insurance — are exactly the same as for any car, and just as easy to forget.
That’s where an app earns its place. Set your EV’s real intervals — tire rotation, brake fluid, coolant, cabin filter — once in the maintenance reminders feature, and Kotselog tracks them by distance and date so nothing slips. It handles your charging costs and renewals in the same place. Open the app and add your EV.
Read next
- EV battery health: how long do they last and how to care for them
- Regenerative braking: why EV brakes last longer
- Hybrid car maintenance schedule — if you run a hybrid instead
Frequently asked questions
Do electric cars need oil changes?
No. EVs have no combustion engine, so there's no engine oil, oil filter, or oil changes. Some EVs have a gearbox or reduction-gear fluid and a battery coolant that need occasional attention, but there's nothing like the regular oil service a petrol car needs.
How much less does an EV cost to maintain?
Analyses generally put battery-electric maintenance at roughly 30–50% less than a comparable petrol car, thanks to far fewer moving parts. Recent US figures put average EV maintenance near $900 a year (~₱55,000 at ≈₱61 = US$1) versus about $1,200 (~₱73,000) for gas — though out-of-warranty battery or crash repairs can be pricier.
What maintenance does an EV still need?
Tires (which can wear faster on heavy, torquey EVs), brake fluid and the brakes themselves, battery/motor coolant, cabin air filter, wiper blades, the 12-volt accessory battery, and software updates. Plus registration and insurance renewals, like any car.
How Kotselog helps: Never miss an oil change, tire rotation, or brake service again. See the maintenance reminders feature →
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