The widespread growth in electric cars is going to forever change servicing.
ClickMechanic.com, the online car repair marketplace, has looked in detail at the emergence of electric cars and its beneficial differences from the standard diesel/petrol cars that largely dominate the automotive industry.
But how does making the switch from fuel to electric impact drivers in terms of repairs?
Longer lasting brakes
Brakes are a common vehicle defect, and electric cars will be able to get more mileage from their brakes as opposed to their fossil-fuelled counterparts. This is because electric vehicles favour a regenerative process in braking – which puts the vehicle’s electric motor into reverse mode, slowing the car’s wheels. Typically, petrol or diesel powered cars use friction braking, which presses the vehicle’s brake pads against the brake rotor. This induces more wear-and-tear, and with the average cost of front brake pad repairs in London totalling £107, it is money that could be well-saved by electric-car owners.
Cheaper servicing costs
The electric car has considerably fewer moving parts in it’s drivetrain, which means that less maintenance is required. The costs of servicing a fossil-fuel powered car’s engine can add up over time – with oil, oil filters, cooling systems and belts (to name a few) all requiring regular upkeep. This can run into the hundreds of pounds, and electric car maintenance is a clear winner here.
Environmental and health benefits
It is widely known that the emissions from gas-powered cars can have a very detrimental effect on our health and the environment that we live in. With road transport responsible for 80% of nitrogen oxide emissions, the Clean Air Strategy 2019 outlined by the government stated that the aim was to be zero-emission by 2040. Electric cars fall into that zero-emission category, and will ultimately be at the forefront of vehicle production for years to come.