Maintaining an electric car is three times more expensive than maintaining a combustion engine car

Since the introduction of the first electric vehicle models, there has been a growing concern in the aftermarket that these vehicles have far fewer components than those traditionally found in a combustion engine vehicle. This may imply, a priori, that fewer components mean that there is less risk of damage or maintenance. However, an increasing number of studies argue that an electric vehicle is more expensive to maintain than an internal combustion vehicle.

For example, according to JD Power’s We Predict data, which analysed 19 million cars between 2016 and 2021, maintaining an electric car can be two to three times more expensive than maintaining a combustion engine car. However, this higher cost occurs in the first three months of ownership, as after the first 12 months, maintenance costs fall to 1.6 times that of a combustion engine vehicle.

WHY IS THIS?

There are several reasons for the higher cost, despite the reduction in parts. One of the main ones is that electric cars are more technologically advanced, which, coupled with the fact that professionals are not yet adequately trained to repair or maintain them, means that they can spend more than twice as much time in the breakdown diagnosis process alone. On top of that, when the professional finally finds the problem with the vehicle, it takes 1.5 times longer to repair the fault in question.

In addition, electric vehicles have some difficulties of their own compared to thermal vehicles, such as those related to the wiring system and battery charging. And in terms of parts, they tend to be more expensive because they are not as well known as traditional vehicles, so demand is lower. As they become more popular, prices will come down. In any case, the JD Power study concludes, as these operations are covered by warranty in the vast majority of cases, users feel that maintenance costs are lower, when in fact this is not the case.

It is therefore essential that the trusted workshops we always recommend continue to specialise and acquire new machinery for electric needs while waiting for the price of components to come down as demand for these vehicles grows.

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