Servicing electric and hybrid cars
An electric car needs less maintenance than a combustion one — no oil, no spark plugs, barely any brake wear because the motor helps slow the car. Other things take their place: the state of the traction battery is the single biggest factor in the car's value, and work on the high-voltage system may only be done by qualified staff.
What it covers
- Reading and documenting the state of the traction battery
- Checking the high-voltage system for insulation faults
- Servicing the cooling circuits for battery and power electronics
- Keeping the brakes free — regeneration means they are used less, so they seize more readily
- Checking the 12-volt battery: it fails in an electric car too, and then nothing works
When it makes sense
- Range drops noticeably more than the season explains
- Charging power falls short of what the car used to draw
- Before buying or selling — the battery report is the key document
- The brakes bind or rust because they are barely used
Worth knowing
When buying used, ask for the battery's state as a printout, not as a statement. Many manufacturers warrant the traction battery against a remaining-capacity figure — and only a documented figure lets you claim anything later. Check too whether the warranty survives a change of owner; that differs from manufacturer to manufacturer.
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