EVs cost less to maintain and repair because they have fewer moving parts. A lot fewer. There are more than 2,000 moving parts in the drivetrain of a typical ICE vehicle, compared to around 20 in an electric vehicle. If you’re driving an EV, you won’t have to worry about these common costs:
Oil change and service (every 5-7,000 miles)
Coolant flush
Air filter replacement
Replacement spark plugs, drive belts and hoses
Repairs to muffler and distributor
Neither will you have to worry about replacing a stolen catalytic converter, the scourge of the modern motorist. Depending on the model, the cost of a new converter can range from hundreds to thousands. EV drivers can also expect to pay less for brake repairs and maintenance since EVs deploy a degenerative braking system whereby the engine assumes some of the braking load to generate power. That means less wear and tear on pads and calipers.
As a ballpark figure only, you can expect to pay $4,600 less in repair and maintenance costs over the lifetime of an EV compared to petrol, or $949 less a year. According to the Office of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, scheduled maintenance costs for an EV work out at just $0.06 cents per mile.
