Do electric cars need servicing?
Electric vehicles (EVs) may not have an engine, but they still need to be maintained properly. Here’s everything you need to know about servicing an EV.
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Whether you’ve bought, are looking to buy or have owned an electric car, you need to know about servicing it.
Contrary to popular belief, you do actually need to service your electric car. It may not have an engine, but there are still many other components you have to ensure are in tip-top condition to keep it running as smoothly as the day it left the factory.
Why do electric cars need servicing?
Servicing an electric car is indeed different from servicing an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.
For starters, there isn't an engine that needs oil or routine maintenance, but there are other components you should still be aware of.
Things such as the electric motors, tyres, brakes, safety features, lights and other vital components.
EVs also require an MOT, so these checks will take place once a year. You may as well book it in for a service at the same time.
Granted, the checks are very different as you don’t have an engine to think about, but everything highlighted above is vital to check and keep on top of.
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Main differences between EVs and petrol/diesel cars
When it comes to servicing, the primary difference between an EV and a petrol or diesel car is mechanical simplicity.
A traditional ICE is a complex machine containing thousands of moving parts, many of which rely on extreme heat and friction to function.
By contrast, an EV is powered by a battery and a motor(s) with far fewer moving components, essentially making it a "plug-and-play" machine on wheels.
In a petrol or diesel car, a significant portion of your service bill is dedicated to maintaining the ‘oily’ bits.
Technicians must regularly change the engine oil and filters, replace spark plugs, and inspect complex timing belts or exhaust systems.
Because an EV doesn't burn fuel, these components simply don't exist. There are no oil changes, no mufflers to rust through and no catalytic converters to replace, which typically leads to shorter service times and fewer unexpected repair costs as the car ages.
Instead of oily engine bays, an EV service focuses mostly on hi-tech diagnostics and thermal management. In other words, it’s battery-related.
Many EV repairs aren't mechanical at all – they are software updates designed to improve efficiency or range, much like updating your smartphone.
Despite these differences, both types of cars share the same wear-and-tear essentials, such as suspension, steering, and cabin filters.
However, even here, the EV has a unique edge: regenerative braking. By using the motor to slow the car down and recover energy, EVs barely use their physical brake pads and discs, meaning they can last years longer than those on a petrol car.
The only trade-off is the tyres; because EVs are heavier due to the battery and deliver power instantly, they can wear through rubber a bit faster if you aren't careful with your acceleration.
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What parts of an EV need servicing?
When you book your electric car in for a service, several components will be checked.
These include:
The high-voltage battery – measures the State of Health (SoH) to see how much battery capacity is left compared to when it was new
Thermal management system – batteries hate being too hot or too cold, so this ensures they’re operating at the optimum temperature
High-voltage cables and connectors – a safety check to ensure all heavy-duty high-voltage cables are in good condition and not showing any signs of wear, fraying or corrosion
The braking system – a service involves cleaning and lubricating the brake calipers and checking the brake fluid
Tyres and suspension – EVs are significantly heavier than petrol cars because of the battery packs, so technicians will check for uneven tyre wear (common in EVs), inspect the shock absorbers for leaks and ensure the wheel alignment is perfect
General car consumables – e.g. cabin filters, wipers and screen wash
Software and diagnostics – updating the software gives your car better efficiency, new dashboard features or improved battery management without a single mechanical part being changed
Reduction gear and motor oil – while EVs don’t have engine oil, they do use specialised synthetic oil to lubricate and cool the reduction gearbox (the part that connects the electric motor to the wheels), but this can last tens of thousands of miles without being changed
Do electric motors need a service?
While it might feel strange to skip the most famous part of a car service, the short answer is no, electric motors do not require a routine service in the traditional sense.
Unlike a petrol or diesel engine, which has thousands of moving parts, an electric motor is remarkably simple.
The lack of maintenance comes down to how an electric motor works. In a traditional engine, you have pistons, valves, belts and fuel injectors all moving at high speeds, creating immense heat and friction that require oil, filters, and frequent care.
An electric motor, however, typically only has one moving part: the rotor. It uses magnetic fields to create rotation, meaning there is no physical contact between many of the internal components, almost no vibration and significantly less heat.
During a cinch service, while the mechanic won't need to take the motor apart, they will still perform a quick diagnostic health check.
This involves plugging the car into a computer to ensure the motor is communicating correctly with the battery and delivering power efficiently.
This digital check-up is much faster than a physical engine strip-down, which is a major reason why EV servicing is generally quicker and more affordable over the long term.
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Do batteries need a service?
When it comes to batteries, the good news is that they do not require regular servicing the way an engine does.
An EV battery is a solid-state component with zero moving parts. It uses a chemical reaction to move lithium ions back and forth, storing and releasing energy.
Because nothing is rubbing together, there is nothing to lubricate and no physical parts to wear out through friction.
The battery is essentially a set-and-forget component designed to last the entire lifespan of the vehicle – often up to 20 years.
How often do EVs need servicing?
Most manufacturers recommend a standard service every 12 months or 12,000 miles (whichever comes first).
Even though EVs don’t have engine oil to change, this annual visit is essential to check high-wear items like tyres, cabin filters, and suspension, and to perform a digital diagnostic on the battery and motor.
Electric car servicing vs. hybrid
A hybrid still has a traditional petrol or diesel engine alongside its electric motor, so there’s a bit of crossover, but the two are still different to service.
Hybrid service: focuses on mechanical engine health and electrical battery health. It is more labour-intensive because more parts can wear out
EV service: focuses on software over hardware. It’s usually faster and cheaper because there are far fewer moving parts to inspect or replace
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EV servicing myths
As with all new things, there’s always a lot of ‘they said this, they said that,’ which can confuse a lot of people.
That’s why we’ve debunked five of the biggest EV servicing myths to settle this once and for all.
Myth one: “EVs don't need any maintenance at all”
The truth:
Yes, EVs don’t have engines to service, but they aren't maintenance-free.
They still have brakes, suspension, steering components and tyres that need checking.
Crucially, they also have complex thermal management systems that keep the battery safe.
Skipping your service won't cause an oil leak, but it could cause your battery to degrade faster than it should.
Myth two: “You have to replace the battery every five years"
The truth:
This is probably one of the most consistent and inaccurate myths of them all.
Modern EV batteries are designed to last the entire lifetime of the car.
Most manufacturers provide an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for peace of mind. However, most batteries still retain 80–90% of their capacity even after a decade of use – that’s far better than your average smartphone.
You’re far more likely to trade the car in before the battery ever needs replacing.
Myth three: "EV servicing is more expensive because of the tech"
The truth:
Believe it or not, it’s usually the opposite.
Because an electric motor has about 20 moving parts compared to the 2,000+ found in a petrol engine, there is simply less to fix.
Myth four: "Regenerative braking means you never need to check your brakes"
The truth:
Because the physical brakes aren't used as much, the discs can occasionally develop surface rust, or the calipers can seize up.
A regular service ensures these parts are cleaned and lubricated, so they work perfectly when you actually need to perform an emergency stop.
Myth five: “No one can service an EV”
The truth:
Just because you own an electric car, it doesn’t mean you have to send it back to a secret laboratory for a service.
Most main dealers and many other places (like the 100+ locations cinch operates out of) have EV-certified technicians.
While you do need someone who knows how to handle high-voltage systems safely, finding a local expert is now as easy as finding one for a petrol car.
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Book electric car servicing
Now that you know what needs servicing and what myths aren’t true, you’re ready to book your electric car in for a service.
At cinch, we offer a dedicated electric car service, starting at just £159.95.
All our EV services include a full diagnostics and software update(s) (if applicable), an EV inspection (high-voltage components, cables, socket, battery charging status) and other essential car health checks.
Book your electric car in for a service with us today to keep it working in tip-top condition.