Hybrid Maintenance and EV Maintenance Tips

Hybrid maintenance and EV maintenance can feel confusing if it’s your first time needing service. Do they require more or less work? Do I still need oil changes in a hybrid vehicle? Do I need to worry about my EV battery? Does it cost more to repair a hybrid car? All of these questions (and more) are absolutely valid, but hybrid and EV vehicle maintenance in Kansas City doesn’t need to be worrisome or frustrating.
 
Let’s look at hybrid maintenance and EV maintenance basics so you can keep your car or SUV in perfect working order before small issues become costly repairs.

Hybrid Vehicles Need Oil Changes

While electric vehicles don’t need oil changes, hybrid vehicles absolutely do. Hybrid cars, trucks, and SUVs still have a combustion engine, which means you’ll need regular oil changes as part of hybrid maintenance to make sure everything is properly lubricated. Avoiding basic oil changes will lead to sludge buildup, which then leads to friction in the engine, which leads to very costly repairs. Be sure to stick to your oil change schedule!

Check Your EV Battery

While EV batteries are designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle, it’s important to make sure you follow the manufacturer’s recommended charging guidelines (usually only charging to 80% of the battery life) and not overusing fast chargers. As EVs and hybrids get older, the batteries within may need to work harder to power the vehicle. When they’re overworked, it can lead to overheating, which, as we noted above, can be pretty expensive to fix.
 
One of the best things you can do is check your hybrid or EV battery every so often — but don’t stress out over it. Again, following the manufacturer’s best practices for EV battery maintenance and prolonging its life will keep your vehicle out of the shop.

Service Your Brakes

If you have an electric vehicle, you actually don’t need to worry about braking as often as you would with a hybrid or gas-powered vehicle. Most electric vehicles on the market today use regenerative braking to slow the car without activating the brake pads. However, it’s best practice to make sure the pads aren’t wearing too quickly or unevenly, as it can cause problems for your vehicle.
 
If you feel any vibrating, shaking, or pulling to one side when braking, you should have your brakes serviced. Also, listen for any squealing or grinding sounds. Squealing brakes are a sign to get to the shop soon, grinding brakes are a sign that things are going to go south quickly.

Check Your Tires

Seems obvious, right? But overlooking the obvious can lead to bigger issues down the road. Make sure you have your tires pressurized to the manufacturer’s specifications and that there isn’t uneven wear. Look for any bubbles and try putting a penny into the tread of your tires to check if they’re still in good condition: if you can see all of Lincoln’s head on the penny, your tread has worn too low, and you need to replace it.
 
Also, be sure to notice if there is any pulling in one direction or shaking/vibrating while driving.

Check Your Cooling System

We mentioned it earlier, but because there are more electronic components in hybrids and EVs, overheating issues are a bit more prominent. Having a trusted mechanic check and service your vehicle’s cooling system will prolong the life of your vehicle.

Hybrid Maintenance and EV Maintenance Near Sedalia, MO

Keep your hybrid or electric vehicle in optimal condition by bringing it to one of our service centers for regular maintenance. We have locations in:
 
Olathe (913)-324-7300
Blue Springs (816)-224-7575
Overland Park (913)-649-2999
And Lee’s Summit (816)-313-4531
 
No matter what work your vehicle needs, our experts will handle it and keep you informed every step of the way. We handle everything from auto glass repair to frame repair and more. Visit one of our locations for a free estimate or call us at your preferred location to schedule service.