EV Maintenance

With many major vehicle manufacturers already offering an electric or hybrid model on the new vehicle market (or unveiling plans for one that will soon be available), it can be hard to keep track of the various competing models, their availability, pricing, features and benefits. Equally perplexing to drivers who may be new to the electric vehicle game are the terms used to describe them - hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric.

Drivers who haven't done their research on the various types of battery-powered vehicles often are confused and left wondering whether there's a difference between them, and if so, what it is. True, most types are similar in that they derive power from energy in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries and use low-voltage 12V batteries (like in your current non-electric car) to assist this system. However, there are also striking differences.

All vehicles deal with the issue of compromise between performance and efficiency. Hybrid and electric vehicles both use electric motors and rechargeable battery technology to help find a better balance between performance and efficiency while decreasing the carbon footprint of a daily driven car, truck or SUV. While both share the basics (electric motors powered by lithium-ion batteries), hybrids and electrics represent a progression from traditional internal combustion engines to full-electric and zero-emission vehicles.

Hybrid and electric vehicles use electric motors to directly turn the wheels rather than a traditional drivetrain system that uses a differential and multi-gear transmission. This system can be either a parallel or series hybrid. In a parallel hybrid, both the electric and ICE drivetrain can power the car, controlled by a sensor in the transmission. Whereas in a series hybrid, only the electric motor and batteries power the drivetrain.

While hybrids that retain the ICE drivetrain will still have these components, electric vehicles rarely have more than two gears in their transmissions due to the direct drive of the electric motors. Hybrids start this progression by using electric motors and assistance to help boost the efficiency of the ICE drivetrain, and all types utilize some variation of this technology. This can range from stop-start technology and ICE efficiency optimization with mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEV) to plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) which are primarily powered by electric motors and supported by a small ICE powertrain.

Many cars on the road today have some form of hybrid technology that helps increase their efficiency. Across the many applications, this technology shares the same purpose of maximizing efficiency. While many of these are considered mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEV), these types of hybrids primarily use their electric components to power systems like stop-start technology and assist the internal combustion engine (ICE) to achieve maximum efficiency instead of powering the drivetrain.

Traditional hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) are powered primarily by their ICE powertrain, but they also have electric motors and batteries that help power the drivetrain in a parallel hybrid configuration. These high-voltage lithium-ion batteries are recharged by regenerative braking and by the ICE (not by plugging in the vehicle), and both motors can provide power interchangeably, mostly using the electric motors at low speeds and the ICE engine at higher speeds.

These are the oldest forms of hybrids that most drivers are aware of and served as the first widespread introduction to hybrid vehicles. As time has passed, we've seen new forms of hybrids become more and more like EVs.

Nearly the opposite of a traditional hybrid, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or PHEV, is a parallel hybrid and has an internal combustion engine and electric motors to power the wheels, but primarily uses its electric motors and rechargeable battery, keeping the ICE on standby as a backup power source.

Like an electric vehicle, the primary power of the car comes from lithium-ion batteries that are charged using external chargers and supplemented with regenerative braking. When battery levels wind down, the ICE takes over the heavy lifting until a battery recharge can be completed. This along with the battery-power bias brings plug-in hybrids closer to electric vehicles and are often seen as a bridge between the two.

Charging a PHEV is as simple as charging a fully electric car. This recharge occurs via a connection to either a Level 1 120-volt or Level 2 240-volt plug-in power source - a key difference when compared to the standard hybrid. Whereas many charging stations across the country are Level 2 chargers for all-electric vehicles, Level 1 charging also works well for PHEVs due to their smaller batteries than all-electric vehicles, with most currently less than 25kWh.

Plug-in hybrids take the backup power concept and flip it, providing drivers a step forward toward plug-in electric features while retaining the ICE engine for backup power.

On the other hand, electric vehicles (EVs), or battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs), have only electric motors and are predominantly powered by high-voltage lithium-ion batteries, although do require a low-voltage 12V battery to assist the high-voltage system and power accessories and other systems like alarms.

The high-voltage system stores energy in a series of lithium-ion batteries that form the battery pack, placed under the floor of your vehicle. These batteries can be recharged via plug-in chargers at home, work or charging stations becoming more prevalent across the country and are supplemented with regenerative braking. Electric vehicles are also capable of Level 3 charging, known as DC Fast Charging or Supercharging for Tesla. These types of plug-in chargers that use direct current (DC) can charge as fast as 3 to 20 miles of range per minute and are at much higher voltages than Level 2, which charges at 12 to 80 miles per hour.

Where there is a more common difference between hybrids and electrics is their performance. Whereas hybrids can have increased performance from their electric motors, all-electric cars have the added benefit of a low center of gravity as well as their increased instant torque from multiple electric motors directly driving the wheels. Most electric vehicles do not have traditional transmissions like ICE and hybrid vehicles and instead have one or two gears directly turning the wheels. This drastically affects acceleration, making electric cars some of the fastest accelerating cars currently in production. However, with this increased performance comes compromises with efficiency and range.

While traditional all-electric cars are reaching ranges of up to 400 miles on a single charge, new extended range electric vehicles, or EREVs, utilize the technology used for plug-in hybrids to extend an electric vehicle's range beyond what was previously possible.

The key difference between a plug-in hybrid and an extended range electric vehicle is that the ICE engine is not used to power the drivetrain. Instead, the small ICE engine, known as an auxiliary power unit (APU) or range extender, is used to charge the batteries and power the electric motors that drive the car.

While most hybrids have parallel setups, meaning that either the electric motors or ICE engines can power the drivetrain, EREVs are series hybrids that are only powered by the electric drivetrain while a small internal combustion engine helps generate power to supplement the lithium-ion batteries. This helps maximize fuel efficiency more effectively than a plug-in hybrid due to the smaller size of the APU. This allows an electric vehicle to extend its range up to 80 miles beyond the existing range.

Before the rise of lithium-ion battery EVs, many brands experimented with alternative fuel cell technology to create a more efficient vehicle with little to no carbon footprint. These vehicles, known as fuel cell electric vehicles or FCEVs, use alternative means to generate electricity that powers the electric motors, most commonly using oxygen and compressed hydrogen. While not nearly at the same level of adoption as lithium-ion hybrids and electrics, fuel cell electric vehicles represent the cutting edge of technology that creates a zero-emission driving experience.

One way that hybrid and electric vehicles optimize efficiency is by using the kinetic energy used to stop the car to help charge the batteries. Regenerative braking is a clever way that hybrid and electric vehicles take the wasted energy lost when an ICE vehicle brakes and use it to recharge batteries. When you hit the brakes, the electric motors turn in reverse, charging the battery using the brakes' kinetic energy, creating a slowing-feeling similar to engine braking in an ICE vehicle.

This helps create a more natural driving experience transitioning from an ICE vehicle to a hybrid or electric vehicle, as the sensation of moderate braking is felt when lifting off the throttle in all vehicles, despite their differences in drivetrain. Most hybrid and electric vehicles use some aspect of regenerative braking, with even some mild hybrid electric vehicles using this technology.

The range of your car on a single charge is probably the greatest consideration and concern for an EV owner. While hybrids always have their gas-powered engines to rely on when the batteries run low, EV drivers don't have that option, and nearly half of EV drivers surveyed reported harboring a fear of running out of power and being stranded.

The good news is that range in newer EVs and EREVs continues to increase steadily when compared to the earliest electric vehicles, with the median range in 2022 at 234 miles with an industry maximum of 405 miles on a single charge. With the wider adoption of electric vehicles by both drivers and manufacturers, high range electric vehicles and extended range electric vehicles with APUs have grown increasingly popular, leading to these advances in range and battery technology.

At the same time, public charging stations – once considered a novelty – continue to branch out nationwide and now number more than 50,000 with over 130,000 charging ports. That number is expected to continue to grow, with a goal of 500,000 to keep pace with the steadily increasing numbers of EVs hitting the road annually. Whereas electric vehicles were considered city cars, they're soon becoming an eco-friendlier road trip vehicle.

PURCHASE COST & RESALE VALUE

Where there are many benefits and attractive qualities of electric vehicles, the price point of most models is still a barrier to most drivers. Most EVs have a higher new vehicle purchase price than their ICE-powered counterparts, and their resale value is lower when compared to gas-powered vehicles. This becomes a benefit for hybrids as their purchase price is still higher than ICE counterparts, but less than full-electric vehicles and has a better resale value.

While the difference in EVs' lower value retention in the past could be attributed in part to weaker demand, that value equation is projected to head higher as their popularity increases. As time progresses and larger OEMs like Toyota enter the market, EV prices will start to come closer to hybrid and ICE vehicles. On the EVs' plus side, however, is all that money saved through gas expenses and reduced maintenance requirements.

SERVICE PROVIDERS

Something else to consider before making the leap from gas-powered to a hybrid or electric vehicle is whether you have access locally to a technician who will work on a battery-powered vehicle. While many EVs are still under warranty and require repair or service at their respective dealerships, as more appear on the road and age, knowing what maintenance and wear and tear to look for is important. In the same way that vehicle charging stations are today more prevalent in urban areas as compared to rural settings, the same can also be said for EV technicians.

INSURANCE

Another factor in the cost equation is that insuring an electric vehicle tends to cost more than it does for a gas-powered vehicle. That increased insurance cost is simply a reflection of the EVs' higher purchase price. It's like comparing the cost to insure a 2022 Mercedes against a 2004 Ford F150 – the Mercedes costs more to insure simply because it's more expensive to repair or replace in the event of an accident. As time goes on, these costs will decrease as electric vehicles become more widely adopted.

The hybrid has an electric motor and a gasoline-powered engine. The two work in tandem. Because there is a gasoline-powered engine in a hybrid, you'll need to keep an eye on and change out at the appropriate time based on your vehicle's manual, the:

• Engine oil and filter: If you're doing all highway driving, you'll use the engine as much as a traditional car.
• Transmission fluid
• Cooling systems fluids: Most hybrids have two cooling systems with two coolant reservoirs. Make sure both fluids are at the correct level.
• Engine air filter
• Spark plugs
• 12V battery: Yes, a smaller auxiliary battery is in there, too. The 12V, or low-voltage battery, powers the computer and accessories and is there to assist with starting.
• Tire rotation
• Brakes and brake fluid

With no gas-powered engine, the EV will NOT need some basic maintenance you would perform on a traditional vehicle, including:

• Oil changes
• Spark plugs
• Engine air filters
  However, you will need to keep an eye on:
• Brakes and brake fluid
• Cabin air filters
• 12V battery: EVs also have a 12V battery to keep the electrical system and accessories operational.
• Tire rotation: EVs tend to weigh more than the average traditional car. Accordingly, tire rotation timing might be different than a traditional vehicle.

These items get their own section because of the major differences compared to traditional vehicles.

• Brakes: Hybrids and EVs use regenerative braking. Because regenerative braking does much of the work to slow you down, the brake pads and rotors get used much less frequently than in traditional vehicles. They typically last longer (but will need your attention at some point) and can save on maintenance costs.
• High Voltage Battery: In both a Hybrid and an EV, this battery is "the big one." In an EV, the high voltage battery is massive in size and weight and located under the floor. Fortunately, the high voltage battery is something many vehicle owners will never have to worry about. The most important takeaway here is to proceed with caution. Only hybrid/EV-certified pros should be working on the high-voltage system. The system often uses its own color of wiring harness—frequently bright orange—to identify what to stay away from for at-home maintenance.