If you're considering transitioning from an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle to an electric vehicle (EV), there are many differences to account for. One factor that's important to consider is the servicing. What should you expect? How much does it cost?

To help you out, we'll look at the differences, similarities, and costs when it comes to servicing an EV versus an ICE.

The Differences Between Servicing EVs and ICEs

A mechanic working on a car

The engine of a gasoline vehicle is made up of complex parts such as the pistons, connecting rods, camshaft, crankshaft, and spark plugs that must synchronize to burn the fuel and propel the vehicle. That’s why gasoline and diesel vehicles make noise and vibrate when starting the engine—it's the result of all of these components (and more) moving at very high speeds.

Comparatively, an electric vehicle doesn’t have an engine that ignites fuel the way a gasoline vehicle does. Instead, it uses electric motors powered by the battery to rotate the tires.

The fewer moving parts in an electric motor means an EV is easier to maintain than an ICE vehicle. You don’t have to worry about replacing the oil filter, spark plugs, fuel filter, or oil when driving an electric vehicle. You may also need to replace the timing belts and fine-tune your engine with an ICE car, which isn't applicable to an EV.

When it comes to the parts you need to service in an EV, that depends on the condition of your vehicle and the manufacturer's recommendation. For instance, if you’re driving a Tesla, you're advised to replace the carbon filters, HEPA filters, and air conditioning desiccant bag after three years.

If you’re driving the Ford F-150 Lightning, you should replace the brake fluid after three years and the cabin air filter after 20,000 miles. On top of that, Ford says that you should replace the automatic transmission fluid after 150,000 miles and the battery coolant after 200,000 miles. Everything else should be serviced when necessary, after regular inspections—this also applies to Tesla vehicles and pretty much all other EVs.

Finally, ICEs and EVs both use liquid coolant. However, the liquid coolant in an EV is used to regulate the battery’s temperature, and you don’t need to replace it every three to six years like you would in a gas-powered car. In fact, you may never need to change it—Tesla claims the Model Y doesn't need a coolant change in the vehicle's lifetime, for example.

The Similarities Between Servicing EVs and ICEs

White Nissan EVs charging

Even though electric vehicles and gas-powered vehicles are engineered differently, they are virtually identical when it comes to servicing anything that's not powertrain-related. Just like gas cars, EVs need to have their tires rotated every 10,000 miles or once per year. Additionally, they need their brakes serviced, the cabin air filter replaced, and the cooling system checked along with the suspension, steering linkages, tie-rod ends, and ball joints.

Beyond that, EVs and gas-powered cars are built with transmissions to rotate the wheel, which means you need to replace the transmission fluid down the line. But because hardly any electric cars have multi-speed transmissions, you can drive them longer than a gas-powered car without requiring a transmission oil change.

Furthermore, you still have to replace the tires and 12V battery in your EV or combustion vehicle after a few years, depending on the car model and how it's been used.

How Much Do EVs and ICEs Cost to Service?

man in blue suit servicing a car

According to a study from Consumer Reports, the average cost of maintaining a gas-powered vehicle is $9,200 over its lifetime (based on 200,000 miles.) Electric vehicles are significantly cheaper to service, with an average lifetime cost of $4,600. In other words, you could reduce your maintenance costs by 50% if you switched from a gas-powered car to an electric vehicle.

Another advantage of driving an electric vehicle is that you will save more on fuel. Around $606 per year is what it costs to charge an electric car at home, whereas you could spend an estimated $2,700 per year on fuel with a gas-powered car. Of course, you will spend more to replenish your EV's battery at fast charging stations compared to using home chargers, but there are plenty of options if you want to charge your EV for free.

On the flip side, it could be expensive to replace the battery pack of your EV. It costs between $5,000 and $7,000 to replace a Tesla battery module. But you can drive over 300,000 miles before you need a battery swap in your EV, and federal law stipulates that electric car manufacturers must provide a minimum battery warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles.

Electric vehicles are also pricier to insure than ICE vehicles. Aside from the high battery replacement costs, EVs are more expensive to insure because you won't find many available spare parts compared to gas-powered cars.

If you drive an electric vehicle with autonomous software, you probably need to pay for a monthly subscription service. For instance, Tesla's Full Self-Driving suite costs $99 or $199 per month, while the Ford BlueCruise semi-autonomous driving system available on the Mustang Mach and Ford F-150 Lightning costs $600 for three years. On top of this, software upgrade and repair costs should be factored in for some EVs.

Then again, self-driving technology is not exclusive to electric vehicles, and most car companies charge a subscription fee if you’re driving a gas-powered car with autonomous technology.

Follow the User Manual to Service Your Vehicle

Electric vehicles have longer maintenance intervals than gas-powered cars. They're also cheaper to service, and charging an EV is cheaper than refueling an ICE car.

Nevertheless, gas-powered vehicles are cheaper to repair and insure because they have better availability of spare parts. Not to mention, there are fewer EV technicians and shops compared to those who specialize in repairing ICE vehicles.

Every car is different, though, and it's important you follow the user manual to schedule maintenance and avoid falling victim to any misconceptions regarding electric vehicles.