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If you’re weighing the cost of an electrified vehicle—either fully electric or hybrid—here’s an interesting fact to consider: they typically cost less to maintain than gas-powered cars. According to a 2021 Consumer Reports analysis, electric vehicle owners can expect to save around 50% on maintenance and repair over the life of the vehicle. The U.
S. Department of Energy reports that scheduled maintenance costs for EVs average $0.06 per mile, compared to $0.
10 per mile for conventional gasoline vehicles. The savings come down to simplicity. Fully electric vehicles don’t need oil changes, spark plugs, or timing belts.
There’s no exhaust system to rust out, no fuel injectors to clog, and no transmission fluid to flush. Even brake jobs are less frequent because of regenerative braking, which uses the electric motor to slow the vehicle and recharge the battery—reducing wear on the brake pads. Hybrids, which combine an electric motor with a gasoline engine, fall somewhere in the middle.
They still need oil changes and emissions-related service, but not as often as traditional vehicles. The electric motor assists the engine, particularly in stop-and-go traffic, which reduces engine strain and extends the life of certain parts. For instance, brake systems in hybrids benefit from regenerative braking, which captures energy during deceleration and feeds it back into the battery, reducing wear on traditional brake components and improving overall efficiency.
But lower maintenance costs don’t mean zero maintenance. Tires on electric vehicles often wear out faster. That’s due to two things: the instant torque delivered by electric motors and the extra weight from battery packs.
Drivers may find themselves replacing tires more frequently—sometimes as much as 20–30% sooner—especially if they have a heavier-footed driving style. There’s also the issue of battery health. EV and hybrid batteries are engineered to last 8 to 15 years, depending on usage and climate, and most come with generous warranties.
But if and when a battery needs replacing outside of warranty, the cost can be steep—often ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. That said, battery failures remain rare in modern EVs, and some manufacturers are moving toward modular battery packs, which could reduce replacement costs in the future. Another shift: EVs rely heavily on software, which means some updates and fixes are handled digitally.
Tesla, Ford, Rivian and other automakers now regularly push over-the-air software updates that can improve performance, patch glitches or even fix recalls—without a trip to the service bay. But when something does break, EV repairs may require specialized knowledge and tools, and not all independent mechanics are equipped to handle them yet. According to a 2023 J.
D. Power study, although EV owners are visiting the shop less often, their service satisfaction scores tend to be lower due to fewer available service centers, long wait times for parts and limited technician expertise — especially for newer models or brands. For hybrids, most mechanics are now well-versed in their service needs and replacement parts are widely available.
But EV-specific repairs—especially involving the high-voltage system—are still a niche skill set. Bottom line, electrified vehicles tend to be cheaper to maintain overall, but the experience can vary widely depending on the make, model and local service infrastructure. The news and editorial staffs of Southern California News Group and The San Diego Union-Tribune had no role in this post’s preparation.
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