If you're considering becoming the owner of an electric car, congrats - not only can you feel better about your drive time, but you're also about to rack up major savings in terms of fuel. However, before you take the plunge into the world of electric Toyotas, it's best that you know how to care for them and what electric car maintenance looks like. Toyota of Clermont is here with a quick guide to get you started - see what our car maintenance experts have to say about it.
What type of car maintenance does an electric car need?
Here's the good news - if you buy a fully electric Clermont Toyota, like the new Toyota bz4X, then car maintenance is minimum. You won't need nearly as much routine car care as you would if you owned a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle because electric cars have fewer parts and fluids under the hood. Here are some facts to keep in mind about electric car maintenance:
You won't need oil changes - ever. Full electric cars like the Toyota bz4X don't use oil at all - they are not internal combustion, so they don't need motor oil to keep the engine cool and lubricated. So you can cross oil changes off your to-do list, as well as appointments for spark plug replacements or air filter replacements.
You will need to schedule brake service so your techs can check your brakes routinely. Electric cars like the Clermont Toyota bz4X use regenerative braking (the car braking sends charge to the battery). But here's the good news about electric car brakes - they typically only need to be replaced every 100,000 miles or so.
You should have your battery inspected. Your electric vehicle battery is the life source of your car so you want it in the best shape possible at all times. This means charging your car as necessary and keeping the state of charge between 20-80%, as well as keeping your car away from extreme heat or cold, which can negatively impact the car battery.
You'll still need to get tire rotations, tire replacements, and alignments. There's nothing super-special about the tires on electric cars - their maintenance schedule follows that of a conventional gasoline-powered car. You'll still have to get rotations, check the PSI, get them balanced and aligned, and replace them as needed.
And here are a few other points about electric car maintenance to keep in mind:
- Electric cars have far fewer fluids so you'll need less maintenance in that respect. However, ask your tech which fluids your car has and which need to be replenished routinely.
- You need to take care of your charging station if you use a home charger. Make sure it's professionally installed and is charging properly every time you use it.
Schedule electric car maintenance today at Toyota of Clermont
Ready to take the plunge and shop electric cars, or want to schedule maintenance for yours? Call Toyota of Clermont today. We're open seven days a week at (352) 404-7000 and we're located just off the Florida Turnpike at 16851 State Road 50.
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