Much like traditional gasoline-powered cars, electric vehicles (EVs) also require regular maintenance. Today, let's delve into the key considerations for maintaining your EV.
First, let's focus on the most popular plug-in hybrid models. The maintenance for these vehicles is quite similar to traditional gasoline cars. You'll still need to replace components like engine oil and air filters because, after all, plug-in hybrids still rely on gasoline.
However, what sets them apart from traditional vehicles is the attention required for the electric motor. You should also pay close attention to the battery's usage and perform targeted maintenance, much like you would with pure electric cars.
So, what are the essential aspects to consider when maintaining your EV?
1. Inspect Wiring Harnesses: Regularly check for signs of aging or loose connections in the engine compartment. If you lack the necessary expertise, it's advisable to have this done at a 4S dealership or a professional auto maintenance shop.
2. Avoid Water Inside Engine Compartment: Due to the unique nature of EVs, never use water to clean the engine compartment as it can lead to short-circuits.
3. Optimize Battery Health: To keep the power battery in its best condition, periodically charge and discharge the vehicle to achieve self-correction of the battery. You can also visit a 4S dealership for capacity testing and calibration.
4. Protect from High Temperatures: Avoid exposing your EV to direct sunlight in extremely high-temperature conditions. Excessive heat can increase internal battery pressure, leading to potential water loss, decreased battery activity, and accelerated plate aging.
5. Check Charging Port: Before each charging cycle, inspect the charging port to ensure it's in good condition and free from any issues.
6. Proper Charging Procedures:
- When starting the charging process, align the charging gun with the corresponding port before inserting it.
- When ending the charging process, first perform the necessary actions on the charging equipment (such as swiping a card or stopping the charging session) before unlocking the vehicle. Then, press and hold the charging gun unlock button for 1-2 seconds before removing it. Avoid pulling out the charging gun directly or too quickly to prevent arcing risks.
7. Fluid Maintenance: Pay attention to various fluid levels, especially the cooling fluid. Unlike traditional vehicles, in pure electric EVs, the coolant is used for cooling the electric motor and should be replaced every 3 years or 80,000 kilometers.
8. Transmission Fluid: For hybrid models, change the automatic transmission fluid every 3 years or 60,000 kilometers.
9. Power Steering Fluid: Replace the power steering fluid every 2 years or 50,000 kilometers.
In addition to these specific maintenance tasks, which differ from those of traditional gasoline cars, don't forget routine maintenance like exterior cleaning, chassis inspection, tire checks, headlight inspections, windshield wiper function tests, interior cleaning, fluid checks, and system module checks.
All in all, these are some of the unique aspects of maintaining EVs compared to conventional gasoline cars. It's essential for all EV owners to prioritize vehicle maintenance to ensure safe and reliable travels.
