Electric Car Maintenance Costs

In comparison, BEV vehicles are the slightest bit more expensive to repair and maintain, with an average cost of $0.031, while ICE vehicles are the most expensive, with $0.061 per mile.

Recent electric car statistics indicate that the average costs of repair and maintenance for these three types of powertrains varies depending on the vehicle mileage, and tends to increase over time.

Namely, only in the first 50,000 miles, BEV vehicles have lower maintenance costs ($0.012) than PHEV vehicles ($0.021), while after the initial 50,000 miles, PHEV vehicles become cheaper to repair and maintain. ICE vehicles, on the other hand, have the highest repair and maintenance costs throughout the entire lifespan.

Beyond per-mile costs, the study also reveals that the lifetime EV maintenance costs, regardless of the powertrain type, add up to around $4,600, while the lifetime repair and maintenance costs for an ICE vehicle are about twice as much, or around $9,200.

Other significant costs for maintaining a BEV are:

• Shocks and struts – $0.010 per mile

• Tire rotation – $0.007 per mile

• Break pads – $0.005 per mile

All other costs are less than $0.005 per mile.

On the other hand, the maintenance cost on hybrid cars involves:

• Engine oil – $0.007 per mile

• Oil filter – $0.002 per mile

• Spark plugs – $0.002 per mile

• Oxygen sensor – $0.004 per mile

• Transmission service – $0.002 per mile

• Timing belt – $0.007 per mile

• Accessory drive belt – $0.002 per mile

• Engine coolant – $0.002 per mile

• Fuel filter – $0.001 per mile

Which are costs not incurred when maintaining a BEV vehicle.

Finally, maintaining an ICE vehicle is the most expensive, as it involves all of the electric car maintenance costs, but at a higher per-mile price, compared to a PHEV. For example, changing the engine oil for an ICE vehicle costs $0.009 per mile, rather than $0.007, replacing the brake pads costs $0.007, instead of $0.005, etc.

While maintaining an EV is less expensive than maintaining an ICE car, stats show that electric cars are the more expensive option when it comes to repairs. In comparison, the average cost of repairing a small, non-luxury ICE vehicle within three years is $3,191.

Data on electric car repair costs further reveals that a whopping 99.8% of repairs made on small, non-luxury EVs cost between $2,500 and $5,000, while only 0.2% were cheaper or between $1,000 and $2,500.

On the other hand, 98.3% of small, non-luxury ICE cars were repaired for a cost of between $2,500 and $5,000, 1.5% were repaired for between $1,000 and $2,500, and a small fraction of cars, or 0.1% were even repaired for a cost up to $1,000.

Data on EV cost of ownership reveals that the average cost of repairs within a three-year timeframe for mid-size luxury electric cars is $8,037, while their ICE counterparts are significantly cheaper to repair, at $5,242 on average.

According to the stats, 75.3% of the repairs made on the EVs from this type cost between $5,000 and $10,000, 20% cost between $2,500 and $5,000, 1.2% cost between $10,000 and $15,000, and the repairs for 3.5% were as high as between $15,000 and $25,000.

Conversely, SUV maintenance cost comparison data shows that 67.4% of ICE mid-size luxury SUVs were repaired for costs of between $5,000 and $10,000, and the costs for 31.2% of them were between $2,500 and $5,000. The repair costs were between $10,000 and $15,000 for only 0.4%, between $1,000 and $2,500 for 0.9%, and 0.1% were repaired for up to $1,000.

The total true cost to own a 2022 Tesla Model 3 for five years is estimated at $70,420, but these estimations include costs like depreciation, taxes and fees, financing, fuel, insurance, repairs, and maintenance.

Looking at the repair and maintenance costs only, Tesla Model 3 is one of the most affordable electric vehicles to own. The annual maintenance cost for Tesla Model 3 for the first five years of owning it is estimated at:

• Year one – $125

• Year two – $177

• Year three – $156

• Year four – $1,536

• Year five – $162

Moreover, the repair costs for a five-year ownership of Tesla Model 3 are only slightly higher at $2,167. It’s estimated that the first three years of owning a Tesla come with no repair costs, while owners are expected to spend $857 in year four and $1,310 in year five of owning this electric vehicle.

Including all other costs of ownership, like depreciation, financing, taxes and fees, fuel, insurance, and repairs, in addition to maintenance, owning an Audi e-Tron for five years costs an estimated $96,606.

Compared to the Tesla Model 3, which is one of the cheapest EVs to maintain, the Audi e-Tron is 194.7% more expensive. The estimated annual maintenance costs associated with owning this vehicle are:

• Year one – $174

• Year two – $708

• Year three – $377

• Year four – $3,443

• Year five – $1,652

However, even though the Audi's yearly maintenance cost is significantly higher than the Tesla’s, its yearly repair cost is estimated to be lower, at $1,826, for a five-year period.

Owners of Audi e-Tron are expected to pay nothing for repairs within the initial three years of owning the vehicle, while $722 of repair costs are expected in the fourth, and another $1,104 in the fifth year of the vehicle’s lifespan.

The above figure takes all types of ownership costs like financing, insurance, taxes and fees, depreciation, fuel, maintenance, and repairs.

As for the Taycan maintenance cost, it’s estimated at $4,226 for five years. Interestingly, the Porsche has a significantly higher total ownership costs compared to the Audi e Tron, but when it comes solely to maintenance, it is more affordable.

Taycan owners are not expected to pay any maintenance costs during their first year of ownership, and for the following four years, the expected costs are:

• Year two – $703

• Year three – $500

• Year four – $2,473

• Year five – $550

In addition to the yearly maintenance cost, Porsche owners are expected to pay $2,787 for repairs. The estimates are that owners will not spend anything on repairs in the initial three years, $1,101 in the fourth, and another $1,686 in the fifth year of ownership.

The Chevrolet Bolt is arguably the EV with the lowest costs of ownership in the world, with estimated costs of only $39,290 for five years. This estimation involves all ownership costs, including depreciation, taxes and fees, insurance, financing, fuel, repairs, and maintenance.

Interestingly, the Chevy Bolt’s maintenance cost is slightly higher than the Tesla Model 3’s, at $2,796, even though its total true ownership cost is about 79.2% lower. By year, Chevrolet owners are expected to pay the following costs on maintenance:

• Year one – $132

• Year two – $359

• Year three – $182

• Year four – $485

• Year five – $1,638

However, its estimated repair costs are about three times lower than the Tesla’s, at $731. Chevrolet Bolt owners are not expected to pay anything on repairs for the first two years of owning the car, and in the following three years, they are expected to pay only:

• Year three – $107

• Year four – $254

• Year five – $370

On repairs.

The vehicle’s true cost to own, including depreciation, taxes and fees, financing, fuel, repairs, insurance, and maintenance, for five years is $66,560.

Mach E’s maintenance cost estimations by year are the following:

• Year one – $116

• Year two – $462

• Year three – $189

• Year four – $1,960

• Year five – $845

Similarly to the Chevrolet Bolt, the Mustang Mach-E estimated repair costs for a five-year ownership are very small, at $782. Owners are not expected to spend any money on repairs in the initial two years, and in the following three years, the estimated repair costs are as follows:

• Year three – $114

• Year four – $273

• Year five – $395

As a mid-size luxury SUV, the Tesla Model X has a true cost of ownership 119.7% higher than the Tesla Model 3, estimated at $154,744 for a five-year ownership. These costs include depreciation, financing, insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes and fees, and fuel.

Although its true ownership costs are quite considerable, the Model X’s maintenance and repair costs are just small fractions of this hefty sum, at $2,103 and $2,832, respectively.

Here’s a breakdown of the Tesla’s yearly maintenance cost for the first five years of owning it:

• Year one – $143

• Year two – $148

• Year three – $245

• Year four – $2,118

• Year five – $178

For repairs, Model X owners are not expected to spend any money during the initial three years of ownership. The estimated repair costs in the fourth year are $831, while they are $1,272 for the fifth year of owning the vehicle.

This electric vehicle has a relatively low true ownership cost of $40,591, accounting for all costs for ownership, like depreciation, financing, insurance, taxes and fees, repairs, maintenance, and fuel.

The five-year Nissan LEAF maintenance cost is estimated at $2,771, with most of the costs coming in the fifth year of ownership. Here is a year-by-year breakdown of the estimated maintenance costs:

• Year one – $207

• Year two – $283

• Year three – $303

• Year four – $293

• Year five – $1,685

Repair costs are only expected after the initial two years of owning a Nissan LEAF, and these are the yearly estimations:

• Year three – $87

• Year four – $209

• Year five – $305

Most EVs come with warranties that cover key components such as the battery and electric drivetrain. The warranty's duration and coverage can significantly impact your budget and reduce the running costs of electric car maintenance and certain repairs.

Be sure to understand what is covered by the warranty of the EV you are interested in buying and for how long. It will allow you to plan for any potential future expenses related to your electric vehicle, but also help you choose the right EV model for your needs and budget.

Electric cars generally require less maintenance compared to traditional gasoline vehicles. Factors like reduced oil maintenance costs, regenerative braking, and less wear and tear on engine parts can make maintaining an EV up to 35% less expensive than an ICE vehicle.

However, there are still some routine maintenance tasks related to electric vehicle upkeep, that need to be factored into your budget, including:

• Tire rotation

• Wiper blades

• Cabin air filter

• Multi-point inspection

• Brake fluid

• Tires replacement

• Brake pads

• Starter battery

• Headlight bulbs

• HVAC service

• Brake rotors

• Shocks and struts

• EV battery coolant

• Brake calipers

The cost of each of these tasks varies depending on make and model, so to get a better understanding, try researching for expected electric car maintenance costs, specifically for the vehicle you are interested in purchasing.

There is an abundance of information available online regarding the maintenance costs and the true ownership costs associated with different electric vehicles. Many websites report information based on past customer experiences and can tell you what costs you can expect per mile or per year.

However, you need to keep in mind that while learning the average yearly maintenance cost of a car can be helpful, your budget should be ready for unexpected expenses, which are usually not covered by online estimations.

To get more insights, try to go deeper and learn about common issues related to the specific model you are interested in on forums, comment sections, and social media groups where EV enthusiasts and owners discuss their experiences. Don't hesitate to reach out to current EV owners directly for firsthand feedback.