While discussions on the upfront costs of Electric Vehicles (EVs), hybrids and gas vehicles have been at the forefront of car-buying debates recently, perhaps the more realistic comparison is to look at the differences in their average yearly maintenance and repair costs.
Keep in mind that maintenance costs refer to standard car maintenance to address regular wear and tear of the vehicle and keep it running smoothly, not repair costs. Repair costs can vary significantly depending on the type of vehicle you own. While repair shop familiarity with EVs and hybrids used to be an issue when repairing newer types of vehicles, more garages these days are familiar with how to maintain and repair hybrids and EVs.
Maintenance
Electric Vehicles – The highest maintenance cost will be the battery pack, which generally lasts about eight to ten years. The battery cost depends on the type needed and its current availability but is typically in the four-figure dollar range. Because of regenerative braking, you won’t need to replace your brake pads as frequently, and because there are fewer moving parts in an electric engine, there are fewer things to break or experience wear and tear, so you won’t need to do regular tune-ups.
Hybrid Vehicles – Because Hybrid vehicles have both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, they’ll need regular oil changes and parts replacement like spark plugs, batteries and brake pads on roughly the same maintenance schedule. Because hybrids also have a regenerative braking system, which can reduce wear on traditional brake pads, you won’t need to replace your brake pads as frequently as in a gas vehicle, and they may have fewer maintenance needs related to the internal combustion engine.
Gas-powered Vehicles – Besides the cost of fuel, which is decidedly higher in gas vehicles than either of the other two options, regular maintenance like oil changes, fluid replacement and tune-ups are needed regularly. Additionally, gas vehicles require battery replacement every four to five years, brake replacement every 40,000 miles or so, and the manufacturer’s suggested mileage-based maintenance.
Here are some comparisons*:
EV Hybrid Gas
Average Initial Costs $66,997 $39,040 $33,797
Average Yearly Fuel Costs $998 $1,137 $2,425
Average Insurance Costs $2,280 $1,637 $1,529
*Facts and figures are courtesy of The Zebra, Insurance Comparison Site.
