Do Electric Cars Use Oil?

If you’ve recently added a new electric vehicle (EV) to your Morrisville driveway, you might wonder if you need to schedule an electric car oil change soon. The answer is no because EVs don’t use motor oil! This is a major benefit of owning an EV, however, there are other fluids still required to keep your EV running, like transmission fluid, coolant, and brake fluid. So, if you’d like to learn more about fluid maintenance for electric vehicles, read on with Hendrick Cadillac Cary!

What Types of Fluids Do Electric Vehicles Use? 

You’ll never need to schedule an electric car oil change, but what about the other fluids we mentioned? You’ll still need to monitor the brake fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant in order to enjoy smooth performance out on the Apex roads. Learn more, below:

• Brake Fluid: Like any other car, the brake system in an EV requires brake fluid for lubrication. Your service tech will check your brake fluid during routine maintenance visits.
• Transmission fluid: Many EVs have a single-speed transmission, but transmission fluid remains just as important! Clean fluid will help your transmission operate smoothly and efficiently. Again, your service tech will check the transmission and transmission fluid at the required intervals — check your owner’s manual for more information.
• Coolant: Coolant remains a critical fluid in an EV because it helps regulate the temperature of the battery and vehicle systems, preventing overheating.

These three fluids encompass many of the consumables used by electric cars, but there are more to consider. Tires are another consumable that is, of course, still required on an EV! Take a look at your maintenance schedule and you’ll see that it includes routine tire maintenance, like rotations and alignments. 

Other EV Components

As you’ve learned, the answer to “Do electric cars need oil?” is a confident “No.” You’ve also learned about the other fluids that are used by electric vehicles. But, what about some of the other key components you will need to maintain? 

An EV uses an electric motor that converts electrical current from the battery into power for forwarding motion. There are magnets alongside the motor that generates torque. A magnetic field is created around the motor, churning it. Every EV has a specific range or the number of miles it can go before depleting the battery and thus running out of power for motion. That means you need to plug an EV into a home or public charging station to replenish the power. 

Here are the crucial parts of an EV’s power plant:

• Charging ports: The external chargers that are used to charge the battery.
• Traction motors: The motors that turn the wheels.
• Onboard charger: Converts the external charge provided by the charging ports into direct current (DC) power.
• DC-DC converter: Converts high-voltage DC power from the battery to low-voltage DC power that moves the vehicle.
• Battery: Stores the electricity that powers the motors while in motion.
• Thermal system: Regulates the temperature of the motors and electronic components to prevent overheating.

Learn More About EV Maintenance at Hendrick Cadillac Cary!

Do electric cars need oil? No. However, if you are considering a hybrid vehicle instead, that’s a different story. For more information, contact a service associate or stop by our dealership near Durham! We’re happy to offer service tips and other information to help you choose the vehicle that’s right for you.