What Electric Car Owners Should Know: Less Oil, More Tech Care

If you drive a hybrid or fully electric vehicle—whether it’s a Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen, Volvo, Lexus, Toyota, or Honda—there’s good news and a few things to keep in mind. Electric cars have fewer moving parts than gas engines. No complex transmission, no exhaust system, no oil changes.

The electric motor itself is simpler, and many components need less regular attention.

But that doesn’t mean they’re maintenance-free. The heavy battery pack—often adding several hundred pounds—puts extra stress on your suspension and tires. Instant torque from the electric motor can wear down tires faster, especially if they’re not the right load-rated ones. We see this often at our shop.

Your suspension will need more frequent checks, and tires with special markings may need replacing sooner than you’d expect.

Also critical: the battery’s cooling system. Every few years, the special dielectric coolant that keeps lithium-ion cells at the right temperature needs to be replaced. Skip that, and you risk battery damage. Plus, just like your smartphone, modern electric cars require regular software updates.

These updates fix bugs and keep everything running smoothly.

One more thing: Chrysler recently recalled over 17,000 Pacifica Hybrid minivans (2020–2022 models) because battery cells can break down internally and cause a fire risk. If you own one, or any hybrid or EV, it’s smart to have the battery and cooling system inspected. At Boca Auto Care, we can check yours and keep you on the road safely.