Do Electric Cars Use Oil?

Purchasing an electric vehicle means enjoying numerous perks, such as saving money usually spent on gas and reducing your carbon footprint. If you recently bought an EV to drive around Downtown Toronto and the surrounding areas, you probably have a few maintenance questions. One of the most common EV maintenance questions our certified technicians receive is: Do electric cars use oil? So, do electric cars need oil changes? No, electric cars do not require motor oil! Learn what fluids your new EV does need to run optimally throughout the region. Contact us to schedule a service appointment! 

What Fluids Do You Need to Change in Electric Vehicles?

North York drivers do not need electric car oil changes. But since the answer to do electric cars use oil is no, what do they need? EV drivers need to keep tabs on brake fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant. Here’s a closer look at what that means in practice:

• Brake Fluid: Like any type of car, EVs feature brakes, meaning that you’ll need to ensure your brake system is properly lubricated in order to remain safe while driving. 

• Transmission fluid: This fluid ensures that your gears move efficiently and are well preserved. Since your EV features a transmission, you’ll need to stay on top of transmission fluid changes. Consult your owner’s manual for specific intervals.

• Coolant: The coolant in your radiator keeps your battery and vehicle systems from overheating. 

Of course, electric vehicles still need tires! That means you’ll also need to schedule regular services like tire rotation and wheel alignment. No matter what you require, we make it easy to schedule service online.

Electric Vehicle Parts 

Now that you know that electric vehicles don’t use oil, let’s take a look at the anatomy of EVs. Once you’ve got a better sense of how EVs differ from gas-powered vehicles, you’ll be better prepared to keep your EV in good condition for years to come.

EVs use an electric motor, which converts an electrical current from your battery into motion. Torque is generated with magnets alongside the motor. The magnets create a magnetic field around the motor, and churn it. To ensure that your vehicle has the power required to run, you’ll need to charge it up at home or at public charging stations around Brampton.

Here are the most fundamental parts of your EV’s power plant:

• Charging ports: These are the external chargers you use to charge the battery of your vehicle. 

• Traction motors: These motors turn your vehicle’s wheels.

• Onboard charger: The charger converts the external charge you receive from a charging port into DC power.

• DC-DC converter: This converts the high-voltage direct current (DC) power that comes from the battery into the low-voltage DC power that moves the vehicle.

• Battery: Your battery stores the electricity that powers the motors as you drive.

• Thermal system: This system keeps your motors and electronic components from overheating.