Is Auto Service on an EV Less Expensive Than an ICE Vehicle?

 With automotive technology circumnavigating back to electric-focused fueling (cars began as EVs, after all), the road will soon be a mix of ICEs and EVs. If you're at a crossroads with your next car purchase, an EV might be on your list of options. Apart from electricity being a very convenient means of fueling, a cheaper one, and EVs just being overall cool, you might be wondering how much it costs to maintain. 

Auto service can be a big determining factor when it comes to your next chosen vehicle. To help make the process easier, Toyota of Orlando is here to filter through the noise and give you a concrete answer. Check it out right here!

EV or ICE. Which is Cheaper to Maintain?

According to AAA, auto service can be pretty expensive on average. Try about $500 to $600 for a typical day of service if you're not just getting an oil change. Yes, maintaining an ICE is generally expensive. Not to mention the fact that gasoline is constantly fluctuating in price (and is currently very high, we might add). All that might make it obvious that auto service for an Orlando Toyota EV would be cheaper, but it's a bit murkier than that. 

Technically, ICE vehicles are the most common forms of vehicles on the road right now. That means that replacement parts and individuals with knowledge of how to maintain these types of vehicles are in abundance. When things are in abundance, prices go down (tbt to econ). But, the skilled labor it takes to repair ICE vehicles doesn't come cheap. And, on top of that, Orlando Toyota ICE vehicles contain a huge number of moving parts with fluids, hoses, and electrical connections that often need to be serviced to continue operation. 

EVs being both old and new aren't quite backed by the decades of auto service records that Orlando ICE vehicles are. But, early findings are showing great promise when it comes to your service bill. Upfront, EVs are more expensive than the average ICE vehicle. This is because they're not quite mainstream on the market, fewer options are available for drivers, and the technology is still unique in many ways. Plus, EV techs are still needing to be trained to handle vehicles of these designs and parts production still needs to catch up. 

But, while EVs have quite a few factors that make their sticker prices higher on average, maintaining them is actually more affordable than you might think. Over the lifetime of an Orlando Toyota EV, auto service can actually save drivers around $4,600. This is because EVs operate without the need for combustion and other harsh chemical reactions. They also contain far fewer moving parts and have other technological functions to preserve their parts. For example, A/C systems in EVs often go uninterrupted even though they are designed similarly to what's in an ICE vehicle. There's no engine oil and no combustion process that could infect the A/C system so it often need not be maintained. Regenerative braking can also better preserve your brake pads and rotors by differing more stopping force to the electric motors at play. 

Overall, EVs are excellent at saving you money on auto service. Plus, they're emission-free! As Toyota begins its rollout of these vehicles, you might want to consider getting behind the wheel of one. 

Visit Toyota of Orlando at 3575 Vineland Road for all your auto service and shopping needs!