When “Low Maintenance” Doesn’t Mean “No Maintenance”

A Fact-Based Look at EV Ownership from EV LAB Victoria

After eight years of driving electric, first a Nissan Leaf, now a Hyundai Ioniq 5, I can say confidently that EV ownership is one of the most rewarding automotive experiences on the road.
They’re efficient, quiet, exhilarating to drive, have great tech, and cost far less to operate. But as the General Manager of EV LAB Victoria, I’ve also seen a very real side of EV ownership that doesn’t get enough attention: the persistent myth that electric vehicles don’t need maintenance.

Let’s be clear, that’s simply not true.

Fact #1: Every EV Manufacturer Lists Required Maintenance

Every automaker that engineers EVs,  from Tesla and Hyundai to Nissan, Ford, and GM,  publishes official maintenance schedules in their owner’s manuals based on their engineering department’s assessment of the vehicle’s needs.
These schedules are not suggestions; they’re requirements designed to keep vehicles safe, efficient, and within warranty compliance.
EVs still have brakes, suspension, filters, tires, bearings, high- and low-voltage systems, climate-control systems, steering components, and cooling systems, all of which wear, age, and require inspections or services over time.
Ignoring these requirements doesn’t make them disappear; it just means problems show up later, often more costly and inconvenient.

Fact #2: EV Warranties Depend on Documented Maintenance

EVs have some of the most generous warranty programs in the industry.
High-voltage battery systems are typically covered for 8 years or 160 000 km, with some extending to 240 000 km.
An average EV high-voltage warranty covers every component in the high-voltage system, from the charge port and door through to the battery pack, high-voltage cables, inverter, onboard charger, and electric drive motors.

Other components: A typical bumper-to-bumper warranty covers nearly all low-voltage electrical, mechanical, exterior, and interior components,  everything from infotainment to suspension and steering, usually 4 years / 80 000 km or more, excluding wear-and-tear items.

All major manufacturers clearly state that warranty claims may be denied if scheduled maintenance hasn’t been performed or properly documented.
In other words, skipping service can void the very coverage designed to protect you.

At EV LAB Victoria, we’ve had a long history of maintaining vehicles under warranty and many from day one of ownership, keeping them compliant and up-to-date with manufacturer requirements while preserving both warranty protection and resale value.

Fact #3: Machines with Moving Parts Always Require Service

Whether it’s an EV, hybrid, or gas vehicle, the principle is the same: anything mechanical requires care, especially components exposed to the environment, salt and other contaminates, debris, unexpected potholes and curbs and all sorts of other everyday wear.

Neglect leads to:

• Shortened component lifespan
  
  
• Compromised safety
  
  
• Lower efficiency and range
  
  
• Reduced resale value
  
  
• Potential warranty voidance
  
  

EVs are remarkably reliable, but they’re not exempt from physics.

Fact #4: Some Services Cost More — But Overall Costs Are Far Lower

It’s true that certain EV services, such as coolant exchanges or brake-system maintenance, can seem costly because they require specialized fluids and or training.
However, compared to internal-combustion vehicles, which also need regular oil changes, transmission and differential services, exhaust and fuel-system repairs, timing belts or chains and components, spark plugs, and more, the total lifetime maintenance cost of an EV is roughly one-third that of a gas vehicle, not including fuel savings.
Preventative maintenance always costs less than repairs.

Fact #5: Neglect Shows Up — Often Fast

At EV LAB Victoria, we see the results of deferred maintenance every week.
Common findings on “it’s never needed service” EVs include:

• Rusted and or seized brakes — unsafe in emergencies or heavy braking situations
  
  
• Brake fluid saturated with moisture
  
  
• Broken suspension components and cracked bushings
  
  
• Uneven tire wear from skipped rotations
  
  
• Corrosion and trapped moisture near high-voltage systems
  
  
• Rodent damage, nests, and debris buildup
  
  
• Undercarriage corrosion and pooling around battery trays
  
  

All preventable. All the direct result of skipped inspections and services.

Fact #6: The Used-EV Market Proves It

As more EVs enter the used-car market, pre-purchase inspections are revealing how widespread neglect has become.
Vehicles with incomplete service histories lose resale value and surprise new prospective owners with expensive repair lists.
Proper maintenance and documentation, meanwhile, builds buyer confidence and boosts market value,  simple proof that maintenance pays off.

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A pre-purchase inspection buys peace of mind, a post-purchase inspection often comes with a tears and regret

The Bottom Line

• Every EV has a manufacturer-specified maintenance schedule.
  
  
• Warranty coverage depends on following that schedule.
  
  
• Neglect leads to safety issues, inefficiency, and lower resale value.
  
  
• Even with all required maintenance, EVs still cost far less to own and operate than gas vehicles.
  
  

At EV LAB Victoria, we specialize exclusively in EV and hybrid maintenance, from routine inspections to high-voltage system care, ensuring every requirement is met, logged, and warranty-safe.
We’re proud to keep Victoria’s growing EV community driving confidently and safely.

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Final Thoughts

Electric and hybrid vehicles are among the most reliable machines on the road, just like airplanes, boats, and heavy-duty electric equipment. But what they all share is simple: reliability depends on proper maintenance and care.

You’d never hear a pilot, captain, or equipment operator say, “It doesn’t need maintenance,” because they absolutely know that safety and performance go hand in hand with regular masintenance and care.

With EVs, many owners just don’t realize this yet. Some were told the “no maintenance required” story, and while EVs do need far less service than gas vehicles, that doesn’t mean none at all.

Every machine needs attention to stay safe, efficient, and dependable. It’s not about fear or exaggeration, it’s about keeping your vehicle, and everyone who shares the road with you, protected. Vehicle health should be fact-based, not assumed. And saying, “It’s never needed maintenance,” isn’t the same as confirming that everything’s still in great shape, even if warranty coverage isn’t your main concern.

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EV LAB Victoria
High Voltage • High Standards
Certified EV & Hybrid Maintenance, Service, and Inspection
📍 740 Roderick Street, Victoria BC
🌐 EVLABVictoria.ca

Written by Miles Brown
General Manager, EV LAB Victoria & Rand Automotive

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