With more EVs on the road, auto care has changed too, and so has driver education. Owners must develop new routine maintenance habits, from tracking battery health and software enhancements to managing tire wear and cooling system inspections. These habits are crucial to avoiding expensive repair bills and maintaining long-term vehicle performance, writes Vivek Mohan, Director of Vista Autocare.
Electric vehicles (EVs) have transitioned from niche innovation to mass transportation. More than 14 million EVs were sold worldwide by 2023, representing almost 20 percent of all new vehicle sales. This trend is not abating. In certain nations, like Norway, EVs represent almost 90 percent of all new cars sold. Even in markets like the United States, where gasoline-powered vehicles have long been the norm, EV adoption is rising at a steep incline.
This transition has ripple effects far beyond the car lot. It’s changing the entire car-owning lifecycle, particularly the way we maintain our cars. Mechanics and service shops, along with car owners themselves, are all being compelled to change. Once the engine is quiet, so are many of the systems that previously demanded constant care. Now, auto care is shifting from grease-stained tools to diagnostics screens, from routine oil changes to software updates and battery management, signaling a new era of maintenance in motion
Understanding the Silent Shift
As EVs replace traditional engines, auto care moves from oil changes and exhaust repairs to battery health, software updates, and tire maintenance, redefining what it means to maintain a car. Behind the EV revolution lies the reduced mechanical complexity. Conventional gas-driven cars (internal combustion engine, or ICE) depend on several hundred moving parts — pistons, spark plugs, belts, and exhaust — all of which need constant attention. EVs, in comparison, operate on electric motors that have fewer than 20 moving parts, the majority of which never need interference.
In the place of oil changes and fuel filters, EV maintenance is bundled around battery management, software updates, and tire maintenance. This change does not reflect less responsibility, but the wrong kind of responsibility — and for the auto care business, an entire re-engineering of what service means.
What Gets Left Behind? Conventional Auto Care Services Fading Away
Oil changes, exhaust repairs, and transmission services are becoming obsolete. With fewer moving parts and no combustion engine, EVs are phasing out many routine maintenance tasks that once defined car ownership. The EV revolution is erasing a number of fundamental services that have occupied auto shops for years. Among them:
- Oil Changes – A thing of the past. EVs don’t consume engine oil.
- Exhaust System Repairs – No mufflers, no catalytic converters, no tailpipes.
- Fuel System Maintenance – EVs lack fuel injectors and fuel pumps.
- Transmission Fluid Check – The majority of EVs employ a single-speed gearbox.
- Emissions Testing – No emissions testing needed for zero-emission vehicles.
Even brake work is lessened with regenerative braking, slowing the car by reversing the electric motor— eliminating much wear on conventional brake parts. The outcome? A significant portion of routine auto maintenance is vanishing.
What’s New on the Checklist? The Contemporary EV Maintenance Routine
While EVs eliminate oil changes and exhaust maintenance, they introduce other priorities like checking battery health, tire maintenance, and periodic software updates. Cooling systems and regenerative brakes require occasional checks too. The focus has now shifted from mechanical maintenance to digital diagnostics and preventive maintenance, a new era of auto maintenance. Some of the fundamental elements that now characterize EV maintenance are:
- Battery Health- The battery is the most important and costly element of an EV. Although engineered to last long, often with warranties of 8–10 years, it still needs maintenance. Charging habits (not 100 percent top-offs, or repeated deep discharges) and temperature checking keep its lifespan in check.
- Tire Wear -EVs are heavier with battery packs and provide instant torque. This wears tires out quicker, especially when not rotated regularly. Tire rotation, alignment, and pressure inspection become an even more important aspect of car maintenance.
- Cooling Systems -Batteries and electric motors produce heat, so there needs to be a thermal management system. Coolant will last longer in EVs, but needs to be inspected and replaced according to manufacturer recommendations (usually at 1,00,000–1,50,000 miles).
- Software Updates – EVs are less mechanical and more software-based. Routine software updates influence everything from range calculations to safety functions. Maintenance involves making sure updates are applied and systems are bug-free.
- Brake Checks – Though brake pads have a longer lifespan, they can wear away because of light use or rust in damp climates. Regular checkup is still advisable.
The Business Side – Auto Service Industry in Transition
This transition to EVs is pressing an industry established on the internal combustion engine. Thousands of standalone repair shops that used to do well on oil changes, radiator flushes, and muffler replacements now see a dwindling customer base for those services. Meanwhile, a skills gap is in the making. EVs demand high-voltage electrical expertise, computerized diagnostic equipment, and software proficiency, not necessarily included in conventional mechanic school. Consequently:
- Dealerships, which tend to be certified and equipped for EV repair, are receiving more service traffic.
- Independent shops are starting to employ preschool technicians or shift to tire and chassis work, both still shared between EVs and ICE vehicles.
- Other shops have become specialized in EV conversions or battery repair, establishing new niches in the service economy.
- Service companies that do not evolve risk being left behind, while others are investing in new technology, training, and certifications to keep up with demand.
Consumer Awareness and New Best Practices
With more EVs on the road, auto care has changed too, and so has driver education. Owners must develop new routine maintenance habits, from tracking battery health and software enhancements to managing tire wear and cooling system inspections. These habits are crucial to avoiding expensive repair bills and maintaining long-term vehicle performance. For most new EV owners, the transition is not only mechanical, it’s learning. Too often, the realities of EV auto care only become clear after a surprise tire bill or a sudden drop in range. In this new era, awareness is more than helpful; it’s imperative. To take proper care of an EV, motorists need to make new habits of:
- Monitoring battery health and charge cycles
- Following the recommended charging hardware and scheduling
- Understanding software alerts and diagnostics
- Keeping tires in regular rotation and pressure checked
- Understanding that fewer repairs does not equal no maintenance
Despite fewer service visits, preventive care is still necessary. For example, neglecting software updates can result in performance problems, while neglecting tire rotation can double replacement costs.
The EV revolution has always had the promise of being sustainable, but in recent years, it’s less of a declaration and more of a necessity. What was once a space-age amenity — something to use to announce innovation or prosperity — is becoming more of a practical option for motorists looking to save on fuel costs, maintenance issues, and climate change. That doesn’t imply the badge has vanished. Having an electric Audi or BMW still means something in certain circles. But more significantly, EVs are moving into mid-range and budget segments, making sustainability transition from a niche aspiration to a daily expectation. Auto maintenance in this case reinforces that objective. Reduced oil, reduced waste, and more durable parts are compatible with environmental demands. Combined with cleaner grid electricity and battery recycling initiatives, EVs indicate a future where transportation maintenance and sustainability are synonymous.
A Quiet Revolution with Loud Impacts
With greater and greater acceptance of electric vehicles, the car care business is changing. The old standbys of oil change and emissions inspections are being displaced by newer alternatives, such as tire rotation and software patches. For customers, it involves new habits of maintenance for maximum performance. As the auto care landscape evolves, collaboration and education will pave the way for smoother transitions – for drivers and the industry alike.