The learning curve that comes with owning a new gas-powered car is typically pretty minor – you already know what most of the features do, you just have to figure out where they’re located. But getting to know your first electric vehicle takes some extra effort.
While some basic car-owning principles carry over, like maintaining the correct tire pressure and driving your vehicle regularly to keep it in good shape, others are a whole new world. Doing your homework is a must.
The first place to start is with your owner’s manual. With past new-car purchases, you may have banished the manual to your glove box with barely a glance, but when you make the jump to an EV it should be required reading. The manual provides all kinds of important information, including how to take care of your EV, extend its battery life and understand its unique features. The manual also covers key safety protocols, such as handling high-voltage components.
Beyond the manual, here are five things to know about owning an EV that can help smooth the transition.
1. Tires
EV tires typically wear out more quickly than gas-powered vehicles. Most EVs weigh about 1,000 pounds more than a comparably sized vehicle with an internal combustion engine (ICE.) Heavy curb weights and greater torque ratings of the motor lead to greater tire wear.
- EV tires are optimized for low-rolling resistance to reduce friction and benefit driving range. The rubber recipe includes sound-absorbing polymers and rubber compounds to reduce noise levels.
- EVs don’t have a spare tire, but some have an “inflator” system that can automatically inflate or deflate tires to the desired air pressure.
- It is important to rotate an EV’s tires at least once a year or every 8,000 miles.
- Maintaining tire air pressure is mandatory to help stretch the driving range.
- Replacing four tires for an all-wheel drive midsize electric SUV can cost more than $1,000.
2. The braking system
Despite the heavier curb weight, an EV’s braking system has a longer shelf life. That’s due in part to regenerative braking, which uses the electric motor to slow the vehicle, generating kinetic electricity that is piped back to the battery. The energy-efficient regeneration process helps reduce wear and tear on the brake pads.
Of course, EV brake systems need occasional cleaning to remove any rust buildup on the rotors and to exercise the calipers, which squeeze pads to the discs. When brake calipers are not used regularly, corrosion can cause the calipers to stick.
Experts recommend periodically using the mechanical brakes to polish the rotors and to dry the brake pads and rotors. In areas where winter roads are salted, a yearly service to clean and lubricate brake calipers is recommended.
3. The 12-volt battery
Besides the high-voltage battery that powers your vehicle’s electric motor, EVs have a 12-volt battery that’s similar to the kind you find in gas-powered vehicles.
In an EV, the 12-volt battery is a deep-cycle battery, which is designed to be regularly discharged and recharged. It’s more expensive to replace than a basic 12-volt battery, costing $200 and up.
The 12-volt battery provides juice to certain electrical features even when your EV is not in use, including anti-theft systems, door locks, seat controls and the onboard computer and diagnostic systems.
It’s also essential when it comes to starting the high-voltage battery. Don’t let it die or you likely won’t be going anywhere.
An EV with a dead 12-volt battery can be “jumped” in the traditional way using a donor vehicle and a set of jumper cables, but that can be a challenge if the battery is so depleted that the doors won’t unlock. Some EVs make entry easy with a manual valet key in the fob and a concealed key port in the driver’s door handle.
Tesla owners can use a household 9-volt battery to connect to electrodes (concealed in the front bumper tow-pin cover) to trigger the locks. The remaining solution for EVs without a valet key, emergency unlock or access to the battery is a tow to the dealership.
4. Carwash mode
First-time EV owners using a drive-through carwash must make a few preparations. Electric vehicles have a carwash mode, typically accessed through the main infotainment screen.
The carwash mode turns off certain vehicle systems to prevent unintended calamity. For instance, the carwash mode:
- Closes all windows
- Turns off rain-sensing wipers so they don’t activate when the water spray begins
- Deactivates parking sensors and automatic emergency braking
- Temporarily disables pop-out door handles
- Temporarily disables key fob or smartphone-based locking and unlocking
- Deactivates Sentry Mode, walk-away door locking, and parking sensor chimes
5. Insurance and repair costs
Getting your EV insured can cost 18-to-30% more on average than insuring an ICE-powered car, according to Bankrate.com. That’s due to a range of factors, including higher sticker prices for EVs and the higher cost of replacement parts.
EVs typically have aluminum body panels, which can be challenging to repair and take time to source. In addition, most dealerships have a shortage of trained EV technicians, which adds exponentially to repair times.
Models by automakers that sell both EVs and gas cars, like Kia and Volkswagen, are generally less expensive to insure than those made by EV-only companies like Tesla and Rivian.
Other insurance considerations include:
- Higher premiums. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners says EVs cost an average of up to $44 more per month to insure than gas-powered vehicles, with the most expensive to insure being Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3.
- Higher payouts. Due to the higher cost of parts and labor, a study by Crash Course Intelligent Solutions found that on average an EV costs over 45 percent more to repair than a comparable gas-powered vehicle, leading to higher claim payouts.
- Claims might take longer to process. According to a recent report, the average repair time for EVs is 15.6 days, compared to 12.7 days for gas-powered vehicles.
- EV owners file more claims. A 2024 report by LexisNexis Risk Solutions found that claim frequency for EVs was 17 percent higher than for passenger vehicles overall.
Mark Maynard has been writing about cars, their people, and products for 30 years. Find him at MaynardsGarage.com.
The news and editorial staffs of Southern California News Group and The San Diego Union-Tribune had no role in this post’s preparation.