Insights

EV servicing shows ‘significant’ cost gap compared to ICE vehicles

By 27th February 2023March 20th, 2023No Comments

On average, Electric vehicles (EVs) cost £103 to service, 35% cheaper than petrol or diesel vehicles according to new data from BookMyGarage.com.

From bookings made through BookMyGarage.com between January and December of last year, diesel cars incurred the highest service costs on average, amounting to £163. Hybrid vehicles ranked second with an average cost of £159, followed by petrol cars at £151 on average.

It was mentioned that the overall average cost of maintenance, which includes MOT tests, servicing, and repairs, is up to 43% lower for EVs in comparison to other fuel types.

Jessica Potts, head of marketing at BookMyGarage.com, explained: “The nature of EV powertrains not requiring engine oil changes, fuel filters, air filters or spark plugs means that servicing an electric vehicle requires less labour and fewer replacement parts and fluids, helping to lower costs for motorists.

“That said, servicing is still essential for EVs from a safety perspective, so the throughput of vehicles in workshops and the business opportunity for garages should remain similar to ICE vehicles – much of the cost saving is from fewer replacement parts rather than a reduction in labour.”

Key Points: 

  • In 2022, 16% of technicians were trained to carry out servicing on EVs, up 5% from 2021. 
  • Although EVs cost less to service, far fewer EV-qualified garages are available. 
  • EVs cost less to service as they require less labour and fewer replacement parts and fluids.
  • On average, EVs are 35% cheaper to service than ICE and Hybrid vehicles. 

The transition to EVs

For many business fleets, making the transition to electric vehicles could bring major cost savings, equip employees to operate in Clean Air Zones without worry, and support your environmental aims. Not all drivers are familiar with the technology and its capabilities and may be resistant to making the switch, holding back their progress, or they may have adopted an EV without fully understanding the safest, most efficient way to incorporate electric motoring into their work and lifestyle.

IAM RoadSmart’s EV Familiarisation course is designed to introduce drivers to EV driving characteristics and instrumentation, and to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to make optimal use of battery range, helping remove the barriers to adoption and improve safety out on the road.