Do Electric Cars Use Oil?

If you’re in the market for a new EV or you just purchased one near Mount Pleasant, you might be wondering. “Do electric cars use oil?” or “Do electric cars need oil changes?” Well, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet can give you that answer — no, electric vehicles do not need any motor oil! However, any electric vehicle will need other fluids like brake fluid, coolant, and transmission fluid. Find out more about how you can enjoy the lack of electric car oil changes down below with our service center!

Do Electric Cars Need Oil Changes?

As previously mentioned, James Island and North Charleston drivers do not need to worry about electric car oil changes. However, they will need to ensure they change their coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid. So, do electric cars use oil? No, but they do use other fluids that are found in their gas-powered counterparts. Let’s take a closer look, below:

• Brake Fluid: Just like other Chevrolet vehicles, electric vehicles have brakes and the brake system still needs to be properly lubricated with brake fluid to ensure safe driving throughout Charleston.
• Transmission fluid: Your transmission fluid helps to keep your gears working properly and well preserved, so you still need to keep an eye on the transmission fluid color in your EV.
• Coolant: The coolant in your radiator prevents your battery and vehicle systems from overheating.

While electric car oil changes do not exist, you still need other routine maintenance like the fluid services listed above, plus tire rotations and wheel alignments — stop by for tire service in Charleston! Here are some more reasons why to buy an electric vehicle!

Electric Vehicle Parts

Now that we’ve answered, “Do electric cars use oil?” let’s take a look at what is under the hood of an EV. Below are a few fundamental parts of the power plant of an electric vehicle:

• Charging ports: These are the external chargers you use to charge the battery of your vehicle.
• Traction motors: These traction motors turn your vehicle’s wheels.
• Onboard charger: The charger converts the external charge you receive from a charging port into DC power.
• DC-DC converter: This converts the high-voltage direct current (DC) power that comes from the battery into the low-voltage DC power which powers and moves the vehicle.
• Battery: The battery stores all the electricity which powers your motor to drive.
• Thermal system: This system keeps your motors and electronic components from overheating.

Service Your EV at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet

So, do electric cars need oil changes, and do electric cars use oil? For all the reasons explained above, you will never have to worry about an electric car oil change! This is just one of the many benefits of electric vehicles. Want to learn more? Contact us to talk with a service advisor, and explore more service tips and tricks online.