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You choose an electric vehicle because you’re responsible, and you want to do something good for the world while taking advantage of taxpayer subsidies. Yet, many EV owners have been sold the myth that their new car requires very little or no maintenance.
Sadly, it’s just that: a myth. Sure, EVs typically require much less maintenance compared to traditional petrol guzzlers, but they do still need a bit of upkeep.
The good news is that just a few simple electric vehicle maintenance habits can improve the efficiency of your car by up to 15%, slow the battery wear, and even get you a strong resale or trade-in value.
Below, you’ll find clear, practical advice on how to maintain your EV while you’re driving it, so you can get the most out of it when you’re ready to hand it off to someone else.
EVs have been around for more than a decade now, so why does this myth continue to persist? After all, ask many people, and they’ll tell you that you should buy an electric vehicle because you don’t have to take care of it.
The likely reason for this ongoing fabrication is the fact that EVs don’t need oil changes. With a petrol car, you’re stuck taking it in for oil changes every few months. With an EV, you’re off the hook.
Still, you’ll need to take care of your electric car if you’re hoping to keep it in good shape, and maybe get some of your money back when you sell it.
After all, the EV does have tyres and many other mechanical components that need looking after. The more wear and tear you put on a vehicle, the lower your resale value will be. And the less efficiently the car will run down the line.
The bottom line is that there’s a clear link between maintenance, efficiency, and battery health.
The little things add up to make a big difference. Such is true about these simple maintenance habits you can put into place. Tyres do their part, brakes do theirs, and the battery does its part. Here’s the breakdown:
Tyres are going to be an issue on both a petrol car and an EV, so this maintenance tip should come as no surprise. For maximum driving efficiency, you’ll want to ensure your tyres are inflated to the proper pressure. This is because underinflated tyres can lead to both uneven tyre wear and unsafe handling and braking.
Those issues become even more pronounced in the UK, with roads filled with potholes and wet weather, which can affect handling and stability.
Proper inflation will increase your driving efficiency by up to 3% (0.2% increase in efficiency per 1 PSI increase) all on its own.
Plus, in terms of resale value, poor tyres are an immediate red flag for potential buyers.
Many EV owners may take for granted that they have a regenerative braking system. As you take your foot off the gas to slow down, the electric motor acts as a generator to slow down your car and send power to the battery.
This means that you’re likely using your brakes less often than you would in a petrol car. On the one hand, you’re probably not hitting the brakes a lot, which is good for your brakes and tyres.
On the other hand, light braking can cause corrosion because the grime on your brake pads isn’t getting regularly burned or scraped off. Moisture can build up, and rust can become a problem.
So, while your brakes may be in good shape in theory, you’ll still want to get them checked regularly.
Well-maintained brakes support smooth driving. Proper use and maintenance of your regenerative braking system can increase efficiency by recapturing a meaningful chunk of energy that would otherwise be lost as heat. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that net regenerative braking recovers about 22% of energy on the EPA combined city/highway drive cycle, directly supporting better overall efficiency and range.
Because the battery life is so important on an EV, one of the biggest maintenance habits you’ll want to get into is to monitor the temperature changes for your vehicle.
Heat and cold directly control your battery performance, efficiency, safety, lifespan, and resale value. Also, temperature changes can happen dramatically under the hood in everyday stop-start driving in any number of UK cities.
If the system that manages the heat of your battery fails, your battery will age faster, lower your range, and, of course, drop the value of your car.
This isn’t necessarily a large or unwieldy chore, but checking regularly can stop problems before they affect your long-term battery health.
A well-maintained battery cooling and thermal system in your EV can improve efficiency by 5-10%, knowing that extreme heat and cold can reduce EV range by up to 40%.
Finally, your charging habits can have a big impact on the resale value of your EV and your driving efficiency.
Like with most electronics, it’s not a good idea to drain the battery entirely and have to recharge to 100% frequently.
This is because the longer a battery sits at full charge, the more damage can accumulate as the chemical stress inside the cells increases. Worse: once the capacity of your battery degrades, it can’t be restored through software or calibration. Any used-EV buyer is going to know to look for your battery health and charging patterns using diagnostic tools.
Charging your battery to just 80% on a daily basis can double the cycle life. That’s a huge push in the direction of efficiency.
One thing you will want to be sure of is that you use manufacturer-recommended chargers whenever possible. The manufacturer will know which systems work best with their batteries. Any others may degrade your battery.
Each of these maintenance habits can improve your EV’s efficiency by around 10%. Add them all up, and you’re all but guaranteed to improve the efficiency of your EV while it’s in your possession.
At the end of the day, battery health is going to be the most expensive component of an EV. Anyone who knows what they’re doing will ask about the condition of your battery and its range.
Even the smallest losses in your battery’s health can affect the resale value. That’s why it’s important to maintain the battery and all of its contributing parts throughout your time in your EV.
It’s also worth noting that you’ll do well to keep thorough records of your battery reports and servicing, as this can help you gain the trust and confidence of any potential buyer.
If you ever plan to resell or trade in your EV, it’s important to understand how your future buyer will assess the risk of buying your car.
Their job is to look for any indication of future battery problems, reduced range, or uncertainty about long-term reliability. After all, if the battery health looks poor, a potential buyer shouldn’t pay top dollar for the vehicle. Instead, they’ll often be worried they’ll have to pay just as much for a new battery.
Here are some examples of negative signals potential buyers and dealers will watch for:
Remember, an EV that is clearly well-maintained, with all proper records in place, will sell faster, and you’ll deal with far less negotiation.
You may be wondering at this point why we’re discussing this topic so extensively. The reality is that an increasing number of drivers are becoming more environmentally conscious. There have also been new taxpayer subsidies for those willing to choose EVs. The result has been a growing demand for used EVs in the UK, with EVs taking up 23.4% of the market share in 2025.
As we approach warmer weather, and more people get out to buy cars, it’s helpful for them to know everything they can about EVs: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
For example, city driving, short trips, and climate can all affect battery wear. Anyone driving an EV should be aware of that before making the purchase, so they can improve their chances of maintaining the value of the vehicle.
Being a responsible EV owner doesn’t end the day you buy the car. Sustainability continues throughout the life of the vehicle. When you maintain your EV, it stays working for longer, which means the need for energy-intensive manufacturing and raw material extraction drops.
That doesn’t even mean you have to keep the car the entire time. If you preserve the efficiency of your vehicle and keep proper documents, you can resell the car, so it won’t have to be retired early when you’re done with it. This way, the used-EV ecosystem becomes even stronger.
Now, you’re part of a circular ownership model wherein one EV replaces multiple combustion vehicles over time. And sustainability and savings move in the same direction: the habits you put in place also protect the long-term value of the car.
So, routine maintenance is one of the most practical ways EV owners can contribute to the reduction of environmental impact while also protecting their investment.
It really doesn’t take much to maintain your EV. And no, it’s not a no-maintenance car. But it is a low-maintenance one.
Just a few small checks and a few good habits can increase the efficiency of your vehicle by up to 15%.
Check your brakes, your coolant, and your tyres regularly. Keep your tyres inflated to the proper pressure. And plan your trips in advance, so you can avoid as much stop-start city driving as possible.
Owning an EV is a point of pride, and maintaining your vehicle is yet another contribution you’ll be making to a more sustainable world for everyone to live and drive in.
Patrick Peterson
Patrick has been with GoodCar for six years, after previously working as a professional vehicle appraiser. He spent years inspecting used vehicles and evaluating post-accident damage. Now, as an Auto expert and team lead at GoodCar, he brings that hands-on experience into creating practical, data-backed content that helps drivers avoid costly mistakes and make smarter car-buying decisions.
