Do Electric Cars Use Oil?

If you’ve just bought an EV in the El Paso, TX area like the crowd-favorite Chevy Bolt, you probably have a few questions. After all, electric cars run on a fundamentally different powertrain from their gas-powered counterparts, so they require a different kind of maintenance to keep them running properly. One of the most common questions we get at Rudolph Chevrolet is: do electric cars use oil? The short answer is no! Motor oil is designed to lubricate an internal combustion engine, and an EV runs solely on an electric motor, so there’s no need to bring your vehicle in for an electric car oil change. That being said, there are other essential fluids such as coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid that you’ll want to keep topped off so your EV runs in top condition on the road. The service team at Rudolph Chevrolet has more information in the guide, below!

Essential Fluids for Electric Cars

You won’t have to bring your vehicle in for an electric car oil change, but you’ll want to have other fluids inspected and changed out regularly. While electric cars don’t have internal combustion engines, they do have components like a transmission, brake system, and battery. Here are some of the most important fluids you’ll want to keep an eye on:

• Brake fluid: Possibly the most important part of any vehicle is the brake system, and brake fluid ensures that the brakes are properly lubricated so they can work at maximum efficiency. 
• Transmission fluid: The transmission is essentially what makes your vehicle propel forward on the Van Horn, TX roads, and transmission fluid is key to keeping the gears moving efficiently. Your owner’s manual will give you a specific interval for getting your EV’s transmission fluid changed.
• Coolant: EVs may not have an engine, but they do have battery and vehicle systems that are vulnerable to overheating. Coolant keeps everything at a safe temperature so your vehicle doesn’t suffer damage on the road.

Components of An Electric Vehicle

So, how do EVs differ from traditional gas-powered vehicles? If you haven’t driven an EV before, it might seem a bit intimidating to try and remember all the differences, but it’s actually relatively straightforward.

Gasoline cars are powered by an internal combustion engine, while EVs are powered solely by an electric motor that converts current from the battery into motion. An EV generates torque via magnets alongside the motor, which creates a magnetic field around the motor and churns it. EVs need to be recharged at an electric vehicle charging station, either at home or on the road. 

Here are the most important components of an EV:

• Charging ports: Much like a phone or laptop, an EV’s charging port is where you plug the charging cord in to recharge the battery.
• Traction motor: These motors are the system that turns the car’s wheels.
• Onboard charger: When the charging cord generates a charge, the onboard charger converts it into DC power.
• DC-DC converter: The onboard charger converts the charge into high-voltage DC power, and this converter changes it into low-voltage DC power that moves the vehicle forward.
• Battery: The battery stores the electricity that powers the motors as you drive.
• Thermal system: The thermal system is in charge of keeping the motors and electrical components from overheating.

Keep Your EV in Top Condition at Rudolph Chevrolet

If it’s time to bring your EV in for regularly-scheduled maintenance, you can schedule an appointment right from our website! We’ll take care of everything and get you back on the Las Cruces, NM roads in no time. You can also contact our service center with any questions, or to learn more about keeping your EV running smoothly on the road.