Are Electric/Gas Hybrid Cars More Difficult And Expensive To Maintain?

When it comes to maintenance, electric/gas hybrid vehicles aren't much different than regular cars.

Sure they have an electric motor, a revolutionary braking system and high voltage cables that transfer 270 volts. But in reality, routine maintenance is pretty much the same as their gasoline counterparts: change the oil and filters, check brakes, coolant level, test turning signals, wipers, lights, tires, and defroster.

There are a few additional checks for the electric motor and software updates, but with the owner's manual you should be able to do it yourself. The only precaution you need to have is staying away from the orange-colored high-voltage wires, but even those come with enough safeguards to protect you.

Brake pads don't need to be replaced as often because the electric motor helps slow the vehicle by mitigating the forward momentum, so that's one less thing to worry about.

Manufacturer warranties will cover the cost of parts and repair of your hybrid for 8 years or up to 100,000 miles depending on the company. After that, things get a little controversial.

During the first few years, the battery shouldn't be a concern because they have 150,000- to 180,000-mile life expectancy. After that, replacing it may cost you between $1,000 to $3,000.

Regular independent mechanics can handle routine maintenance, but when it comes to repairs, your choices are pretty much limited to dealerships and manufacturers.

Because electric/gas hybrids are such a new technology, only about 1,000 shops in the country are qualified to fix them. Independent mechanics usually charge between 6% and 20% less than dealerships and you wouldn't have access to those savings.

But don't worry, with time, all these disadvantages will disappear, just like they did with automatic cars when they first came out.

Email to a friend

Copyright 2008 BuyingAdvice.com, INC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.

Search By Car Type