Do Electric Cars Use Oil?

These days, electric vehicles are more available and affordable than ever in St. Louis and beyond! If you’re looking to leave gasoline power behind for good without breaking the bank, Suntrup Automotive Group offers a wide variety of used and certified pre-owned electric vehicles from all the most popular automakers. If you’re new to the world of EVs, you might be wondering how much they differ from traditional gasoline-powered cars. For example, do electric cars need oil? 

The short answer is no, you’ll never have to come in for an electric car oil change, since the purpose of oil is to lubricate the engine. However, EVs do require many other essential fluids, such as transmission fluid, coolant, and brake fluid. The service team at Suntrup Automotive Group has more details in the guide below, so check it out!

Essential Fluids for Electric Vehicles

While you won’t be needing an electric car oil change, you do have to regularly come in to have other important fluids inspected and replaced as needed. Here’s a quick overview of the three most essential fluids to keeping your EV running smoothly on the St. Charles roads:

• Brake Fluid: All vehicles need a brake system to run properly, which means all vehicles require brake fluid. The purpose of brake fluid is to properly lubricate the braking system so that it works effectively, which is why it’s important to routinely have it replaced.
• Transmission Fluid: The transmission is essentially what makes your vehicle run, and transmission fluid makes sure all the gears are working efficiently and not wearing out prematurely.
• Coolant: Keeping the proper level of coolant in your EV’s radiator ensures that it will keep the battery and vehicle systems from dangerously overheating.

Electric Vehicle Parts 

While they do have some fluids and other systems in common, EVs differ significantly from their gasoline-powered counterparts when it comes to moving parts under the hood. Instead of an internal combustion engine, an EV relies entirely on an electric motor, which converts the electrical current from the battery into motion. EVs generate torque nearly instantaneously with magnets placed strategically along the motor. Here are the most important components to the electric vehicle:

• Charging Ports: These are the external chargers you use to charge the battery of your vehicle. 
• Traction Motors: These 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 that moves the vehicle.
• Battery: Your battery stores the electricity that powers the motors as you drive.
• Thermal System: This system keeps your motors and electronic components from overheating.

Keep Your EV in Top Condition at Suntrup Automotive Group

If you have any questions about keeping your EV up to date on its regular service schedule, feel free to contact our office! You can also stop by our dealership near Fenton to talk to a member of our service team in person, and we’ll be happy to help you out. If you don’t own an EV but are interested in buying one, be sure to check out our finance center!