After the sale
What EV ownership actually costs you
“No oil changes” does not mean no maintenance. Here is the itemized reality - what needs servicing, how often, roughly what it costs, and whether an independent shop can legally do it.
Service item breakdown
Estimated annual service spend: $1,588 EV vs $1,885 gas (midpoint of ranges, not annualized by interval)
Tire rotation
EV + GasEvery 10,000 km
More critical on EVs - uneven wear happens faster.
Cabin air filter
EV + GasEvery 2–3 years
12V auxiliary battery
EV onlyEvery 4–6 years
The single most common unexpected EV repair. Often overlooked because people assume EVs have no 12V battery.
Brake fluid flush
EV + GasEvery 2–4 years
Battery coolant / thermal system service
EV onlyVaries - some brands ~40,000–160,000 km
Tesla and Ford use long-life sealed systems. Some Hyundai/Kia models publish coolant intervals.
Brake pads & rotors
EV + GasEV: 100,000+ km · Gas: 40,000–70,000 km
Regenerative braking dramatically extends EV pad life - but pads can seize from underuse in salted climates.
Oil change
Gas onlyEvery 8,000 km
Does not apply to battery-electric vehicles at all.
Spark plugs / transmission fluid / exhaust
Gas onlyVaries
None of these exist on a BEV.
Tires - the real EV running cost
Independent analysis · Verified Jul 30, 2026Why this matters more than you'd think: EV-rated (HL / reinforced) tires cost more than standard all-seasons and wear roughly 20% faster from instant torque and battery weight. Quebec legally requires winter tires; Ontario does not, but most insurers give up to a 5% discount for them.
Battery degradation & replacement
Independent analysis · Verified Jul 30, 2026The good news: Geotab's analysis of 22,700+ real-world EVs found batteries now degrade about 1.8% per year, retaining roughly 81.6% capacity after 8 years - comfortably above the 70% threshold most warranties guarantee. Heavy reliance on >100kW DC fast charging is the biggest controllable risk factor. Very few owners ever pay for a replacement out of pocket. Out-of-warranty replacement runs $7,000–$25,000, but only about 0.5% of modern EVs ever need one.
Canadian winter performance
Independent analysis · Verified Jul 30, 2026CAA's large-scale Canadian winter test drove 14 EVs in freezing conditions until they died. Range loss versus official NRCan ratings ranged from 14% to 39%. For context, gas engines also lose roughly 15% efficiency in cold weather - so the best-performing EVs matched gas cars.