Which Parts in Your EV Need Regular Maintenance?

Did you know that you can save up to 50% more on maintenance with electric cars compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars? 

The reason for this is simple – electric cars have fewer moving parts for you to maintain. So naturally, the cost of maintenance for electric cars will be significantly lower.

However, this doesn’t mean that maintenance for electric cars is something you should totally ignore. There are still a few important parts that you’ll need to take care of. Continue reading to find out what these are!

1. Fluids

As fully electric cars are not equipped with an internal combustion engine, it doesn’t require the same kind of regular oil changes that you’re used to.

However, there are many other fluids in an electric car that need to be checked and replaced from time to time. These 4 fluids are:

  • hydraulic brake fluid
  • battery coolant
  • HVAC refrigerants
  • transmission fluids

As the longevity of these fluids depend on a number of different considerations like climate, there’s no hard and fast rule you should follow. Instead, to monitor the feel of the car and how these parts function.

2. The 12V Battery

Did you know that your high-tech electric vehicle has an old-scool 12V battery? Well it does, and just like a traditional ICE car, the battery is used to power accessories like your dashboard lights, windows, turn signals and more.

This battery is a super important component for you to check every year as a dead battery could leave you stranded.

3. The Tires, Brakes, and Suspension

As EVs are significantly heavier than regular ICE cars due to the extra load from the EV battery, an EVs Tires, Brakes and Suspension will require more attention and care. This is because there’s more weight put on these parts which could accelerate wear and tear.

While it’s always good to send your EV for a multi-point inspection every year to ensure that everything is working fine, it’s not a MUST.

When you send your car for a check up, do ensure that the team checks your tires for sufficient tread and if they’re wearing evenly. Also, check the suspension to ensure that there are no torn boots, blown shocks or worn bearings as these could be a huge safety issue.

You should also have your brake pads and rotos checked to ensure that they’re still functioning efficiently and safely. It’s also important to note that the lifespan of an EV’s brakes is usually longer than traditional ICE cars due to an EV’s regenerative braking systems!

4. Filters

While you don’t need to change your fuel filters, oil filters and engine air filters in an EV, you do need to regularly switch out your cabin filters. These cabin filters perform a pivotal role in ensuring the healthy safety for everyone onboard as they stop contaminants like smoke, pollen, and mold from entering your cabin.

So, make sure you regularly check your cabin filters to ensure that it’s functioning optimally.

If you’re in the market for an electric car, the BYD e6 is an EV you should seriously consider. With 522KM of range on the super safe BYD Blade Battery, fast charging capabilities at 1.5 hours to go from 5% – 80% on an AC Charger and just 1 hour on a DC Charger, there’s no better option out there!

If you’re in the market for an electric car, the BYD e6 is an EV you should seriously consider. With 522KM of range on the super safe BYD Blade Battery, fast charging capabilities at 1.5 hours to go from 5% – 80% on an AC Charger and just 1 hour on a DC Charger, there’s no better option out there!

Additionally, all BYD cars come with a slew of complimentary warranty and servicing packages like

  1. Free Servicing for up to 6 years or 120,000km
  2. Battery Warranty for up to 8 years or 500,000km
  3. Factory Warranty of up to 6 years or 150,000km

These packages offered are significantly more than many other EV brands in Singapore, offering drivers with utmost assurance and guaranteed peace of mind when driving an EV in Singapore.

Cost of Owning an Electric Vehicle in Singapore

The Electric Vehicle revolution is well and truly underway, with major car manufacturers all over the world pledging to go green and discontinue the production of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the next 20 years.

Similarly in Singapore, the Government’s “Singapore Green Plan 2030” outlines a slew of nationwide initiatives to advance the country’s national agenda on sustainable development. 

These initiatives outline a number of ambitious goals for the transport industry, including further support for electric vehicle adoption. These include a target of 60,000 EV charging points by 2030, revisions in the road tax structure for EVs and the ceasing of new diesel car and taxi registrations by 2025. 

Additionally, with the Electric Vehicle Early Adoption Incentive (EEAI) and enhanced VES scheme, drivers can enjoy up to $45,000 in rebate, which is another positive move by the Government to encourage EV adoption.

But even with all these plans, how much would it actually cost to own an EV in Singapore?

In this article, we’ll take a look at the 3 different costs for drivers – maintenance, petrol and road tax.

How Expensive are EVs in Singapore?

Electric vehicles tend to be more expensive than ICE vehicles due to the cost of materials used to build an electric car, cost of development and basic economies of scale.

So how much you’ll have to fork out for the car will usually be higher and dependant on the brand and model you choose. While you will be eligible for up to $45,000 in rebates, some EVs are still quite expensive.

Right now, the most affordable fully electric car is the BYD e6, an amazing option that offers excellent value for money and the only EV in the Category A COE.

Maintenance Costs

While the initial costs might be higher than the average ICE models, you will definitely save on your annual running costs like maintenance and petrol.

Unlike ICE vehicles, there are fewer moving parts built into an electric car which make them more reliable. 

The electric motor is a simple machine and consists of roughly half a dozen moving parts. So there’s no oil to change, gaskets to replace or valves to clog up. There’s no need to replace your spark plugs, fluids or any of the typical consumables.

As such, there’s less wear and tear of components and the electric motor requires a lot less maintenance than the conventional engine, which reduces a lot of costs. The total cost an EV owner can expect to save is around 40% to 50% of the normal maintenance cost of ICE cars.

So if you typically spend around $1,000 – $1,500 a year on maintenance, you can expect to save $500 – $750 a year when you switch to an EV.

Petrol Costs

One of the biggest costs drivers will incur every year will be for petrol. These costs will definitely defer from driver to driver as it depends on how much you actually drive, and the current cost of petrol. 

On average, Singaporeans drive around 20,000KM a year. With that in mind, you can expect to fork out around $3,260 on petrol every year.

For EV owners, the annual amount you’ll spend on charging will minimally be halved. The amount you’ll spend will depend on how you charge your EV as prices differ from Commercial charging stations, Public charging and charging at Home.

Here’s a breakdown of annual charging costs based on where you charge, using the BYD e6 as an example.

70% home charging & 30% DC public chargingS$ 902
70% commercial charging & 30% DC public chargingS$ 842
70% DC public charging, 30% commercial chargingS$ 1,441

Furthermore, your cost of charging will also be affected by the energy price at the time and the type of EV you own. So the costs will differ, and it might be higher or lower depending on your car.

Road Tax

For years, the road tax for electric cars has always been higher than ICE cars. So EV owners can expect to pay anywhere from a few tens of dollars to a few hundred dollars more a year when they make the switch.

Using the BYD e6 as an example, road tax will cost on average $1,246 a year while your typical ICE model will cost around $1,200 a year. That’s $46 more a year, or $460 over the cost of 10 years, which is that much more. 

Especially if you take into account the savings you’ll get from your maintenance and petrol costs, it pretty much pays for itself in the first year.

Additionally, from 2022, road tax for mass-market electric cars will be lowered, which will make it on par with similar ICE models.

The bracket for 90kW to 230kW cars will be merged with the 30kW to 90kW band, which amounts to up to 34% in reduction of road tax payable for electric cars in this band.

So How Much Can You Save Over the Course of 10 Years?

One of the biggest draws of EVs is the cost savings. When you add the cost of maintenance, petrol, road tax, and even insurance, the difference in costs becomes more obvious.

Using the BYD e6 as an example, switching to an EV can save you up to $30,000 over the course of 10 years. That’s a whole lot of money! That’s money you could use for the more important things in your life like your kids’ school fees, a holiday, or just for building your nest egg.

If you’re looking to make the switch to an EV, the BYD e6 is definitely an electric car you should consider. With 522KM of range on the super safe BYD Blade Battery, fast charging capabilities at just 40mins to go from 20% – 80% on a DC Charger and 1 hour on an AC Charger, there’s no better option out there!

3 Things to Consider Before Buying an Electric Car

The popularity of electric cars are gaining momentum and many drivers in Singapore are contemplating whether now is a good time to make the switch. And with a ton of Government rebates still available for early adopters, we definitely think that buying an electric car now is definitely a smart move!

As electric cars are still rather new in the automotive space, with stark differences to your traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars, there’s a lot of factors a potential car buyer must consider before making a purchase.

To help you on your way to a greener future, here are 3 things you should look out for when buying an electric car.

Battery Range

EVs in Singapore come with a battery range anywhere from 200 KM to more than 500 KM, so there’s quite a good selection to choose from.

When deciding how much battery range is enough for you, the first thing you should do is calculate how much you usually drive a month. On average, most Singaporeans drive about 1,500 KM a month. 

So, if you own a car that offers 250 KM of range, this means more trips to the charging station, which could pose a huge inconvenience to your lifestyle. 

Especially compared to a car like the BYD e6, which has an advertised range of 522 KM, your trips to the charging station will be halved. 

So, buying an EV with a higher range capacity is arguably the better choice for most drivers as you’d be able to travel further on a single charge, as well as make fewer trips to the charging station.

Charging Locations

Charging your EV is not like fuelling up your car because it takes a lot more time to complete. But this doesn’t mean that owning an EV is only viable for landed property owners!

As long as you can find charging stations near your home or your office, charging up your EV won’t be an inconvenience at all. Furthermore, with the Government’s plan to install 60,000 charging stations across the island by 2030, you’ll surely have even more options in time to come.

Charging Time

The location of these charging stations is important, but charging time is also something you must consider.

While charging time is affected by the charger’s power output, each EV also has its own charging capabilities. 

For instance, the BYD e6’s blade battery is able to charge up from 5% to 100% in less than 2 hours on an AC 40kW charger and around 1.5 hours on a DC 60kW charger.

These timings are even quicker if you charge up your car from 30% to 80%, which is the recommended charging state your car should be driven in to ensure optimal and efficient battery lifespan. On an AC 40kW charger, you’ll need 1 hour and on a DC 60kW charger, you’ll only need 35mins to charge!

When making the switch to an electric car, these are the 3 biggest considerations you’ll have to factor in before making the purchase. This is because the battery range and charging is the main difference when owning an EV. So, once you have an answer to these, you’ll be ready to own an EV of your own!

If you’re in the market for an electric car, you should definitely consider the BYD e6 — the most affordable EV in Singapore right now. Learn more about the BYD e6 here.

7 Ways to Maximize Your EV’s Range While Reducing Wear & Tear

Whether it’s your tires, brake pads, or even battery, wear and tear issues are inevitable. However, there are some good driving habits you can practice that can help you minimize the impact of wear and tear while maximizing your electric car’s battery range!

Check out these 7 tips to find out how you can reduce your EV battery’s wear and tear while maximizing your battery range! 

Set Your Regenerative Braking to “MAX/High”

Instead of putting your foot down on the brakes all the time, you should always try to leverage on your electric car’s energy-recovering regenerative braking function. 

We recommend enabling your car’s maximum regenerative braking setting when driving, this will help send extra power back to the vehicle’s batteries while decelerating. As such, the function will also help you increase your battery range and reduce wear and tear on your brake pads.

Minimize Exposure to High Temperatures, in Storage and Use

As best as you can, you should park your EV in the shade when not in use or make sure it’s plugged in. Plugging it in when not in use allows for your battery’s thermal management system to function using grid power, which helps with reducing over-exerting your battery.

Avoid Driving at High Speed

Speeding is something we don’t advocate for. It’s not only dangerous, but it can reduce your EV’s range considerably too, especially when driven above 100km per hour.

As an example, driving your EV at 110km per hour on a highway can reduce the range by roughly 18%!

Drive Smoothly

Similar to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, accelerating and braking harshly will affect the energy consumption of your vehicle.

To ensure your energy consumption levels don’t spike, practice defensive driving habits and drive smoothly. This will help maximize your EV’s range and also reduce wear and tear in your tires, brake pads, and more.

Check Your Tyre Pressure

It’s a known fact that driving with under-inflated tires can cause excessive wear to your wheel. It will also cause an increase in resistance while driving, which will lover your EV’s range.

We recommend that you make it a habit to check your tire pressure and get it pumped if necessary. If you’re looking for a new set of tires, go for a set that has lower rolling resistance. This will help improve your EV’s range significantly, as compared to using a “normal” set of wheels.

Don’t Overuse Your Air Con

We know that Singapore’s super hot but air-condition systems that are set at “high” settings will use a lot more energy compared to other equipment in the car. Try to avoid always setting the air-conditioning too high all the time.

Travel Light

Remember, the weight of occupants and storage items can reduce the range of the car as well. Make sure to remove unnecessary heavy items as this will help with your EV’s efficiency.

4 Ways to Extend Your EV’s Battery Life

Battery degradation is one of the biggest worries for EV owners, and rightly so. The battery is undoubtedly one of the most expensive components of an electric car. Replacing it is not only costly but can be super troublesome too.

That’s why it’s important for EV owners to practice good driving habits that will help extend their battery’s lifespan. To help you, we’ve compiled 4 simple tips that will slow down battery degradation and extend your EV’s battery life!

Avoid Using Fast/Rapid Charging
4 Ways to Extend Your EV's Battery Life

Fast charging time is a huge draw for drivers looking to buy an EV. Automakers understand that this is one of the keys to mass EV adoption.

However, rapid charging has a drawback that not many people know about — it causes your battery packs to wear faster.

So, to ensure that you don’t damage the lifespan of your battery and reduce its capacity over time, make sure you don’t use fast chargers all the time. But don’t worry, using it every now and then is fine, just not every day!

Avoid Discharging More Quickly than Needed
Photo by benjamin lehman on Unsplash

The instant acceleration you get behind the wheel of an EV is a unique feature that drivers love. We know that it’s tough to resist accelerating hard with all the torque available in your hands (or feet). But too much of a good thing is always a bad thing!

If you cultivate this habit of accelerating hard often, it’ll diminish your EV’s battery life rather quickly. So, just like rapid charging, don’t do this often. Instead, you should only enjoy this occasionally.

Minimize Time Spent at a High State of Charge
4 Ways to Extend Your EV's Battery Life

Having your EV battery at a high state of charge, which is considered to be a capacity of more than 80%, for long periods of time will certainly reduce the lifespan of your battery. This is because lithium-ion batteries tend to last longer when used within the 20% to 80% range.

Additionally, as it takes considerably longer for your battery to charge from 80% to 100%, having it at 100% all the time not only reduces its lifespan but it’ll be wasting your time too!

Minimize Time Spent at Low State of Charge

Similarly, if your battery is always under 20%, it’ll affect your battery’s lifespan as the optimal battery charge state is between 20% and 80%.

If your battery is always under 20%, you’ll constantly face the danger of your EV self-discharging to 0 and shut off. This is because your EV’s battery management system typically shuts off well before reaching 0%. So if you leave your car unplugged for a prolonged period, you might need to call a tow truck for help!

Environmental Concern is No. 1 Reason Why Singaporeans Want to Switch to EVs

Based on Ernst & Young Mobility Consumer Index, more than half of Singaporean consumers are planning to purchase an electric vehicle (EV) in the coming years. 55% of those surveyed cited their number 1 reason for switching to an EV – environmental concerns.

BYD M3e EV

Of those surveyed, 80% of Singapore consumers admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic had raised awareness and concerns about environmental issues. With half of this group also feeling that they have the responsibility to reduce their own personal environmental impact.

The growth in EV sales is evidence of this shifting mindset. And this growth is despite the government freezing vehicle growth rates in Singapore.

EY Global Transport Leader Tony Canavan said, “Most consumers are willing to pay a premium for an EV, either due to environmental concerns or an understanding that the long-term costs will likely be lower. This is a fundamental shift in attitudes, which is ultimately beneficial for consumers and the planet”.

However, Mr Canavan also admitted that the government’s push for electric cars has been a major player in helping consumers adopt EVs as well as break down the barrier of entry.

“The government has also given a clear direction to encourage EV adoption through its announcement in March 2021 that all new car and taxi registrations will need to be of cleaner-energy models from 2030, and that all vehicles will need to run on cleaner energy by 2040,”

Tony Canavan

Apart from reasons to switch, the survey also revealed concerns about the charging infrastructure and features of the EV market as a major reasons why consumers do not want to switch to an EV.

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