ICE and EV walkaround and maintenance lists

According to a study by the U.S. Department of Energy, EVs cost 40 per cent less on average to maintain than internal combustion vehicles. Below are some of the changes you should consider making to the vehicle walkaround and maintenance lists you provide to your drivers to reflect the differences between the two vehicle types.

Notes under the ICE column represent items you and your drivers are likely already tracking, while the EV column notes the differences they’re likely to encounter with electric vehicles.

Daily vehicle walkaround

Item	ICE	EV
Brakes	Check that pedal works correctly without excess travel	Check that brake pedal works correctly Check that regenerative braking setting is appropriate for the vehicle type and current weather conditions
Charging infrastructure	N/A	Check that charging station, cable and vehicle port are undamaged and in good condition
Preconditioning	N/A	Check that vehicle has preconditioned correctly and that process is complete before unplugging
Fuel/charge	Check that fuel level is sufficient	Check that vehicle has charged correctly and range is sufficient Check that vehicle is unplugged

Vehicle maintenance

The figures given below are averages. The recommendations given by your vehicle’s manufacturer may vary.

Item	ICE	EV
Oil change	Every 12,000 to 16,000 km	Not required
Tires	Rotate every 8,000 to 12,000 km; Wheel alignment annually; Change when tread depth is 2/32” (or 4/32” in winter)	Rotate, align, and change at same intervals, or follow manufacturer recommendation
Brakes	Inspect every six months; service every 30,000 to 80,000 km	Inspect annually; service intervals vary but are generally half as frequent as in ICEs
Brake fluid	Every two to three years	Every two to three years
Engine air filter	Every two years	Not required
Cabin air filter	Annually	Every two years
12V battery	Twice annually	Twice annually (if present)
Coolant	Check twice annually; change every 50,000 km	May not be required unless battery comes with coolant system, in which case inspect at same intervals
Transmission fluid	Top up or replace every 100,000 to 160,000 km	May not be required
Spark plugs	Change every 130,000 to 160,000 km	Not required
Timing belt	Change every 100,000 km when equipped	Not required

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Now test your knowledge to complete the lesson on including drivers in your fleet electrification.