There is a persistent myth that electric vehicles (EVs) are more expensive to maintain and repair than gasoline vehicles. While EVs can be more expensive to purchase than comparable gasoline vehicles, in many cases they are cheaper to maintain, and most repairs cost about the same for both types of vehicles.

Electric vehicles don’t require much maintenance, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely maintenance-free. Each manufacturer has its own EV maintenance schedule that you should follow to avoid voiding your warranty, and there are also a handful of other things you should check yourself from time to time.

Some common maintenance items for electric vehicles include:

Aside from thermal management coolant, these maintenance items all apply to gasoline vehicles as well, and even thermal management coolant has a gasoline vehicle equivalent in engine coolant. However, engine coolant in gasoline vehicles typically needs to be flushed more often than EV battery thermal management coolant.