Electric vehicles are significantly cheaper to service than petrol or diesel models, new figures indicate.

EVs are at least a third less expensive to service compared to diesel, hybrid, and petrol vehicles

Data from BookMyGarage.com has revealed that EVs cost £103 on average to service, making them at least a third less expensive compared to diesel, hybrid, and petrol vehicles.

According to the price comparison site’s data, diesel cars are the most expensive to service, costing £163 on average, with hybrid vehicles ranking second (£159), followed by petrol engine cars (£151).

Overall maintenance bills – including MOT tests, servicing and repairs – are also significantly lower for EVs; the data shows the average cost can be 43% less compared to other fuel types.

Key reasons for lower EV servicing costs include fewer components under EV bonnets and lower wear on brake friction parts due to regenerative braking, meaning less work is required during a typical service compared to ICE vehicles.

Jessica Potts, head of marketing at BookMyGarage.com, said: “The nature of EV powertrains not requiring engine oil changes, fuel filters, air filters or spark plugs means that servicing an electric vehicle requires less labour and fewer replacement parts and fluids, helping to lower costs for motorists.

“That said, servicing is still essential for EVs from a safety perspective, so the throughput of vehicles in workshops and the business opportunity for garages should remain similar to ICE vehicles – much of the cost saving is from fewer replacement parts rather than a reduction in labour.”

Experts within the fleet sector have been highlighting for some time that the switch to EVs will bring a host of new considerations for fleet servicing, maintenance and repairs, including potentially lower bills and reduced downtime.

However, BookMyGarage.com has also warned about a current lack of EV-qualified garages available to motorists and warns that this will need to change in the coming years as EV take-up.

Fully electric cars accounted for 16.6% of new car registrations in 2022, according to SMMT data while plug-in cars, including PHEVs, are expected to account for more than one in four new registrations this year and almost a third (31.0%) of the market in 2024.

But a recent report by cross-party think-tank the Social Market Foundation cautioned that the UK is “in real danger” of an EV mechanic shortfall by 2027. This echoes a warning that the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has been making for some time. Its data found that as of June 2021, only 6.5% of the automotive sector was EV-ready.

BookMyGarage.com says garages that adapt to growing demand for electric vehicles will benefit from first mover advantage by positioning themselves as the go-to EV experts in their local area.

“As ICE vehicle drivers begin to move over to EVs in the coming years, and the infrastructure of the UK for electric vehicles on the road continues to improve, opportunities for EV-qualified garages will grow rapidly. Garages that are not qualified to service EVs will miss out on vital business and be faced with a shrinking market,” Potts continued.

To access BookMyGarage.com’s data, please click here.