ATS Euromaster has published ‘insider tips’ on how to keep maintenance budgets under control as fleets go electric.

EV SMR costs can rise in particular areas, including steering, suspension and tyres

In general, the switch to electrified fleets should bring cheaper servicing costs due to the reduced number of moving parts; recently published data indicates that fully electric cars cost 22% less to service than ICE cars.

But ATS warns that EV costs can rise in particular areas, including steering, suspension and tyres – the result of greater vehicle weight due to the addition of a traction battery plus the greater amount of torque available to EVs.

However, fleets can effectively manage these different SMR maintenance requirements with a few changes to strategies.

ATS Euromaster tips for managing EV and hybrid maintenance costs:

• Explain to drivers the benefits of smoother driving – if necessary, install telematics systems to identify persistent offenders or drivers with high tyre wear rates.
• Drivers should accelerate gently and feed in the torque gradually (especially for EVs)
• Drive through corners rather than diving into a bend and putting additional strain on the outside tyres, increasing wear rates
• Avoid hard braking and instead brake smoothly and progressively, anticipating the road conditions ahead. With EVs, use the regenerative braking – not only will it help top up the battery, but will also reduce general wear and tear, including on brake pads.
• Consider driver training when switching your drivers from ICE vehicle to EVs
• With hybrids, a smoother driving style offers a more efficient ride, maximising the fuel saving capability of the hybrid drivetrain.
• Any regularly serviced vehicle is generally more reliable and suffers from less emergency down time, provided any identified wear and tear work is rectified such as tyres, wheel alignments, steering & suspension and brakes – so ensure drivers book in maintenance in a planned manner.
• Be prepared for winter and book vehicles in for auxiliary battery checks at the end of Q3 / beginning of Q4 – these are free at ATS Euromaster. The majority of EV/hybrid vehicles have auxiliary batteries which are the same on normal combustion vehicles and can fail in cold weather. Getting these checked in advance will allow the customer to replace the battery in advance and reduce the risk of an unexpected breakdown.

ATS added that hybrid vehicle servicing requirements are generally very similar to the equivalent ICE vehicles since the components are pretty much the same.

But, David Crowdy, category & pricing assistant manager, SMR, at ATS Euromaster, added that: “There are additional checks required around the electrified system to make sure it is still safe and working as intended.

“ATS Euromaster technicians who carry out hybrid servicing must have passed an additional Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) approved EV/hybrid training course which allows them to work around the high-voltage area safely while performing the service.”

All ATS Euromaster service centres are now equipped with fully trained staff to accept EV and hybrid vehicles.