Cost of EV Maintenance - as per GM Bolt

I was wondering about the cost of ownership of EVs. Is it true that other than "filling the tank" an EV owner only have to worry about windshield wipers (once a year?), windshield washer fluid (as required), tires (as required) and breaks (which tend to last a very long time tanks to regenerative breaking).

Listening to Tesla owners it is not quite the case. Apparently tires alone cost a mint (each!) and Tesla requires other services. In our case our iMiEV manual prescribes a list of regular maintenance visit to the dealer, which I mostly ignore other than recall notices. I check the fluid levels in the two coolant reservoir and in the 12V battery, which is of the old type, unsealed kind.

Now according to the Owner's Manual of the GM Bolt please leave the car pretty much alone up to 150,000 miles. What? Yeah. If you don't believe me check out the link below:

Chevrolet Bolt Requires Almost No Maintenance For First 150,000 Miles

I mean beyond windshield wipers, windshield washer fluid, tires (as required) and checking the breaks (again which should last for a very long time) you have a real electric car! Message to General Motors from a Canadian: Congratulations! A job well done and on the top of it the Bolt is Made in the USA. How about that Tesla, Nissan, BMW and Mitsubishi?

 

OK, I am sorry. You got me there. All the rest of you add about $20/per cabin filter.

 

I am bit confused but here it goes:
- iMiEV's service schedule recommends visits to the dealer similar to frequency of oil changes.
- I did not intend to make a detailed matrix, but recalled articles written. Certainly no other manufacturer claims a 150,000 mi (not km) without some kind of major service. I had one $600 major service on my 2008 Prius at around 100,000 km on the odo.
- No, GM dealers will not be happy.
- it is being said that Tesla is apparently working on a 500,000 mi electric drive motor, they had problems in the early cars

Of course we have on idea how well the early versions of the Bolt will behave quality wise.
In any case we live i interesting times.

 

Check out this link regarding Bolt Maintenance:
The Chevy Bolt EV requires ZERO maintenance |Electric Vehicle News

I wonder about the size of the car. I red somewhere that it is about the size of a KIA SOUL - hmmm.

 

OK - I have attached a comparison of service needs to maintain warranty covering our iMiEV and the Bolt. Items, marked by *, I added to the Bolt. They are not specifically mentioned in the Bolt manual, just referred to. I think these are the items where the dealers can "ding" you.

Just for fun a Leaf owner could make it more complete.

Enjoy!

 

The BOLT manual mentions tire rotation - if I recall "back to front only". It also talks about snow tires for heavy snow areas I guess. Of course by-by self healing tires at least for now.

With all the new cars on the market lately without even a 'doghnut' spare I wonder why are these self healing tires not more popular. The tire fixer thingy packeges provided instead of spares are neat but not very practical at minus 40F or C - take tour choice - or in pouring rain, etc.

 

I think snow tires will 'eat mileage ' on any car. Still safety needs to overcome mileage.

For what it's worth; trading the factory 'low rolling resistance ' tires on my two Prii to the Nokian all year, 'low rolling resitance' tires I did not feel any impact on mileage, just a bit more tire noise. That does not mean that there was absolutely no impact on fuel consumption, only that it was nominal.

Interesting point! Self healing tires must weigh more.

Happy new year