Will Electric Car Repairs Be More Costly?

This post, part of a series we're running all about electric cars, was written by Jamie Page Denton from HowStuffWorks.com.

When your car is in the shop, it's not only a drag on your lifestyle -- it's also a drag on your budget. Even if you've found a way to decrease your car use, routine maintenance costs can still add up. And while you may have cut your total car ownership costs by buying a hybrid, you might be thinking about getting into an electric car. But, will electric car repairs actually cost you more? The answer isn't clear.

Companies like Nissan, who are getting ready to bring consumer-ready electric cars to market, say that electric car "maintenance costs are projected to be equal to or lower than comparably equipped gas-powered cars," but the key word there is "projected." We can't know for sure.

To work the problem out, take a look back at when hybrid cars first came to market. For many early adopters of hybrid technology (and even hybrid buyers today), repairs costs were a major concern. The fact is, hybrids simply cost a little more to repair than gas-only cars. But, the extra cost is just a function of supply and demand. Since hybrids had new technology and were, at least initially, relatively rare, it was tough to find parts for them. Plus, since hybrids have different components and systems than conventional cars, finding a certified mechanic who knew how to fix them was challenging. As hybrids have gotten more popular, however, the repair costs have fallen slightly.

The same trend could happen with electric cars. The first mass-market electric cars will likely be more expensive to repair than gasoline-fueled cars simply because there'll be fewer outlets for parts and fewer qualified mechanics. As electric cars become more popular, the market for parts and mechanics will expand, bringing costs down.

One extra point to keep in mind is that electric cars will cost considerably less than gasoline cars to operate. Fuel costs for an electric car (electricity) should be at least one-third the fuel costs of a comparably-sized gasoline-powered car. Savings on fuel may offset the higher initial repair costs. And once electric cars become commonplace, repair costs should come down, too -- making an electric car a good choice for people who want to save fuel and save money at the same time.