Electric Vehicle Servicing
EV Servicing
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Book an Electric Vehicle Service
Please allow a minimum of 2 business days. If you require a service sooner, please call us at 0800 522 734.
Electric Vehicle Servicing
Electric vehicle servicing is a different job to servicing a petrol or diesel car — and in many cases there is genuinely less to do. No oil changes, no spark plugs, no exhaust system, no timing belt. What matters is that the work which does need doing is done to the manufacturer’s specification, and that the things unique to an EV are actually checked rather than skipped.
KAAR carries out electric vehicle servicing at both our Avondale and Henderson workshops
Electric Vehicle Servicing
The great news with EVs is that, compared to an ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle, they have very few moving parts and do not generate much heat which can cause damage to engine components. This means they have fewer service requirements than a petrol-driven vehicle.
However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need the occasional service. Like all motor vehicles it needs to be maintained which means an occasional check for both safety and to ensure its working efficiently.
As with all our vehicle service checks, the team at KAAR has a set of specialised service checks for all EVs. This covers the standard running and safety components and careful checks of issues and parts specific to an EV.
Whether you’re looking for Nissan Leaf servicing or some other EV servicing, our team are fully trained and ready to service all makes and models of EV.
Why electric vehicle servicing is different
Manufacturer service schedules for EVs are often surprisingly short. Some specify very limited work at a given interval, and an honest workshop will tell you that rather than inventing jobs to fill an invoice.
What replaces the traditional service list is a different set of checks:
- High-voltage battery condition. Battery health is the single most important thing on an EV, and it degrades gradually rather than failing suddenly. Checking state of health against specification tells you where the vehicle actually stands.
- Brakes that corrode rather than wear. Regenerative braking means the friction brakes do very little work. Pads seize in calipers and discs corrode from underuse, so EV brakes need inspecting, cleaning and lubricating on condition.
- Cooling circuits. Battery and power electronics cooling systems have their own fluids and their own service lives.
- Tyres. EVs are heavy and deliver torque instantly. Tyre wear is often faster and less even than owners expect.
- The 12V battery. Even a full EV has one, and when it’s marginal the car throws warning lights that look like a major fault.
- Cabin filters, wipers, suspension, steering and the rest. All the ordinary things that still wear out on any vehicle.
Electric vehicle servicing to specification, not a generic checklist
Our approach to electric vehicle servicing is the same as our approach to everything else: know what the manufacturer actually requires, know what the dealer would do, and work to that.
We have access to manufacturer service requirements and specifications, which matters more on an EV than most people realise. When an electric vehicle servicing schedule specifies very little work, the value isn’t in doing more. Battery health checks, correct fluid specifications, torque settings, and the checks that only apply to electric vehicles.
We deliberately service a broad range of vehicles rather than specialising narrowly. That means when EVs make up a larger share of what’s on the road, we’re already looking after them.
The EVs we see most
The Nissan Leaf is by far the most common EV through our workshops, and we service them regularly. Most EVs simply don’t come in with problems — that’s one of the genuine advantages of the technology — so our EV work to date has been predominantly servicing rather than fault diagnosis.
We’d rather tell you that plainly than claim depth of repair experience the whole market is still building.
Electric vehicle servicing — where our scope sits
Electric Vehicle Servicing is available at both Avondale and Henderson.
Repair work is carried out at our Henderson workshop, where our EV technician is completing his New Zealand Level 5 EV certification. If you drop a vehicle at Avondale and it turns out to need repair work, we’ll move it across for you.
Internal high-voltage battery repair is specialist work. We’ll tell you if that’s what your vehicle needs and point you to the right place rather than take it on.
Common questions about electric vehicle servicing
Does an EV need servicing at all?
Yes, though less often and with less to do than a petrol car. Brakes, tyres, suspension, coolant, filters and battery health all still need attention, and your warranty conditions will usually require a documented service history.
Will servicing outside a dealership affect my warranty?
No, provided the work is carried out to manufacturer specification and properly documented. We keep full records for exactly this reason.
Can you check my battery health before I sell?
Yes. We can give you an honest reading of state of health, which is useful whether you’re selling, buying, or simply deciding how much longer to keep the car.
Do you charge more to service an EV?
No. Petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric are all charged at the same labour rate.
What about plug-in hybrids?
See our hybrid vehicle servicing page, which covers both HEV and PHEV.
Do you service EVs in company fleets?
Yes. EVs are arriving in business fleets faster than anywhere else — see our fleet servicing page.
Do you carry out WOF on electric vehicles?
Yes, on site at both workshops. You can check your vehicle’s warrant of fitness requirements on the NZTA website.
Book your EV service with KAAR — Avondale and Henderson, West Auckland.
Our EV Service Checklist
Our Electric Vehicle Service Checklist includes:
- Fluid check – your EV doesn’t have oil like an ICE, but we will still check your brake system, cooling system,
- Drive train fluids and windscreen washer fluid.
- Battery test and replacement if required.
- A/C and battery cooling operation.
- Charging port check and clean.
- Charging cable check.
- Tyre safety check (pressure and condition), including tyre rotation if required.
- Dashboard warning lights.
- Wipers, washers and horn check.
- Cabin filter check.
- Brake test and clean if needed.
- Inspection of drive axles and CV boots.
And, we supply a full service record as proof that your EV has been properly inspected and serviced.
Book in for an EV service today – Contact Us.
For HEV or PHEV servicing, visit our Hybrid Servicing page.
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“With two convenient West Auckland locations, Henderson and Avondale, KAAR is the place to go for Auckland vehicle repairs. Our fully equipped vehicle workshops and professional team of service technicians.”
Kelvin Armstrong
