6 Tips to Maintain your Electric Vehicle When Not In Regular Use
There are probably only a few people left who have not heard of electric vehicles, and many others are purchasing them for personal transportation. If you fall into the latter category, congratulations: you have made a significant contribution to the eco-community and got a fantastic car. However, simply purchasing an EV is not enough; you must also maintain it in good condition. And this is where the issues may arise.
Do not worry, though — we have got your back. In the article below, you will find a list of helpful tips for maintaining your electric car when not in regular use. We will cover topics such as finding a safe place for your vehicle, taking it for a ride now and then, taking care of battery maintenance, and preventing flat patches on the tires, among other things. Continue reading to ensure that your vehicle continues to serve you for a long time.
Protect Your EV From Moisture
Moisture will damage your car's wiring, fuses, safety systems, and other parts. As such, you must take measures to protect your vehicle from rain, snow, condensation, and other sources of water. One trick is to place plastic sheets under your car during winter. This way, moisture will be trapped under it and not evaporate under your vehicle.
Another option is to purchase a moisture trap that collects moisture from under your vehicle and vents it outside. Additionally, as one of the consequences of not maintaining garage doors is creating gaps here and there, you should keep your garage door in the best shape possible. If you fail to do it, you will expose your car to harmful elements, including rainwater which can cause water damage.
Remove the Battery From Your Car
This step is only relevant if you have a removable battery. If you are not planning to use a car for an extended period, remove it from the vehicle and store it in a cool, dry location. It is best to keep it in a safe place where it is not easy to steal. Ideally, you can store it in a climate-controlled garage with stable temperature and humidity levels. It will prevent any corrosion or damage to the battery, which could lead to an expensive repair.
Charge Your Battery Once Every Few Months
If possible, try to charge your battery once every couple of months while it is in storage. You can use a portable or wall charger (make sure that it has an anti-sparking feature) for this purpose. Doing this will help keep the battery in good condition, even when not in use. However, make sure not to overcharge it — you should stop charging as soon as the battery is full.
If you do not have access to a charger or cannot afford one, it is better not to bother with charging at all. The best option is to go with an EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment) charger that provides power for your vehicle and then disconnects automatically when the battery is full. This way, you will not overcharge it and damage the battery.
Install a Security System Inside or Outside of Your Garage
We recommend using alarms with two motion sensors monitoring each side of your vehicle inside and outside of your garage door. It ensures that nobody can get into your garage without being detected by an alarm system. Ideally, you should connect these sensors directly to an alarm control panel so that they can be monitored remotely via phone or computer.
Doing this will help prevent copper thieves from stealing wires from inside your EV when they break into your garage. Otherwise, they will just cut wires connected to your vehicle's electrical system and leave with the metal they need for their business.
Another great benefit of these systems is that they can alert you of motion inside or around your garage. So if somebody enters while you are away on vacation or at work, you will be notified immediately via text or email.
Take Your EV for a Ride Every Now and Then
Taking out your car for a test drive once in a while is a great way to maintain its performance (even if you do not drive it regularly). By doing this, you can check if your EV is still performing like it used to. You will also avoid unpleasant surprises like dead batteries or other similar issues that might come about when you try to start up your EV after months of storage. It is much better to learn about a problem sooner rather than later because you will have the chance to take care of it before it gets any worse.
Check Tire Pressure
We recommend checking tire pressure once per month. Make sure that all four tires have proper inflation. Otherwise, you will end up with flat spots on them after several weeks of storage. If this happens, the tire will lose its grip on the road surface when you take it for a drive after a long period or even could blow out at high speeds.
While tire pressure may seem like something simple that does not require much effort on your part, it could cost you hundreds of dollars if not appropriately maintained. As such, always make sure that tires in your vehicle are always properly inflated.
Final Thoughts
There you have it — a list of tips to maintain your electric vehicle when not in regular use. Hopefully, these will help you avoid issues that might arise during storage and ensure that your car continues to serve you for years to come. Try not to forget any of them, whether creating suitable storage conditions, removing the battery, or installing a security system in your garage.
If you discover problems with your EV, don't be afraid to seek help from an expert. After all, it is always better to be safe than sorry. And remember: take good care of your EV, and it will repay you tenfold.