Electric car maintenance and its cost: service intervals, insurance and tyres
An electric car has no engine oil, oil filter or spark plugs, so maintenance is less frequent and cheaper. According to Hyundai Türkiye's official table, maintenance on the Kona Electric up to 120,000 km totals 83,540 TL, against 162,499 TL for the petrol Kona. Brake fluid, the cabin filter, coolant and tyres still need maintenance.
By: Şarj Rehberim · Updated: · 6 min read
Short answer
An electric car has no engine oil, oil filter, spark plugs, timing belt or exhaust; thanks to regenerative braking, the brake pads also wear more slowly. So scheduled maintenance is both less frequent and cheaper: Kia Türkiye has extended the service interval on its electric models to 30,000 km or 2 years.
According to Hyundai Türkiye's official maintenance prices of September 2026, services up to 120,000 km on the Kona Electric total 83,540 TL and on the petrol Kona 1.0 T-GDI 162,499 TL; the electric costs about half as much. In Germany, a study in which ADAC, the German automobile club, compared 94 service quotes also found electric car maintenance to be a third cheaper on average.
Electric vs petrol maintenance cost: official figures
The totals below are the sum of 8 services, from 15,000 km to 120,000 km, at Hyundai Türkiye's recommended scheduled maintenance prices including parts, labour and VAT.
| Model | 120,000 km maintenance total | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Kona Electric (2024+) | 83,540 TL | — |
| Hyundai Kona 1.0 T-GDI (petrol) | 162,499 TL | 95% more expensive than the electric |
| Hyundai IONIQ 5 (2024+) | 104,586 TL | — |
| Hyundai Tucson 1.6 T-GDI (petrol) | 214,604 TL | 105% more expensive than the IONIQ 5 |
Sources (as of 3 November 2026): Hyundai Türkiye scheduled maintenance prices, September 2026 · ADAC: electric vs petrol maintenance costs
How often does an electric car need servicing?
- Kia: since March 2025, 30,000 km or 2 years on electric models (at 30, 60 and 90 thousand km, then every 30,000 km).
- Hyundai: the official price table for electric models runs in 15,000 km intervals.
- Togg: according to Togg's frequently asked questions page, services focus mainly on checking the brake system, air conditioning and electrical system; ask an authorised service centre about the interval.
- Tesla: instead of a fixed annual service, it gives intervals per component; for example, it recommends checking the brake fluid every 4 years, replacing the cabin filter every 2 years and rotating the tyres every 10,000 km.
Sources (as of 3 November 2026): Kia Türkiye: electric service interval · Togg frequently asked questions · Tesla Model Y maintenance intervals
What maintenance does an electric car still need?
Because the brakes are used little, the discs can rust; it is advisable not to skip the brake check at services and to brake hard now and then.
| Not needed | Still needed |
|---|---|
| Engine oil and oil filter | Brake fluid (Renault: every 3 years) |
| Spark plugs | Battery and motor coolant (Renault: every 6 years) |
| Timing belt, auxiliary belts | 12 V battery (Renault: every 4 years) |
| Exhaust and particulate filter | Cabin (pollen) filter, wipers |
| Clutch | Tyres, wheel alignment and balancing, suspension and brake checks |
Sources (as of 3 November 2026): Renault: E-Tech electric maintenance
Electric car insurance (kasko): is the battery covered?
Standard kasko, Türkiye's comprehensive car insurance (governed by the General Conditions for Land Vehicle Kasko Insurance), covers the battery as part of the car in events such as collision, fire and theft. Electrical and electronic faults that arise without an accident, and wear and tear, can only be covered by an additional agreement; the battery losing capacity over time is a matter for the manufacturer's warranty, not kasko.
According to the Insurance Association of Türkiye, about 80–85% of electric cars in Türkiye have kasko, and the Association considers battery cover vital. Check the following in your policy:
- The condition that battery repairs and replacements are carried out at an authorised service centre.
- Depreciation deduction: some policies deduct an annual depreciation share for battery damage; for example, 15% for each year in Türkiye Sigorta's electric vehicle clause.
- Cover for the charging cable, home charging unit, roadside charging and towing.
Sources (as of 3 November 2026): General Conditions for Land Vehicle Kasko Insurance · Türkiye Sigorta: electric vehicle clause
Electric car tyres: why do they wear faster?
According to ADAC, tyre wear increases in proportion to a car's weight; the heavy battery and instant high torque make an electric car wear its tyres faster. According to data from Epyx, a UK fleet platform that tracks more than 4 million vehicles, the first tyre change on electric cars comes about 20–25% earlier than on petrol and diesel cars.
- You do not necessarily need an "electric car tyre"; what matters is the manufacturer's size and load index. For heavy electric cars, HL-marked tyres carry 20% more load than a standard tyre of the same size.
- Tyres with sound-absorbing foam reduce road noise in a car that has no engine noise.
- In Türkiye, winter tyres are mandatory between 15 November and 15 April for commercial vehicles carrying passengers and freight between cities; for private cars they are not mandatory, but recommended.
- Because of the torque, the tyres on the driven axle wear faster; regular rotation extends their life.
Sources (as of 3 November 2026): ADAC: tyres for electric cars · Pirelli: HL load marking
Frequently asked questions
- How often does an electric car need servicing?
- It varies by brand: Kia's electric models every 30,000 km or 2 years, while Hyundai's official price table runs in 15,000 km intervals. Your car's service booklet or app shows the exact interval.
- How much does electric car maintenance cost?
- At Hyundai Türkiye's September 2026 prices, maintenance up to 120,000 km totals 83,540 TL for the Kona Electric and 162,499 TL for the petrol Kona; the electric costs about half as much.
- Does an electric car need oil changes?
- No; there is no engine oil, oil filter or spark plugs. On some models, the reduction gear oil is checked at very long intervals.
- Does kasko insurance cover the battery?
- Yes, in accidents, fire and theft. Faults without an accident are covered by additional cover, and capacity loss over time by the manufacturer's warranty; check the policy's depreciation deduction and authorised service condition.
- Do electric car tyres wear out faster?
- Yes; because of weight and torque, fleet data shows the first tyre change comes about 20–25% earlier. The right load index and regular rotation extend tyre life.