An Overview of Maintenance for Hybrid Cars
An overview of maintenance for hybrid cars...
Hybrid cars run on a combination of a fuel combustion engine and mechanical energy which is provided by a battery cell. The cost of a hybrid car is usually more than a normal car costs but it doesn't require as much maintenance. They are not suppose to need any type of additional maintenance on any components.
About the only maintenance required on hybrid cars is to replace the air filter after the car has 40,000 miles on it. What you do have to do is a similar maintenance to the fuel engine in the car as you do to any regular fuel-engine vehicle. It requires you to perform oil changes according to the driving conditions and the vehicle which is every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. The hybrid offers less maintenance than ordinary fuel-engine vehicles.
Another good maintenance perk of the hybrid car is the regenerative braking that exists in a hybrid car and this causes the brake pads to last longer than in ordinary cars. This is caused because the electric motor acts as a generator which captures the energy being lost as the car is cruising or if the brakes are applied. This energy being captured is changed into electricity that recharges the batteries and this is used to increase the efficiency of the fuel in the car.
A hybrid's battery receives its energy source from the regenerative braking; therefore, this eliminates the need of plugging in a hybrid car as maintenance for its battery. This differs from electric cars where the battery must be plugged in occassionally to maintain its battery to be in running condition. The battery in hybrid car's does not need to be replaced as long as the battery charge is maintained between 40% and 60%. This prevents the battery from ever being fully charged or drained and it extends its longevity.
The majority of the time, a hybrid's maintenance is lower because of the decreased wear and tear on its engine and also on its brake system. It has been suggested that you return your car to its dealer when any maintenance is needed. This is required because the dealer offers a warranty on the amount of usage of the car on its emission parts and its battery pack. This may cost you a little more out of your pocket but you'll know someone is working on your vehicle who is knowledgeable about hybrid cars.
