The answer to the question “Do EVs use oil?”
can get a little complex depending on the throw in of electric vehicle you’re driving.
Do Electric Vehicles Need Oil Changes and Other Types of Maintenance?
The structure of an internal combustion engine of a modern car on a stand with a partial section of the corps.Sergii Petruk/iStock/Getty
Some do and some don’t; it all depends on the key in of EV.
Electric vehicles have a few different classifications, and they each use oil differently.
Oil products may be used elsewhere, like in the transmission.
An electric ‘engine’.GreenPimp/E+/Getty
However, oil changes may be required less frequently than with standard internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
However, additional maintenance checks are typically performed during an oil change.
The manufacturer will typically provide a recommended maintenance schedule.
For example, BEVs dont have engine coolant but they do have battery coolant.
The manufacturer will have a recommended schedule for that.
How Do Electric Vehicles Actually Use Oil?
Electric vehicles use oil, but not in the same way that internal ICE vehicles do.
Since BEVs, or pure electric vehicles, dont have internal combustion engines they dont use motor oil.
However, thats just one place where vehicles use oil.
Transmission
Some BEVs use oil in their transmission, e-axle, or gearbox.
This transmission fluid wears out over time and should be inspected and changed at the manufacturer-specified interval.
Bearings in the electric motor and wheel bearings both use oil, but neither of these requires regular maintenance.
Why Dont Battery Electric Vehicles Need Motor Oil?
Pure electric vehicles dont need motor oil because they use electric motors instead of engines that burn fossil fuels.
Hybrid electric vehicles use both internal combustion engines and electric motors.
In contrast to ICE vehicles and hybrids, pure electric vehicles only have electric motors.
These motors dont have a lot of moving parts, so they dont require oil for lubrication.
These components are typically sealed, so they dont require regular maintenance.
