5 Ideas To Prepare Service Departments for the EV Age

Oil changes have long been a loss-leader gateway for dealership Service departments to attract customers, but they may become a thing of the past as the market shifts toward all-electric vehicles.

And while EVs are a small percentage of the market today, it’s a good time to start thinking about the regular services these customers may view like an oil change. Being vigilant no matter the type of vehicle is especially important since 13 of the 16 routine services CDK tracks saw a year-over-year decline at dealerships between 2023 and 2024.

Here’s a look at five innovative ways Service departments can maintain contact with owners of electric cars.

1. EV Battery Maintenance
Few customers likely know EV batteries need maintenance to reach their full lifespan. Dealers can recommend and provide routine visual and in-depth inspections, including utilizing diagnostics tools and even a thermal imaging camera to look for battery hot spots (an indicator for potential issues). Provide consumers with a battery health report following the inspection to help them feel more confident about what many consider to be complicated vehicles. The upside of this maintenance for consumers is simple: Their batteries will last and hold a charge longer.

Consumers are already interested in EV battery maintenance; it was one of only three vehicle services to see a year-over-year increase.

2. Cooling System Maintenance
Most EVs have cooling systems to prevent their batteries from overheating. The glycol-based coolant fluid in these systems needs to be inspected and replaced periodically, with some automakers suggesting replacement every five years.

3. Tire Replacement and Rotation
EVs are heavy, so they’ll likely go through tires faster than conventional gas-fueled vehicles. Your dealership’s Service department may want to pivot toward focusing on tire mounting, balancing and rotation as primary income streams, especially since this is work that some consumers may not even associate with dealers.

4. Suspension and Brake Maintenance
All that extra weight may add up to more suspension and braking wear. If an inspection of suspension bushings and shock absorbers isn’t part of your regular inspection schedule, you may want to consider adding it. It’s not difficult for a Technician to confirm whether a bushing has dried or worn out.

Though EVs rely heavily on regenerative braking, where the electric motor does more work to slow the vehicle than traditional friction brakes, that doesn’t necessarily mean all drivers will see reduced brake wear. Some drivers may simply turn off regenerative braking since it requires acclimation. Big, heavy EVs will inevitably wear through brake pads and rotors, even if over much longer intervals. And their braking systems still use brake fluid, which should be replaced regularly.

5. Software Updates
By now, most of us are used to regular software updates for our computers, tablets and smartphones. Consumers may not be aware that new cars need regular software updates too. While some updates can be performed at home, your customers may feel more comfortable having this done at a dealership. Your dealership can create a process to scan and subsequently update vehicles.