Visalia has a mild winter climate and hot summers, with temperatures reaching around 96 degrees throughout the summer. If you’ve lived around Visalia for years, you may be familiar with how hot weather can affect the maintenance requirements for traditional gas cars. But if you’re switching to a hybrid or EV—or the Visalia area is new to you—make sure you factor the climate into your electric vehicle maintenance to-dos.
Essential Maintenance for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
Electric and hybrid vehicles share a lot of the same maintenance requirements as conventional cars. Some essential electric vehicle maintenance and hybrid maintenance tasks include:
- Brake system checks and maintenance
- Tire maintenance, including rotating and replacing
- Fluid checks
- Battery care and replacement
Your hybrid or EV will also require software upgrades; while all new cars have some computerized systems that require occasional updates, it’s even more important for hybrids and EVs to get prompt, routine software upgrades on schedule. Some of these tasks you can manage alone, such as visually checking your battery system at routine intervals, keeping your tires properly inflated, and even checking some of your car’s fluid levels. But for many of these tasks, it’s best to schedule routine appointments with a trusted mechanic who knows EVs.
Tips for Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Care in Visalia’s Hot Climate
EVs are more vulnerable to heat than conventional cars—imagine how hot your laptop or phone gets when you leave it out in the sun! With that in mind, one of the best ways to care for your hybrid or EV is to keep it cool. Park in the shade or in your garage when you can. This protects the battery from overheating, which damages the battery and can permanently shorten its lifespan.
For better EV battery care in a hot climate, charge your battery during cooler parts of the day: early morning, late evening, or even overnight. If you have sufficient battery charge, run the A/C before you charge, as this can cool the cabin. One last tip for your battery system is to moderate how much you charge it; around 80% gives you a good charge, while going up to 90-100% can generate excessive heat that wears on the battery long-term.
There are also some driving best practices that can protect EV cars and hybrids. Consider:
- Pre-cooling your vehicle, especially before a long drive.
- Cruising—stop-and-go traffic or hard acceleration is bad for the battery systems.
- Learning more about your specific model’s hill-hold or battery saver options, as they can reduce strain on your battery when it matters most.
- Replacing your cabin filter on schedule so the cooling system works at peak efficiency (or more frequently if you travel along dusty roads)
Where to Get Vehicle Maintenance
Getting your vehicle maintenance done on time is a great way to protect your vehicle and ensure its systems run reliably and smoothly for the maximum possible time. But where you get your vehicle maintenance done can be almost as important as when you get it done. For EVs and hybrids, especially, we recommend taking your car to a dealership mechanic. Dealership mechanics have extensive training in EV technologies, the needs of hybrid vehicles, and the ins and outs of your specific car model.
At Visalia Ford, our electric vehicle maintenance and hybrid maintenance team receives in-depth training so you can get back on the road with complete peace of mind, whether you stopped by for seasonal maintenance or you need a professional to assess your inverter/converter.
Leave it to the Experts—Schedule Your Electric or Hybrid Vehicle Maintenance at Visalia Ford
The team at Visalia Ford is here to help you adopt a greener lifestyle with an EV or hybrid vehicle. These driving tips are just the start. We can provide maintenance services, provide resources on battery care, and help you find your next EV. Reach out today to make caring for your hybrid or EV Ford easier than ever.
Image Source: sav_an_dreas/Shutterstock
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