An electric van costs on average €800 to €1,500 per year for maintenance. This is significantly less than diesel vans, due to the elimination of oil changes, exhaust system maintenance, and complex engine components. The costs mainly consist of MOT testing, tire service, brake maintenance, and software updates. Below we answer the most important questions about the maintenance costs of electric vans.
What are the annual maintenance costs of an electric van?
The annual maintenance costs of an electric van range between €800 and €1,500, depending on the brand, model, and annual mileage. This is substantially lower than diesel vans, which often cost €1,500 to €2,500 per year.
The main cost categories for electric vans are:
- MOT testing: €45-65 per year (first test after 4 years)
- Tire service: €200-400 per year (depending on driving behavior)
- Brake maintenance: €150-300 per year
- 12V battery replacement: €100-150 (every 3-4 years)
- Software updates and diagnostics: €100-200 per year
- Air conditioning service: €80-120 per year
Popular electric vans such as the Renault Kangoo E-Tech, Citroën ë-Berlingo, and Peugeot e-Partner have comparable maintenance costs. The differences lie mainly in warranty conditions and service frequency between manufacturers.
Which components need maintenance on an electric van?
Electric vans have far fewer moving parts than diesel variants, making maintenance simpler and cheaper. The electric motor has no oil, filters, or complex mechanical systems that need regular replacement.
These components do require regular car maintenance:
- Brake system: although regenerative braking reduces wear, brake pads and discs still need to be checked
- Tires: often faster wear due to the higher weight of the battery
- 12V auxiliary battery: powers the electronic systems and lasts 3-4 years
- Air conditioning system: has its own cooling circuit that requires maintenance
- Suspension and wheel alignment: due to the weight of the battery pack
- Software and electronics: regular updates for optimal performance
What is eliminated compared to diesel vans: engine oil, oil filters, air filters, fuel filters, spark plugs, timing belt, clutch, exhaust system, and AdBlue system. This saves considerably in maintenance costs and garage visits.
How often does an electric van need to go to the garage for service?
Electric vans have longer service intervals than diesel variants. Most manufacturers follow a maintenance schedule of 12 months or 20,000-30,000 kilometers, which is much more generous than the 10,000-15,000 kilometers for diesel vans.
Typical service intervals by brand:
| Brand | Service interval | First major service |
|---|---|---|
| Renault Kangoo E-Tech | 12 months/30,000 km | After 2 years |
| Citroën ë-Berlingo | 12 months/25,000 km | After 2 years |
| Peugeot e-Partner | 12 months/25,000 km | After 2 years |
During each service, the battery condition, charging system, cooling, brakes, tires, suspension, and all electronic systems are checked. Software updates are also performed to optimize performance and safety.
For lease drivers, maintenance at an authorized dealer is often mandatory. Many universal garages are now also equipped for electric maintenance, which offers more choice options.
What is the difference in maintenance costs between electric and diesel vans?
Electric vans are 30-50% cheaper to maintain than comparable diesel models. Over a 5-year period, this quickly saves €3,000 to €5,000, especially at high annual mileages, where the difference becomes even greater.
Cost comparison over 5 years at 25,000 km/year:
| Maintenance | Electric | Diesel | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service and repairs | €4,500 | €8,500 | €4,000 |
| MOT tests | €300 | €350 | €50 |
| Tires | €1,200 | €1,000 | -€200 |
| Total | €6,000 | €9,850 | €3,850 |
The biggest savings are in the elimination of regular oil changes (€150-200 per service), exhaust system repairs, turbo maintenance, DPF cleaning, and complex engine problems. Electric vans do have higher tire wear due to weight, but this is more than compensated by the other savings.
How Autobedrijf Verdonk helps with electric van maintenance
At Autobedrijf Verdonk in Veldhoven, we are specialized in the maintenance of electric vans of all brands. Our technicians are specifically trained for electric vehicles and we have the right diagnostic equipment for modern electric systems.
Our services for electric vans:
- Complete service and maintenance according to factory schedules
- Battery condition control and diagnostics
- Software updates and system optimization
- MOT testing for electric vehicles
- Tire service with advice for electric vans
- Brake service adapted to the regenerative braking system
- Transparent pricing with an hourly rate of €95 excluding VAT
We serve both private entrepreneurs and companies with electric fleets. Due to our location 300 meters from ASML, we help many international companies and expats with their electric vans. Autobedrijf Verdonk also performs maintenance and repairs for all other car brands.
Would you like to have your electric van checked or do you have questions about maintenance? Contact us or visit us in Veldhoven. Read more about our history as a family business with more than 95 years of experience in the automotive industry.