Should an Electric Car Be Serviced Before the Eid al-Fitr Homecoming?

Electric cars have low-maintenance characteristics, so their service intervals are longer than those of conventional cars. Some electric cars are also new, so they may not yet be due for routine servicing. So, before using it for the Eid al-Fitr homecoming, does an electric car need to be serviced first? Jayan Sentanuhady, a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), says that preparation for homecoming in an electric car includes regular maintenance. Preparations such as checking tyre pressures, light functions, and similar checks remain necessary even if the car is new. ‘The safest approach is to follow the dealer’s recommendations or refer to the maintenance manual when it is due or approaching due,’ Jayan said. ‘I would suggest that before reaching the regular service interval, namely every 15,000 km or 1 year, customers should bring the unit to a workshop for an inspection,’ said Rasyid to KOMPAS.com, not long ago. Although there is no charge since the car is still new, maintenance remains mandatory up to five years of use. One of the most important checks is the cooling system for the battery, which must be done every year or 15,000 km. ‘There is a coolant replacement schedule at 30,000 km or 2 years, but because of heavy usage, the coolant quality may require replacement earlier, so it must be checked regularly,’ Rasyid said. ‘Like coolant in general, if usually a radiator keeps the engine at a certain temperature, in electric cars the coolant helps maintain the ideal temperature of the electric motor and the battery. Regularly checking the coolant quality can prevent overheating,’ Wahyu told KOMPAS.com not long ago. Excessive heat in the electric car battery can shorten its lifespan. Therefore, it must be maintained well by optimising the cooling system that exists. The first maintenance at 5,000 km aims to check that all systems are functioning properly. Therefore, when used for the homecoming trip, it is hoped there will be no mid-journey issues. In conclusion, before using an electric car for the homecoming, it should be prepared by paying attention to its scheduled service times. If it is nearing its due date, it should not be postponed.