What you no longer pay for
- No engine oil or filter changes, no spark plugs, no timing belts, no exhaust.
- Brakes last much longer — regenerative braking does most of the slowing, so pads and discs wear slowly.
What an EV still needs
- Battery thermal coolant — checked/changed on the maker's schedule; important in Sri Lanka's heat.
- Cabin air filter — replaced periodically, more often in dusty conditions.
- 12V battery — yes, EVs still have one, and it still fails; budget for replacement.
- Brake calipers — because brakes are used so little, calipers can seize from disuse; periodic service keeps them free.
- Tyres — wear faster on a heavy, torquey EV (see our tyres guide).
- Coolant, suspension, wipers, cabin checks — normal car upkeep.
Net effect: lower scheduled-servicing cost than an equivalent petrol car, but plan for thermal coolant, the 12V battery and tyres — they're the real recurring items.