A large majority of people in the Nordic countries agree that it must be easy to repair and maintain electric cars. This sentiment is especially strong among Swedes.
For decades, taking care of and repairing one’s car has been as common as maintaining a home — a routine part of daily life. Some drivers prefer taking their cars to branded dealerships tied to specific brands, while others choose independent workshops that can handle all makes and models, such as the Mekonomen chain in Sweden or Fixus in Finland.
A system that has worked well for years
EU regulations ensure that new car warranties remain valid, regardless of whether the repair work is done at a branded or an independent workshop. This system has worked well for a long time. But as noted in the accompanying text, there are signs that it may be difficult — or sometimes impossible — to repair critical components in new electric cars, particularly batteries, which in practice serve the same function as the engine in a gas or diesel car.
The idea that electric cars should be harder to repair than traditional gas or diesel cars is widely rejected by the public in the Nordic region. A full 76 percent say it is important or very important that electric cars can be repaired and serviced as easily as cars with combustion engines. Only one in ten consider this less important, and 14 percent don’t know.
Swedish men are the most firm in their opinion
In Sweden, opinions are the strongest. Here, 79 percent believe it is important that their new electric car can be repaired and serviced just as easily as their previous car, followed by Finland (77), Denmark (75), and Norway (72).
Another clear pattern also emerges: More men than women say that easy repair and service are important, especially in Sweden, where 84 percent of men hold this view. Finland is the only country where both men and women rate this issue equally important, with 77 percent in agreement.
Experience with electric car service and repair
But do electric cars even need as much repair and maintenance? This question has sometimes been raised in the debate. There’s no doubt that the service and repair needs of an electric car differ somewhat from those of a gas or diesel car, but over the lifespan of the vehicle, experiences so far suggest that the cost of servicing and repairing an electric car is roughly the same as that of a fossil-fueled car.
An electric car has fewer components that need replacement, but on the other hand, they are more complex and often require more extensive work in the workshop. Beyond maintaining and repairing the battery, tires wear out more quickly on electric cars due to faster acceleration, and brake discs generally show more wear compared to those on gas and diesel cars.
So, there is a clear need for electric car maintenance, and people in the Nordics clearly expect it to be accessible. Ensuring that this demand is met will be crucial as we continue to transition to a more sustainable mobility.
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