Electric Vehicles

Plugging Into the Future: A Guide to Electric Vehicles

The automobile world is undergoing a serious shift toward sustainability, and Optimize Garage is right in the middle of it. With electric vehicles (EVs) emerging as one of the key pieces in this revolution, we’re well-positioned to provide education, service, and repair for our customers' electric vehicles.

What Are EVs? 

Contrary to what you might have heard, not every electric vehicle is completely electric. They’re also available as hybrid vehicles, which means they combine the best of electrical and combustion power into one package. You have the option of either filling it up with gas or charging it at an electronic charging station. 

Whether fully electric or a hybrid, EVs are great options for the environment. They’re also much quieter than traditional vehicles. EVs tend to have lower operating expenses and smoother handling than their combustion engine counterparts. EVs are still pricier on average today, but the technology behind them is developing fast, and we fully expect more people to own electric cars in the future. And when they do, Optimize Garage will be here to provide expert-level electric vehicle maintenance.

Electric Vehicle Types 

Any new technology can feel confusing — once upon a time, no one knew what “SMS” or “email” meant. The electric vehicle industry can feel like it speaks a language all of its own, but don't worry. We’ll break down the jargon and help you learn something useful about EVs right now. 

Key vocabulary you should know includes: 

• EV: An overarching term for all electric vehicles
• BEV: A battery electric vehicle (BEV) is one that only uses electric motors to get around. These vehicles don't have an “old-fashioned” combustion engine under their hood, so you’re fully reliant on the vehicle’s charging infrastructure and EV charging stations to get around. 
• PHEV: A plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), as the name implies, is a hybrid vehicle that can be plugged in. Unlike BEVs, they do have gasoline, so you do have options once the battery runs down. 
• MHEV: The mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) is all about mileage. It's not a replacement for a gasoline-powered vehicle, but rather a supplement. MHEVs take some of the load off the engine, boosting the vehicle’s mileage. They also use a regenerative braking system to help cut down on fuel usage. 
• FCEV: Fuel cell electric calls are only really available in California, for now. They operate on compressed hydrogen, which means the act of filling them at a hydrogen fueling station will be pretty familiar to old school drivers. For now, FCEVs aren’t very common. 
  

Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Services Currently Available at Optimize Garage

Optimize Garage has spent the last few years preparing in detail for the electric vehicle revolution. We don’t think they’ll replace combustion engine vehicles any time soon, but we know more and more of our customers are taking interest, and we’ll be there to serve when you do. Our teams are standing by and ready to provide: 

• Tire inspection, rotation, and balancing maintenance services
• Brake maintenance and replacement
• Wheel alignment
• Wiper replacement
• Oil changes for hybrid vehicles
• Coolant level inspections
• Updates for firmware and software
• Diagnostic and repair for high-voltage systems
• EV, hybrid, and traditional fleet servicing
• EV battery charging services
  

A Few Signs To Watch Out for When Operating an Electric Vehicle

Electric vehicles are still a new technology. They’re renowned for their reliability, but all EV owners know there are still a few kinks to work out. Even if the vehicle is up and running, it might not be operating at peak energy efficiency. There are a few sensitive systems inside electric cars that can lead to a problem, so here are some things that you should monitor quite closely: 

• Battery status: Batteries are even more important in electric vehicles than they are in combustion vehicles. The battery for an EV determines the vehicle’s driving range, which can cause a condition called range anxiety when things aren’t working as they should. The battery should alert you when something is wrong, but since the notification system itself can malfunction, it’s a good idea to receive regular inspections from Optimize Garage to be on the safe side. 
• Tires: Tires are one thing that hasn't changed much with the new generation of vehicles. The performance and safety of the vehicle depends on their health, so always monitor them for low pressure or discoloration.

Optimize Garage Is Here To Service Your Electric Vehicle

As the premier automobile maintenance and repair provider in the Oakdale, MN area, Optimize Garage is well-positioned to help you take advantage of the electric vehicle revolution. If you own an EV, we’ll be happy to provide EV maintenance solutions as needed to ensure it stays at optimal performance. To schedule an inspection, just call 855-676-1212 at your first opportunity.