Will the Electric XUV300 be more reliable and have lower maintenance costs over the long term than its ICE sibling?
A big selling point of electric vehicles is that they have potentially fewer moving parts than internal combustion engines and therefore lower maintenance costs. The long term reliability and maintenance cost of EVs in India is still somewhat of a black box, particularly for mainstream manufacturers like Mahindra. The Electric XUV300 may seem like a good way to save money on oil changes and brake pad wear due to regenerative braking, but there are other things to consider. For example, the battery pack is a big component which will likely need to be replaced a few years down the line and that's costly. The other question is how will Mahindra's electric powertrains fare in Indian conditions over time, with extreme temperatures and varying road quality. To add to that, EV repair technicians can be difficult to find, especially so in smaller cities. But the ICE XUV300 has a proven history, and people know how reliable and what maintenance it costs. Potential buyers should understand the long term ownership experience as well as the cost of owning one, electric or ICE.
However, EVs tend to be cheaper to maintain, but that battery replacement cost down the road could be a nasty surprise. It's a gamble.
I believe that in the long run it'll be cheaper. Less wear and tear, no oil changes, fewer moving parts and regenerative braking. The savings will add up.
The real question is whether Mahindra has engineered the electric powertrain well. It may be as simple as maintenance if it is solid. But if not, you’re in for a world of expensive repairs.
Don’t forget about software maintenance. Mahindra updates EVs often and if they make you pay for that, it can add up.
The Electric XUV300 will be a challenge to maintain, and I worry about finding qualified mechanics for it, outside of metro cities. At least the ICE version is something any local garage can handle basic maintenance on.
What I'm really worried about is the battery degradation. That's a form of maintenance cost, in terms of reduced usability if it loses significant range after a few years.
Let's be optimistic. They've been improving their quality and they know the EV game is key to their future. And they will likely try to make it reliable.
One thing to consider is how lower insurance costs on the EV can be possible. Less moving parts tend to be less likely to fail mechanically.
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