For most models, yes, meaningfully so. The Canadian Automobile Association estimates the average EV owner saves 40 to 50% on maintenance compared to a gas-powered vehicle, and the reasons come down to simple mechanics: an electric motor has far fewer parts that wear out, break, or need scheduled service.
Why the savings are real
A gas engine has roughly 2,000 moving parts; an electric motor has closer to 20. That difference eliminates an entire category of routine service most drivers take for granted: no oil changes, no spark plugs, no transmission fluid or coolant flushes as scheduled maintenance, no serpentine belts or fuel injectors to replace. Regenerative braking adds a second, less obvious saving: by using the electric motor to slow the vehicle instead of relying solely on friction brakes, EVs put far less wear on brake pads and rotors. Electric Autonomy Canada reports that regenerative braking can reduce brake wear by 50 to 70%, with EV brakes sometimes lasting up to 200,000 km, well beyond what’s typical for a gas vehicle.
What this looks like over the ownership period
A Clean Energy Canada total-cost-of-ownership analysis compared a small electric hatchback (roughly $39,000) against a comparable gas model (roughly $30,000). Despite the higher upfront price, the gas vehicle’s total 10-year cost of ownership, including fuel, maintenance, and depreciation, came out to over $80,000, versus less than $49,000 for the EV. Lower maintenance costs were a meaningful part of that gap, alongside fuel savings.
💡 Tip: Use our EV vs. gas calculator to model total ownership cost, including maintenance and fuel, for a specific EV against a specific gas model.
It’s not universal across every model
The savings are broad but not absolute. Independent research comparing maintenance costs across dozens of EV and gas model pairs has found that the large majority of EVs cost less to maintain, but a handful, mostly higher-end European luxury models, actually came out slightly higher than their gas counterparts. The general rule holds well for mainstream EVs, but it’s worth checking model-specific reviews rather than assuming every EV automatically wins on maintenance.
⚠️ Note: Lower maintenance costs don’t mean zero maintenance. EVs still need tires, cabin air filters, brake fluid, and periodic checks of the battery’s cooling system. See our guide on what regular maintenance an EV actually needs for the full list.
Maintenance is only part of the total cost picture. See our guide on EV insurance costs for the other side of the ledger, since insurance is one area where EVs currently run higher, not lower, than gas vehicles in Canada.