Is it possible to maintain a hybrid car in the Philippines?
- It’s similar to maintaining a gas engine
- Battery care and maintenance
- Keep your car cool
- Less overall maintenance
You dared to move away from the conventional car and got yourself a sustainable hybrid in its place. And as you enjoy the smooth, quiet ride and the large chunk of savings from what used to be piled gas bill receipts, you start to wonder: is this really sustainable for me? Can I maintain a hybrid car in the Philippines? The answer is a resounding “yes”! It may seem from the get-go that a hybrid car is too complicated or too uncommon, hence it will be a real pain to fix and expensive to keep functioning optimally. Check below for a few insights on why you shouldn’t worry about keeping your hybrid car in tip-top shape.
It’s Essentially Just the Gas Engine
Most of the maintenance you need to do is the same as a regular car. The majority of the things you need to watch out for are not on the electric motor, but still on the Internal Combustion Engine (or ICE). You have to do the rudimentary inspections and check-ups for that side of the engine, so it will be a familiar and very similar process as with any regular car and auto repair shop. So dispel the fears that tell you “it’s expensive to maintain a hybrid car” because it really is essentially the same deal.
Battery Care and Maintenance
It’s more about adjusting and re-learning your habits on car care when it comes to a hybrid vehicle. To charge your batteries correctly, you have to charge it only once every two weeks. During the time that you leave if juicing up on electricity, ensure that all the electrical accessories of the car are switched off – the air conditioning and the radio/audio devices. This will help you prevent draining the auxiliary battery excessively.
For added safety precautions, you should disconnect the negative terminal of the auxiliary battery before you start cranking it up for your next drive. And watch out! Check that the tailpipe is connected to an exhaust hose before starting the hybrid system in an enclosed space (like an indoor garage). This will help you avoid creating a possibly dangerous build-up of fumes.
Now for your car’s hybrid battery, the interval between charging the system is once every two months. Then, do the same routine and necessary safety steps as with the auxiliary battery.
For an optimal charge level, you should try your best to keep it between 40 to 60 percent charge, avoiding extreme drainage and overcharge. This will let your car perform best and make the system run efficiently.
Additionally, your vehicle should have a standing warranty on the battery, so if any problems arise, just head to your dealer and simply have it replaced.
Keep Your Cool New Car Cool
One thing to watch out for with an electric battery pack is that it can generate large amounts of heat from powering its regenerative braking system. Monitor the temperature of the clamps, pipes, and hoses of the electric motor. Also, with our climate and especially during the peak summer seasons, try to keep your hybrid vehicle parked indoors or in a shaded garage.
Less Overall Maintenance
Because of the dual nature of the hybrid car, the fuel engine and electric motor share the workload on the road, which in turn effectively balances the wear-and-tear of the other. Functioning correctly, your hybrid vehicle can switch off the ICE engine to a complete stop and run at limited speed or cruise using only its electric motor. So that also means that the internal parts of the hybrid vehicle have better overall longevity, and makes the need to maintain a hybrid car less frequent.
The regenerative braking feature of hybrid cars can off-set the need for higher levels of friction and heat from the traditional brakes. Of course, as mentioned earlier, you should also get used to the regenerative braking system when you drive for you to enjoy less wear-and-tear on your brake pads.
You won’t need to do as many oil and air filter changes as they typically have better lifespans in the standard make of hybrid electric vehicles. All this said, you need fewer routine check-ups for your hybrid car, as its system is built to be more self-sustaining.
Check-in With Your Technician
But if you do happen to run into some engine trouble, it’s best to go straight to the specialists to avoid any electrical hazards and to ensure that the interconnected I.C.E., electric motor, and transmission are tended to as one integrated component, with professional equipment and tools.
Key Takeaway
Having a hybrid vehicle allows you to enjoy less strenuous maintenance and less frequent need for check-ups, especially when coupled with adjusted driving habits to maximize its features. Worry no more because now you know that it is certainly possible to maintain a hybrid car here in the Philippines.
