Hybrid & EV Repairs & Servicing – Herne Bay

Hybrid and electric cars still need regular servicing and occasional repairs, even though they have fewer moving parts than a petrol or diesel car. Autocheck services and repairs hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fully electric vehicles on most makes and models, giving you a local, independent alternative to the main dealer.

Our technicians are trained to work safely on high-voltage systems, and our renovated workshop is equipped with the diagnostic technology these cars rely on. You get dealer-level care, explained clearly by people who are happy to answer your questions.

Why electric and hybrid cars still need servicing

An electric car has no engine oil, spark plugs, or timing belt to worry about, which does make servicing simpler and often cheaper. Plenty still needs checking, though. EVs are heavy, which puts extra strain on tyres and suspension, and regenerative braking means the brakes are used so lightly that discs can corrode and calipers can seize.

Hybrids have the most to look after, because they combine a conventional engine with an electric drive system. Both sides need maintaining to keep the car running efficiently.

What’s included in a hybrid or EV service

The exact checks depend on your car and its manufacturer’s schedule, but a typical service covers:

• A visual inspection of high-voltage cables, connectors, and the battery casing
• A diagnostic scan of the car’s systems for stored fault codes
• Brake pads, discs, and calipers, with particular attention to corrosion and sticking
• Brake fluid condition
• Tyre wear, pressures, and condition
• Suspension and steering components
• The coolant system, which on many electric cars also keeps the battery at the right temperature
• The 12-volt battery, a surprisingly common cause of breakdowns on EVs
• Cabin filter, wipers, lights, and general safety checks

On hybrids, we also carry out the engine servicing you’d expect, including oil and filter changes. Like every service we carry out, your car is valeted before you collect it.

Protecting your manufacturer and battery warranty

While your car is under warranty, we service it in line with the manufacturer’s schedule. Block Exemption rules mean independent garages like ours can carry out this work, so you don’t need to return to a dealer to keep your warranty valid.

This matters for hybrid and electric cars in particular, because the high-voltage battery is often covered by a separate, longer warranty. Following the correct service schedule helps make sure you stay within its terms. Once your car is out of warranty, we recommend servicing every 12 months or 12,000 miles.

Hybrid and electric car repairs

Beyond routine servicing, we diagnose and repair the faults that most often affect hybrid and electric vehicles, including:

• Dashboard warning lights and system fault messages
• 12-volt battery failures
• Brake, suspension, and steering problems
• Wheel bearings and other wear items that take more strain on heavier vehicles
• Air conditioning and heating faults

If your car needs specialist high-voltage battery work, we’ll explain exactly what we’ve found and talk you through your options honestly.

Our qualifications and expertise

Working on high-voltage systems safely requires specific training. A hybrid or electric car’s battery can carry several hundred volts, and the system must be safely isolated before certain work can begin.

Our technicians hold the IMI Level 3 Award in Electric and Hybrid Vehicle System Repair and Replacement, a nationally recognised qualification from the Institute of the Motor Industry. It covers how to safely isolate a vehicle’s high-voltage system, remove and replace electrical components, and restore the system correctly once the work is complete.

That training is backed by the right equipment. We use Zeus and Autel diagnostic systems to read fault codes and live data from hybrid and electric drivetrains, and our new ramps and Snap-on tooling give us a safe, organised workspace for heavier vehicles. Many franchised dealers would recognise the setup, but our prices and service feel much more personal.

Tyres for electric cars

EVs deliver instant torque and weigh considerably more than a comparable petrol car, so tyres tend to wear faster. Many manufacturers fit tyres designed specifically for electric vehicles, with stronger sidewalls and lower rolling resistance to protect range.

Tyres are one of the things we’re best known for, and we’ll recommend options that suit your car’s weight and your driving, rather than whatever happens to be in stock.

Why choose us for your hybrid or EV

Some independent garages still turn hybrid and electric cars away, leaving owners with little choice but the dealer. We’ve invested in the training and equipment to look after them properly, and we bring the same right-first-time approach our Faversham garage has built its reputation on.

Our workshop is close to the A299 Thanet Way, within easy reach of Whitstable, Herne, and the outskirts of Canterbury. If you live within five miles, we can collect your car and return it once the work is done, subject to availability.

Book your hybrid or EV service online, choosing the date and time that suit you best.