EV and hybrid servicing in Auckland

GVI has been importing and looking after electric vehicles for well over a decade, and the Service Centre is where those cars come back to. We look after every kind of EV and hybrid, whether you bought it from us or not, with the specific tools and experience these vehicles need.

Do electric vehicles need servicing?

Yes, though a different kind. There is no engine oil, no spark plugs and no timing belt, so a service costs less in some areas. But brake fluid, coolant, cabin filters, the reduction box oil, tyres, suspension, brakes and the 12V battery all still wear or age, and the high-voltage battery's health is worth knowing about. Our guide Do electric cars need servicing? goes through what is and is not needed.

What we do for EVs and hybrids

• Scheduled servicing to the manufacturer's intervals for electric and hybrid models.
• Battery health tests: our AVILOO battery test tests and reports on the battery of all makes and models of EV, with a report you can keep, useful for ownership and resale.
• Reduction box oil changes to the manufacturer's schedule.
• High-voltage battery replacement, upgrades and individual cell replacement.
• EV drivetrain components: motors, the reduction gearbox, driveshafts and related parts.
• EV charging and powertrain components: onboard chargers, charge ports and charging faults, and power electronics.
• 12V battery testing and replacement. A weak 12V battery is the number-one reason an EV will not wake up.
• Brake servicing to deal with corrosion caused by regenerative braking. See brakes.
• Air conditioning service and repair. See air conditioning.
• Tyres, alignment and suspension, with attention to the wear heavy, torquey vehicles cause.
• Diagnostics for warning lights and EV system faults, including firmware updates where they are available.
• WOF inspections for electric and hybrid vehicles.

Battery health, in plain English

An EV's battery slowly loses capacity with age and use. State of health, often written SOH, is how much of its original capacity remains. A battery at 85% SOH holds 85% of what it held when new, so the car's range is correspondingly lower. We measure it with our AVILOO battery test, which tests and reports on the battery of all makes and models of EV, and we explain what the number means for your car. More in EV battery health explained.

EV battery replacement, upgrades and cell repair

When an EV's high-voltage battery has lost too much capacity, or has a fault, a brand-new pack is not the only answer. We do EV battery replacements, battery upgrades and individual cell replacement, so we can match the repair to the car and to what it is worth.

• Individual cell replacement: when the problem is a few weak or failed cells, replacing those cells can restore a pack without replacing the whole thing.
• Battery replacement: a replacement pack when the existing one is beyond repair.
• Battery upgrades: more capacity where an upgrade is available for your model.

We start with an AVILOO battery test, so the repair is based on measured results, then tell you the options and quote before any work starts. What is possible depends on the make and model, so tell us the vehicle and what the battery is doing and we will say what is realistic.

Reduction box oil

Most EVs do not have a conventional gearbox. Instead a reduction gearbox, often called the reduction box, steps the motor's speed down to the wheels. It is sealed and low-maintenance, but its oil still ages and collects wear particles, and manufacturers specify a change at set intervals. We change reduction box oil to your manufacturer's schedule, using the specified oil, and check the unit for leaks and noise while we are there.

Drivetrain, charging and powertrain repairs

We also repair the parts that make an EV go and charge, not just the parts that wear in service. That includes EV drivetrain components such as motors, reduction gearboxes and driveshafts, and EV charging and powertrain components such as onboard chargers, charge ports, and power electronics. We diagnose first, using EV-specific tools, so we replace or repair what has actually failed. See also auto electrical and diagnostics.

Model-specific help

If you drive a Nissan Leaf or a Tesla, we also run dedicated sites with model-specific detail. They are all backed by the same Penrose workshop and team.

Hybrids

Hybrids combine a conventional engine with a high-voltage battery and motor. We service both halves: the engine and its oil and filters, and the electrical side, including the 12V battery, brakes (which can corrode from light use) and hybrid system checks.

Frequently asked questions