HYBRID & ELECTRIC CAR MAINTENANCE IN DUBAI: KEY DIFFERENCES FROM PETROL AND DIESEL CARS

Why hybrid and electric cars are different in the workshop

On the road, driving a hybrid or EV in Dubai feels simple: quiet, smooth, instant torque, and in city traffic they can be more relaxing than a normal petrol car. Behind the scenes though, these cars are very different. There’s still a regular engine in many hybrids, but it shares work with one or more electric motors, a big high-voltage battery and complex control units that constantly decide who does what. Even full EVs, which have no engine at all, still rely on cooling systems, gear reduction units and power electronics that need proper care. If you treat them exactly like petrol or diesel cars, you’re going to miss important maintenance items and safety rules.

The basics: what’s still the same as a normal car?

Let’s start with the familiar parts. Hybrids still have tyres, brakes, suspension, steering, lights, wipers, air conditioning and bodywork. Many of the usual checks and services still apply: alignment, tyre rotation, suspension inspections, cabin filters, brake fluid changes and so on. Plug-in hybrids also have a regular engine that needs oil changes, coolant, spark plugs and belts, although sometimes on slightly different schedules. So you’re not entering a completely new universe, but you are adding extra layers on top of the usual maintenance.

High-voltage battery: the heart of the system

The part most people worry about is the high-voltage battery. These battery packs are built to last many years, but the heat in Dubai and the wider GCC is no joke. High temperatures are the enemy of battery life, so most hybrids and EVs use dedicated cooling systems for their batteries. Some use air, some use liquid coolant, and some have more advanced thermal management. The key point is this: the battery cooling system is just as important as the engine cooling system on a normal car. Blocked vents, dirty fans or ignored coolant changes can shorten battery life over time.

In day-to-day use, there’s not much you can “service” directly in the battery pack, but you can look after it with good habits. Avoid leaving the car parked for weeks in the sun at 100% charge. Don’t run it down to almost zero every single day if you can help it. For plug-in hybrids and EVs, keeping the average state of charge in a moderate range is usually healthier than constantly bouncing between full and empty.

Cooling systems: not just about the engine anymore

On a hybrid or EV, cooling isn’t only about the engine. You can have separate circuits for the engine, the power electronics (inverter, DC-DC converter), the battery and even the onboard charger. Each of these systems has its own hoses, pumps and valves. If coolant is ignored, these parts can suffer from the same problems as engines: corrosion, internal blockage and leaks. When something in a high-voltage cooling system fails, it can shut down charging or put the car into reduced power mode to protect itself.

This is why workshop checks and coolant change intervals matter so much for these cars. It’s not enough to say “the temperature gauge looks fine”. The cooling system needs to be inspected and serviced according to the manufacturer’s guidance, and any signs of leaks or overheating warnings should be taken very seriously.

Regenerative braking: why you still need brake maintenance

One common misunderstanding is that hybrid and electric car brakes don’t wear out because of regenerative braking. It’s true that the electric motor does a lot of the slowing down by turning kinetic energy back into electricity. That’s great for efficiency and helps brake pads last longer, especially in city traffic. But it doesn’t mean the mechanical brakes live forever.

In fact, on some EVs and hybrids, the brake discs can suffer from corrosion because they are used less often. When the car does need them – during hard braking, emergency stops or high-speed driving – they have to work perfectly. Regular brake fluid changes, inspections for rust on discs, and proper cleaning and lubrication of moving parts are still necessary. You want the system in top condition when the electronics decide it’s time for the hydraulic brakes to help out.

Engine and oil changes on hybrids

For “full hybrids” and plug-in hybrids that still have an engine, oil changes and engine maintenance are still part of life. The twist is that engine usage can be quite different from a normal car. Sometimes it starts and stops a lot. Sometimes it runs mainly at lower revs. Sometimes it spends long periods off, then suddenly kicks in under load, for example when merging onto a highway or climbing a ramp.

Because of this, it’s usually best not to stretch oil change intervals too far, especially in Dubai heat. Even if the engine only runs part of the time, when it does run it often has to work hard. Sticking to conservative oil change intervals and using the correct oil grade for GCC conditions is a sensible move. The same goes for spark plugs, air filters and coolant changes.

Special fluids for EVs and hybrids

Apart from engine oil and coolant, these vehicles often use special fluids for their reduction gears or transmissions. In a typical EV, there’s no traditional multi-gear gearbox, but there is still a gear reduction unit with oil that has to handle high torque and speed. In some hybrids, the transmission is a complex combination of mechanical gears and electric motor functions. Using the correct fluid type is critical here. Mixing generic fluids “that are almost the same” is a bad idea and can damage expensive parts.

Workshops that understand these systems will always check the correct specification and interval rather than treating everything as a standard automatic gearbox.

Software updates and diagnostics matter more

Hybrids and EVs are heavily software-driven. Many important improvements and fixes arrive in the form of software updates: better battery management, smoother transitions between engine and motor, charging improvements, and adjustments to safety systems. Part of good maintenance for these cars is making sure they receive the recommended updates and that fault codes are taken seriously, not ignored.

A warning light related to the hybrid system or high-voltage system is not something to reset and forget. Proper diagnostics with the right tools are essential. This is an area where specialist workshops with experience in electrified vehicles stand out compared to generic garages.

Safety: why only trained technicians should work on the high-voltage side

The high-voltage parts of a hybrid or EV are not something to experiment with. Orange cables, battery packs and inverters operate at voltages that can be dangerous if handled incorrectly. Trained technicians follow strict safety procedures: isolating the system, wearing appropriate protective gear and using insulated tools. For owners, the key point is simple – do not let untrained people open battery packs, splice orange cables or “modify” the high-voltage system.

Routine checks like tyre rotations, wiper replacements and basic inspections aren’t a problem for most workshops. Anything that touches the high-voltage system, cooling for the battery or detailed hybrid diagnostics should be left to specialists who know what they’re doing.

Daily habits that help hybrids and EVs live longer in Dubai

There are a few simple habits that make a big difference in Dubai’s climate. Whenever possible, park in shade or covered parking to reduce cabin and battery temperatures. Avoid fast, repeated DC fast-charging on very hot days if you don’t actually need that much range. For plug-in hybrids, don’t treat the petrol tank as a “backup you never use” – fuel can age if left for very long periods, so it’s good to run it and refill occasionally.

Stick to the recommended maintenance schedule, and if your driving pattern is heavy city use in high heat, consider slightly more frequent checks on cooling systems and brakes. If the car shows any hybrid or EV-related warning message, or if it behaves differently while charging, book it in promptly instead of waiting.

Why choosing the right workshop matters

Because hybrids and EVs mix conventional automotive tech with high-voltage systems and complex software, the choice of workshop really matters. You want a place that understands both worlds: engine and transmission on one side, battery and power electronics on the other. Look for workshops that can clearly explain what kind of hybrid or EV you have, what systems it uses, and what their technicians are trained to work on.

Good maintenance for these cars is not about doing “something special” every month. It’s about following the correct schedule, respecting the cooling and high-voltage systems, and catching small issues early. Do that, and hybrids and EVs can handle Dubai life just as well as – and sometimes better than – traditional petrol and diesel cars.