All of our dealers will offer electric vehicles. Each of these partners will give you basic information about eMobility and our larger dealerships will have at least one of the models in their showrooms. They should also be able to offer you a test drive in an iV car. (At this stage our iV range consists of plug-in hybrid models.)
Like conventional cars, electric cars are subject to standard crash tests and have reported good results. Batteries are not explosive in an accident. What’s more, electric cars can also operate without a clutch, a gearbox or engine oil, typical causes of fires in a crash. Overall, they have much fewer components, which further reduce the likelihood of failure. The batteries are completely insulated from the rest of the car, and in the event of an accident, the whole system is disconnected.
This area is now covered by legislation and all Škoda electric vehicles use e-sound.
As EVs are generally quieter than conventional vehicles, drivers of EVs need to be that little bit more careful at low speeds. Legislation requires that our EVs have an e-sound to ensure that others can hear them, especially in pedestrian zones.
Various factors come into play here, especially the driving style, car care, and the observance of prescribed maintenance appointments. What Škoda Auto are guaranteeing the battery life of a Škoda for 8 years or 160,000 km.
The Enyaq is made in Mladá Boleslav.
Škoda Auto has invested significant sums in the construction of new infrastructure for electric vehicle production at our plants and in lithium-ion battery manufacture directly in Mladá Boleslav. In addition to electric vehicles, as of 2019 the Mladá Boleslav plant has also produced electrical components for the plug-in hybrid models of several Volkswagen Group brands. As with our conventional models, Škoda Auto will be outsourcing individual parts across our supplier networks.
Škoda Auto are preparing several models across our model range for different types of electrification. By 2025, at least 10 Škoda models will be purely electric. In 2020, production of the Škoda Enyaq will be launched. Under the 2025 Strategy, Škoda Auto will invest two billion euros in the development of electric cars and new services over the next four years.
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles combine a classic internal combustion engine with an electric motor which can be recharged from an electrical outlet. The PHEV can be driven in pure electric mode, but the range is limited to 50 to 60 kilometres. A hybrid (HEV) combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor, but cannot be charged from an external network. The battery powering the electric motor is recharged solely by driving and is only built for short ranges, especially for starting off. An electric vehicle (BEV) does not have an internal combustion engine. Instead, it powers the car using only a battery, which can be charged from an external power supply.
Both types are fitted with a charging socket, but otherwise they’re fundamentally different. The plug-in hybrid, sometimes referred to as a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), combines a classic internal combustion engine with an electric motor which can be recharged from an electrical outlet and from energy recovered while driving. A PHEV can also be driven in purely electric mode, but the range is limited to 30-60 kilometres.
There is no fundamental variation in the lifecycle of any of the vehicles, whether they are hybrids, plug-in hybrids, or electric-only cars. The main difference is that hybrids and plug-in hybrids still have engines that rely on petrol, whereas a fully electric car doesn’t generate any emissions as it is completely battery-operated.
All of our Škoda vehicles are highly reliable, and our electric cars are no exception. We put a lot of effort into producing top-quality vehicles and only build them with reliable parts of the highest standards that have been designed by our hard-working engineers.
Generally EVs, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids are as reliable as any other Škoda vehicle. Full electric vehicles have fewer moving parts and less operating costs, which is very convenient for you and doesn’t affect our vehicles’ reliability in any way.
An EV does not need more maintenance than any other vehicle as regular maintenance and service checks are important for every car to ensure its reliability and safety. Having said that, electric cars don't have oil or transmission fluids that need to be changed, and also have fewer moving parts.
All Authorised Škoda service centres will be able to service electric cars and hybrids. However, specialised battery repairs can only be carried out by selected service centres. We are currently working on the development and certification of service centres to offer a standard of service in line with what our customers are used to.
Electric vehicles are not so service-intensive. They have fewer parts that wear out. They do not have spark plugs, cylinders, injection, turbochargers, oil tanks, etc. Therefore, services focus mainly on checking the brake system and voltage or to measure the battery capacity, i.e. the vehicle’s wiring. The details of electric vehicle servicing will depend on the model and its equipment.
Electric vehicles can definitely save you money in the long term, as the average operating costs are much lower than for conventional vehicles.
At Škoda, we recommend our customers to have a general service after the car reaches a specific mileage.
BEV and PHEV vehicles both require a basic service inspection after 1 year and thereafter every 15,000km or once a year. Every 24 months the pollen filter and brake fluid change is also due.
As the vehicle has an electrical system, the specific work that drivers can handle themselves (of the type they are used to with conventional Škoda cars) needs to be defined. However, the scope of this activity will be limited as the engine becomes simpler over time. Of course, basic tasks associated with the operation of the vehicle, such as checking the tyre pressure and refilling the operating fluids, will remain. We recommend that you leave everything else to an Authorised Service Centre for a first-class service.
An electric-motor car cannot be towed on a rope or with a tow dolly. Always use a hydraulic arm and load the car on to a platform when towing is required. You can push the vehicle over short distances, but it must be in neutral and the ignition must be switched on.
No direct sunlight reaches the battery because it is in the vehicle floor. However, cooling down the vehicle requires battery energy, which reduces the range.
The car behaves like a conventional car. A lightning strike is not critical. If the vehicle is being charged, a fuse will trip. In the worst-case scenario, the charger will be destroyed.
The car behaves like a conventional car. The high-voltage battery is sealed to prevent water penetration.
An EV behaves like any conventional vehicle driven through a puddle or high water. The high-voltage battery is sealed to prevent water penetration and you definitely won’t have to worry about unexpected explosions.
Since the battery is electromagnetically shielded, items with high voltage or mobile devices have no negative impact on the battery.
With every generation of electric vehicles, the range for a single charge is getting better and better. The Škoda Enyaq anticipates a range of up to 533 kilometres, which is ample for full and unrestricted travel. Just as cars with a combustion engine have slightly higher consumption in winter, electric cars also have to use more energy in cold weather.
By launching hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fully electric cars, we want to make electric mobility accessible to everyone. We think our EVs are a great cost-efficient alternative that either generate low emissions or are emission-free.