An electric work vehicle includes a hydraulic actuator and a pump configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator, with the pump being operable within an operating speed range extending between a minimum operating speed value and a maximum operating speed value. Furthermore, the electric work vehicle includes a sensor configured to capture data indicative of a temperature of the hydraulic fluid and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. As such, the controller is configured to monitor the temperature of the hydraulic fluid relative to a predetermined minimum fluid temperature as the pump is operating within the operating speed range. In addition, the controller is configured to adjust the operating speed range of the pump by increasing at least one of the minimum operating speed value or the maximum operating speed value when the monitored temperature of the hydraulic fluid falls below the predetermined minimum fluid temperature.