Everyday car conversion to BEV

daivid

Wondering if anyone on here has done this or knows where I could read up on it. I've found websites extolling the virtues of conversions, and seen some programs about it too, but these tend towards weekend use classics or fancy show off cars. I've also not found anything yet on the more mundane details such as how easy it is to get insurance on a conversion, how real performance compares to predicted and how good/bad the car ends up to drive.

angrycrow

Given the likely cost of around £25,000 upwards for conversion, which will never match a true EV it is only viable for something unusual. The conversions tend to be done on classics. At those sort of prices you may as well pay a little more and have a true EV.

Herzlos

It's hugely expensive and really only makes sense for classics which are (a) already hugely expensive and (b) pretty simple.

I know you can get some EV conversion kit that essentially fit in various V8 engine block spaces, but it's still something you'd do to a £100k vintage Aston Martin and not, say, a 2015 Astra.

I dare say insurance will also be expensive and via a specialist.

The cars are usually much better to drive - partly because of the huge torque and partially because it usually involves bringing the steering/braking/suspension components forward about 40 years.

yessuz

it is possible, of course. but is it worth it the expenses and the end result?

as mentioned above - if this is some old classic, then yeah, maybe worth it. if it's like 10 year old car or so - why?

troffasky

OP, if you don't already know how to find out the answer to this question, then the answer is that it's not for you. Perhaps in a decade or so when stocks of used BEV parts have built up, it might be a Moneysaving idea for a hobbyist with time on their hands, but not today.

Ditzy_Mitzy

I have concerns about the engineering of some of these electric conversions.  One lot were advertising a Morris Minor convertible which had had its engine ripped out and replaced with an electric motor generating ten times the torque.  No regard appeared to have been paid to the chassis, suspension, structural integrity or brakes.  The weight distribution would also have been radically altered, in ways which the Morris engineers would not have accounted for.  The thing was a death trap, in my opinion.  

Back in the old days, when things were done properly, thought was given to changing axles, uprating brakes and suspension and steering, roll-cages and strengthening bars and the like before a more powerful engine was put in.  Some street machines were very poor, but the good ones had a lot of work put in.  The electric car conversion is similar in principle, i.e. making a simple chassis more powerful, so ought to have the associated custom bits to go with it.  

Bigphil1474

There is a programme called Vintage Voltage on Quest which does just this, but as you say they are aimed at the more classic cars. Did see them do a land rover which was for daily use. There was an episode of Car SOS that recently converted an MG, but they don't say how much it cost. I suspect it isn't cheap, but if done properly may still be cheaper than buying a new EV. However, not sure it's worth it on a run of the mill car.

Johnmcl7

I thought this was a fascinating video converting an MX-5 to electric but trying to keep it as similar to the petrol as possible:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZws7kE3U5k

They have a number of interesting conversions on their channel but like others have said it's pricey since there's not just the cost of the parts but the extensive manual labour.

caprikid1

"The weight distribution would also have been radically altered, in ways which the Morris engineers would not have accounted for.  The thing was a death trap, in my opinion."

I would question whether they are really that much more of a death trap and should still be driven within their capabilities.

Ditzy_Mitzy

caprikid1 said:

"The weight distribution would also have been radically altered, in ways which the Morris engineers would not have accounted for.  The thing was a death trap, in my opinion."

I would question whether they are really that much more of a death trap and should still be driven within their capabilities.

Replacing an A-Series with a motor with equivalent power to a small block vee-eight and putting half a ton of batteries in the boot?  I'd say so.  The poor old Moggie would fold up like a concertina if it hit something at speed; bear in mind that the batteries would have significant momentum and a tendency to keep going if the rest of the car came to a sudden halt.  

Herzlos

The original one would have fared particularly well?

That said; adding more power and weight without changing the suspension and brakes is certainly not going to help. I assume any good conversion would upgrade more than just the engine.