Electric Car Conversion Questions (and Answers!)

Some folks have been writing in lately asking very good electric car conversion questions, and I thought, "You know, if I was thinking of converting a car to electric, I might find the questions and answers very useful..."

...so I decided to devote a page just to that; )

Here's where you can ask your question (pertaining to electric car conversions), no matter how simple, and I'll either answer it myself, or - if you've stumped me - we'll get one of my very smart conversion shop friends to answer the question.

Interested in taking a EV class, but it's not offered at your local college? Help us develop our online classes by letting us know what we should offer!


Motor Questions
What size motor should you choose for your conversion? AC or DC?

Battery Questions
Which batteries are the best, and where do you find them? How do you wire batteries in series? Can I use airplane batteries?

Battery Charger Questions
Why do I need a special charger?

General Conversion Questions
Should I convert my monster truck to electric? Where do I get fuses? What's "electric reverse"?



Has your question already been answered? Try searching the site!

Don't be shy!

Do you have a conversion question, but don't even have the mechanical skills to know how to ask it, or whether the answer was already in the book you bought but you didn't understand it??

No need to be bashful, we're all learning together here; ) Like my math teacher once said: The only dumb question is the one you're too shy to ask.

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

EV Transmission, or CVT? 


Is a transmission required on EVs? If so would a CVT from a snowmobile offer an advantage?

Hi, Jim -

No, you don't actually need ...

Need an "Electric Car Conversion" Manual  
I have a small delivery company and wanna try to convert one of our trucks , a 1997 Ford F150 , into an electric truck. I have a list of what I need,...

Why do EVs need batteries? 
Why use batteries ? Batteries are heavy, and maintenance hogs. Why not integrate a diesel powered generator, and use an AC motor to power the car? That ...

"Do it Myself" Electric Car Conversion? No Way! 
Since I don't have the tools, the expertise, nor the time, I'd rather pay a mechanic to do the conversion for me. So where are the conversion shops ...

73 Triumph Spitfire EV Conversion? 
I have a '73 Spitfire that I bought as a restoration project. Well, after seeing online how someone had converted their spitfire to EV, I thought, "Hmmm....

Conversion Question: Electric Gas Hybrid 
I saw on your website somewhere there was mention of a gas generator powering an electric motor. This is called a "Parallel Hybrid Drivetrain". Is ...

Will Solar Panels Help Power an EV? 
If you put solar panels on your car would it help? If you did it right, would it be like adding one or more batteries? Let's say you are at work ...

Converting an Acura RSX? 
I've got a 2003 Acura RSX Type-S . It has a 6 speed manual transmission and a very large hatch. I think it would make the perfect EV donor.

First,...

How Do You Connect Ignition Wires On a Chevy S-10? 
I have a 1988 Chevrolet S-10 that I have converted to electric but I can't for the life of me figure out how to connect the ignition wires for the ...

I Want To Buy an All-Electric Car 
Where can I find electric converted cars/ Rav-4 's for sale?
Hey, Zeb!
Keep an eye on Ebay. I've collected all the best ones together (for electric ...

Using a generator to recharge your EV? 
Has anybody tried applying a regular home generator with a rectifier for use in DC conversions? I would imagine the use of a generator would greatly ...

Can I Convert an old RV to Electric? 
Is there a conversion kit available for RVs and vans? I have a 1976 RV that I would like to convert to electric. I also have a 1973 van. Both the RV ...

DC Conversion Kit for Electric Cars 
I have an assignment about converting a petrol car to electric and i just want to get a few things straight. All the parts you need come with the DC ...

4x4 electric car conversions 
My dream is to convert an old Series Land Rover to an electric vehicle , but wondered about conversions for 4 wheel drive vehicles. It only makes sense ...

Conversion Kit Companies in the North Eastern US? 
Hi,
I am planning a project for my vocational school Advanced Auto Mechanics class. I want to create a conversion kit for my 1985 Toyota Van/Wagon ...

Electric Car Kit for a Miata 
Does somebody make an electric car kit for a Miata?

Hi, Sean -

Not that I know of.

Don't let that slow you down, though - several Miatas ...

Yes, You CAN Convert an Automatic to Electric 
I've done it, twice now, and I'm very pleased with the results.
I average about 45 miles on a charge, same as everybody else. My range would be better,...

Battery Powered Lawn Mower 
Is it possible to convert a gas powered lawn mower into a battery powered lawn mower? Has anybody done it? Could this be done with a smaller riding ...

Conversion Question: Wind-powered Electric Car? 
Could a wind turbine mounted on an electric car recharge the batteries?
I wonder if using the wind turbines that are used in homes in the off the grid ...

Conversion Question: Air Conditioning 
Air conditioning is one of my concerns. Do those that convert their cars to electric simply do away with that little luxury?
Hi, Brad -

Yes, a ...

Can an Alternator Power an Electric Car? 
Why couldn't a regular battery turn over an alternator the size of a gas engine to make the electric car run with plenty of electricity from the alternator?...

Electric Car Conversion's Electric Accessories 

How do you handle the electric accessories in a conversion, like the heater, AC, cd/radio sound system and airbags? How will that draw ...

F-250 Crew-Cab Conversion 
I have a 1979 Ford f-250 crew-cab with a 351m engine and a four speed manual that I am wanting to convert over to electric. I only drive about 20 to ...

electric generator under the hood 
Is it possible to put a small diesel generator under the hood to recharge the batteries while you are driving?

Can the car run directly off of the ...

TR6 Triumph conversion 
I have been toying with the idea of converting my Triumph TR6 into a EV.

Are there any suggestions or input you can give to a first time EV conversion ...

Parallel Electric Hybrid Conversion 
Has anyone used a electric drive system to use either gas/diesel or electric or both in a conversion?

Hi, Craig -

Yes, it's been done.

A ...

Upgrading the Brakes on my Mini Conversion 
I've got a 1976 Mini that I want to convert to an EV.

My question is: what is the best way to set up my brakes using the original drum set up? I ...

Converting a '65 VW Ghia to an Electric Car 
I'd like to know where to go to explore the possibility of converting a '65 VW Ghia to electric. What I might expect cost wise, driveability, range,...

EV Conversions in Seattle? 
Is there a place in or near Seattle that does EV conversions? Is it possible to convert a compact sedan (98 Mercury Tracer, automatic)?

Hi, Anon!...

Building an Electric Mazda RX-7 


I was thinking of converting an rx7 the year around 94 I like the body style.

It needs to travel a distance at least 100 mile per ...

how much to convert a 1988 bmw 325i? 
How much would it cost to convert a 1988 BMW 325i that I can charge at any 110 outlet?

Hi, Adam!

Conversion expenses depend on several things;...

Beginning an Electric Car Conversion  Not rated yet


I want to start converting a 98 Eclipse into a electric car. I am just doing the research on it right now.
What are some suggestions ...

How do you heat an electric car?  Not rated yet
How is the passenger compartment heated on an all electric car?
Hi, Ray!
Here's Canadian Electric Vehicles' solution: An EV heater kit with ...

AC or DC Drive for Electric Cars?  Not rated yet

Why does one select AC over DC drive for electric cars? I see both kinds of kits offered but I don't understand why one would choose ...

Can I Build My Own Plug-In Hybrid?  Not rated yet


I want to add electric motors to my Dodge pickup, to be able to plug in and charge for running errands, 15 mile round trip to work ...

Triumph Spitfire Practical Electric Conversion?  Not rated yet
Is it practical (money and technical-wise) to convert an old Spitfire to an EV? I mean, for instance, will the weight of the EV components exceed the ...

Advice on Buying an Electric Car Conversion  Not rated yet


I'm looking at buying a converted EV (taking your advice:) and don't know much about 'em. How do I know how much HP is good? If the ...

Converting My Mazda Automatic to Electric  Not rated yet
Would it be possible, or practical, to convert my 2001 automatic Mazda 626 ? These gases prices are obscene and I feel that this is my best course ...

"Build Your Own Electric Vehicle" truck  Not rated yet
Does anybody know what the make is of the car that is on the front cover of his book?

Hi, Joe -
That's a Ford Ranger. (Isn't it?)

Regards,...

Electric Car Conversion - Southern California  Not rated yet
Where can I go in southern California to talk to someone about having one of my cars made in to a EV?

Hi, Ricky!
Like this little MG Midget ...

Components of an Electric Car?  Not rated yet
What are the main components for building an electric car? Batteries, motor...what else?
Hi, Will -
Here's what a DC conversion list looks like:...

Gas Electric Hybrid  Not rated yet
I have this 2002 Dodge Durango (4.7L V8 4X2) and I'm considering converting it to a gas electric hybrid to improve its fuel economy.

My idea ...

Motorhome EV Conversion  Not rated yet
She's just the coolest old gal in the world and I want to bring her into a new age. Basically I want to replace the engine and transmission with an ...

How Far Can You Go On a Charge?  Not rated yet
How do you calculate how far you will be able to drive on a charge when you're building a conversion?


Hey, Maltby -
There's a pretty good ...

AC system or a DC system?  Not rated yet
What do you think is a better system, AC or DC, and why, for a conversion project? This seems to be a topic of some debate .
Hi, Dan!
Are you ...

Why Does an EV Need a Transmission, Anyway?  Not rated yet
If an automatic transmission is such a bummer for EV conversions, why not just "can" the transmission and hook the electric motor to the drive shaft ...

Snowmobile Drive in an EV?  Not rated yet
Has anyone used a snowmobile drive system to hold down the load placed on the EV's motor during acceleration? Or would the friction be too much? I am ...

Electric Car Batteries  Not rated yet
Seems like most electric car batteries available right now have to be plugged every night and last about 20 - 30 miles. The ones that are higher performance ...

Conversion Question: Power Steering and Brakes?  Not rated yet
Does the donor car have to have manual brakes and steering? Is this why the list of cars used in conversions is set to cars before 1992? Can newer cars ...

How Many KW of Power Needed For an EV?  Not rated yet
How much power (watts per pound? KW? ) do you need to run an electric car?

Hi, Bill -

According to Electro Automotive :

A small car (2500lbs....

Electric Minivan Conversion?  Not rated yet
We'd like to have a minivan or airport bus sized vehicle converted to electric with air conditioning,
We'd like a 60-70 mile range at highway speeds ...

What does a car with no ICE weigh?  Not rated yet
If I take my sister's 1995 Dodge Neon (currently 2500 lbs curb weight) and remove the engine, transmission, cooling system, fuel system, battery/starter/...

Plug-in-Hybrid, Cigarette Lighter  Not rated yet
I read your article about Plug-in-Hybrids - how the Prius won’t let you add batteries, nor add in a plug to recharge the batteries.
Why couldn’t you ...

Longest EV range at 55 mph?  Not rated yet
I need to drive 80-90 miles a day on the Interstate. What is the longest range anyone has gotten out of their EV at 55 miles per hour? (I don't need ...

Gas Electric Hybrid Jeep  Not rated yet

I am a retired machinist/ machine designer/ machine repair supervisor who has worked on cars all of my life.

I own a 1952 JEEP CJ-5 ...

Importing Electric Vehicle Conversions to Canada  Not rated yet

Are there any converted vehicles for sale in Canada? I find a few on Ebay but not from Canada. I'm afraid to bring one in from the US....

Conversion Question: Transmission Adaptor  Not rated yet
I would like to convert a 1994 Nissan Hardbody to electric. If I keep the original transmission, I assume I'd have to have some kind of adaptor to mount ...

Long Distances in my Legacy Conversion?  Not rated yet
I have a '94 Subaru Legacy L wagon with right hand steering, all-wheel drive and an automatic on the floor. I use it on a 70-mile mail route with about ...

Toyota 4x4 Hybrid On Its Way To Costa Rica  Not rated yet
I have a 1987 Toyota truck 4x4 , I have dreams of driving it south (like Costa Rica or further).

I am thinking it would be nice to put in an electric ...

Gauges in EVs  Not rated yet
What gauges are needed to monitor EV performance and exactly what do they do? How does the shunt work for the gauges? Can any automotive gauges be ...

Electric Cars and Transmissions  Not rated yet
I have minimal knowledge as to how the transmission works in a normal, manual 5 speed car. How does the clutch, gears, etc. factor in when I throw out ...

Shifting Gears in Electric Car Conversions  Not rated yet
Can I shift gears to meet both city and highway speed limits in my conversion? I keep reading about pinning in second or third gears. In my case I need ...

Build Your Own Electric Car  Not rated yet
My son-in-law converted an 88 Toyota pickup a few years back, and he used a book called "Build Your Own Electric Car". I've been looking for it, and ...

Problems with Luxury Car Conversions?  Not rated yet
Everywhere I read "keep the curb weight down" , but I can't see myself and the wife and kids in a Geo or Ford Ranger.
I'd like to see something BMW 5-...

Gas Electric Hybrid Car  Not rated yet
Has anyone been successful converting an all-wheel drive vehicle (like an Audi) to a plug-in hybrid?

My ideal end product would be an Audi Quattro that ...

New Lithium Batteries - Need New Battery Charger?  Not rated yet

Do you really have to have a lithium ion battery charger if you put lithium ion batteries in your EV? It's time to replace the batteries ...

Automotive Battery Charger  Not rated yet
A regular automotive battery charger costs around 50 bucks, even for the smart kind with jump capability and trickle rate at the end. So tell me, why ...

Battery Car Hybrid?  Not rated yet
Has anyone ever attempted to add rear wheel electric drive while retaining the stock front wheel drive - sort of a battery car hybrid?
I thought ...

Conversion Question: Charge as you drive?  Not rated yet
I have seen a couple of alternative solutions here used to recharge the batteries without plugging the car into the wall, such as the generator in the ...

Where Can I Get Parts For My Electric Conversion Project?  Not rated yet
Two questions:
One, I keep hearing about battery life. What does the new Tesla roadster use that gives it such long battery life?
Two, I'm planning ...

Conversion With a Weight Problem  Not rated yet
I am looking to convert a Saturn with 144 volts, 28hp motor, to achieve about 72 miles at 60 mph. In my quest to get the range and speed I require, I ...

Can I Convert a Front Wheel Drive to Electric?  Not rated yet
Can I convert a front wheel drive car to electric? I was wondering if it would be just as easy as a rear wheel drive, or even possible.
Hi, Kris!...

Can I convert my Toyota truck to electric?  Not rated yet
I need to know what I need to convert my '93 Toyota pickup to be powered by an electric motor. It's a 4 cylinder with a manual transmission.
Hi, Tony ...

Imagination is more important than knowledge.
- Albert Einstein

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