Yes, You CAN Convert an Automatic to Electric

by Brian Monahan
(Ashland, Wisconsin)

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, but I always seem to have my foot in the battery pack.

Most cars and small trucks today are all automatic, and I was reluctant to convert one of these automatics to electric just like everyone else until I realized that the electric motor could do the same job as the ICE that was in it - all I had to do was put another actuator in place.

The AT is a very simple device that is totally hydraulic in nature, pumping hydraulic fluid through its inner workings to cause pressure against a metallic plate, causing the vehicle to move.

How I got around the electronic shift and the RPM stall was simple too. On most modern automatics, they are electronic shift. It takes a reading on the torque verses the speed of the motor, and shifts according to the conditions.
With the electric motor, you lose that sensor readout; so I took the same TYPE of device (a crank sensor, attached to the bell housing) and placed it on the electronics of the dash plate. The readings for the shift now come from the road speed and the RPM reading off the electronic gauges in the dash plate, instead of the gas engine.

It really isn't a big job to reroute a few wires and buy very affordable electronic pickups for these issues, and it works perfectly.

Like I said, I don't go any farther down the road on my conversions than any other guy has, about 45 miles on a charge, but then again, I am the Red Baron when it comes to driving, and I seem to always have my foot in the battery pack instead of behaving like an adult. But even with me behind the wheel, I feel it handles conditions great.

The point is, people have to TRY stuff to see if it works or not. If we'd never tried making tools - the "expert" apes probably said couldn't be done, either - we'd still be swinging from trees; )