Can I Convert My Car To Electric? (Everything You Need To Know)
If you have an older car and are wondering how you can update it for the modern era, you might already be thinking about taking it in to be upgraded to a hybrid or electric-powered system. But can you actually do this?
Yes, you can. A lot of car companies offer a restomod system, which will enable you to put an electric car system in your old Model-T Ford or other old car models.
This might certainly be appealing to anyone who likes the souped-up model of a car but without the environmental catastrophe that comes with an ancient engine.
You might also be wondering about the cost of such a retrofit. We’ll have a look at each part of the process and what parts of your car will have to be replaced. We’ll also have a gander at how many parts will need replacing and how this process takes place in different parts of the world.
- So how many parts of your old car can you replace?
- Exactly how much will this whole process cost you?
- How does this process differ in the United States from Europe?
- Will it be financially worth your while to change all the parts of your car?
- Can you expect a dramatic reduction in your emissions?
We have everything that you need to know so that when you go into your garage for a retrofit, then you won’t have to worry about not knowing what the mechanic is talking about!
How Feasible Is It?
One first place to go is EV enthusiast websites. These places have forums brimming with people that are likely to offer you plenty of advice when it comes to converting your old car.
This is one of the main things that you’ll need for your car conversion – the good advice of people who know what they’re talking about.
You’ll need to re-register your vehicle as taking out the engine or gearbox will class as a radical transformation of your car. You’ll need to keep taking pictures of the conversion process, as this will help you speed up your registration.
If the alterations are too extensive, you might be required to display a special character on your license plate to show that it has been modified. However, if your engine and the chassis are intact, then you won’t have to alter your personalized license plate.
However, converting your car will certainly not be cheap. If you want to change the EV of your vehicle, which involves tampering with the engine, then you can expect to be paying out anywhere between $20,000 and $25,000.
If you do not have this cash floating around, then we would simply recommend buying a second-hand hybrid car.
This will ensure you a top-of-the-range model at a heavily discounted price. In addition, with EV batteries always being updated and replaced with newer models, you can expect the cost of second-hand units to fall dramatically.
How To Convert The Engine And Gearbox
If you are thinking of installing an electric propulsion unit into your vehicle’s chassis, then you can be expected to find issues with trying to get energy from your engine to your wheels.
The gearbox itself will probably have to be thrown out completely, as it is useful for a combustion engine but entirely useless for one powered by electricity. If you are going to remove your gearbox, then you can expect to have to make substantial modifications to your vehicle.
You can be certain that these are the most integral parts of your car, so changing them will require a significant amount of time and money.
We would recommend that you go to your local mechanic, explain what exactly in your old car you would like them to replace, and ask them for a quote.
How To Convert The Battery And Charger
Buying a battery will also incur its fair share of costs. If you want to buy a lithium-ion battery that will travel thousands of miles, you should expect to spend a few hundred or even up to a thousand dollars.
You also have to factor in how this heavy battery will affect the weight distribution of your car, as well as the overall speed and horsepower.
This could lead to serious safety complications in your car. A lot of the native-built hybrid or electric cars have already factored in these changes and have designed the body of their car to accommodate them.
Also, if you are converting a combustion engine to an electric model, you’ll have to consider installing a circuit breaker that will deal with the heat dissipation that will be generated by your electric battery.
This will be another expensive option, and you can be sure that it will also affect the safety of your car.
Learn about the different types of electric vehicles to understand your conversion options.
How To Retrofit Your Car In France
In France, as well as other European countries. They have drawn up very distinct rules about upgrading your older car and putting it out on the road. This is because there are many regulations that cars have to abide by to be considered roadworthy.
In France, they state specifically that your car must be recertified to get back onto the road after being converted. Unfortunately, these rules are so strict that they make the electric conversion of older vehicles a lot more difficult to achieve.
If you are operating in any of these territories, we would recommend that you check the local laws around motor vehicles before taking them out on the road.
Key Takeaways
1️⃣ Converting a combustion engine car to an electric or hybrid system is possible through a restomod process, but can be expensive, ranging from $20,000 to $25,000.
2️⃣ Retrofitting a car involves significant changes to the engine, gearbox, battery, and charger, which may affect the vehicle’s weight distribution, speed, and safety.
3️⃣ Different countries have specific regulations and certification requirements for converted vehicles, making the process more challenging in some regions, such as France and other European countries.
Next, it’s time to explore the possibility of charging your converted electric car with solar panels for a greener approach.
