How much would a Do It Yourself (DIY) electric car conversion cost? If you are planning to start your own electric vehicle (EV) conversion project, most probably you will be asking this question.
In actual fact, there is no fixed figure for a homemade electric car. Your conversion cost can be as low as $1000 and as high as $20,000! Your EV conversion cost will depend on what you want from your electric car.
If you want a super fast EV, you may want to install a high torque electric motor with the latest light weight lithium ion batteries. These types of components will cost a lot of money.
If you are on a shoestring budget, you have to be very creative to come out with cheap solution for your EV. You may have to use old or refurbished components on your electric car. One good example is sourcing old deep cycle batteries and reconditioning them back to life.
Another way to save cost is to look for good bargains on donor car for your EV project. Source around various newspapers and internet classified sites in your area for used car. Here’s a tip, there are a lot of cheap cars from repossessed vehicle auction sites.
If you are looking for a cheap electric motor, why not consider using the electric motor from a forklift. I’ve actually written an article on using forklift electric motor, check it out.
If you are planning to recondition used batteries, make sure you get it done properly. Do not cut corners on this part, or it will come back to haunt you later.
The battery bank is basically is only power source for your DIY electric car. Any malfunction in the battery system will leave you stranded on the middle of the road. If you are not sure how battery reconditioning process is done, get a professional to do it for you. The investment will be money well spent.
Homemade Electric Car Guide
Are you keen to find out what’s involved in a DIY electric car conversion project? If you are, check out Les Oke’s Convert2EV e-book.
Les and his family live a green lifestyle in Canada. He has been converting and using pure plug-in electric cars for many years. The Convert2EV manual was written for complete beginners teaching them the science behind a homemade electric car. Click on the link below for more information.