Friday, October 23, 2020

The cost of converting your classic car to electric

 Have you been considering an electric car? Or maybe a classic car? Maybe a combination of the two – giving economical motoring in a retro package.  How much would such a solution actually cost?

Why would someone convert a classic car to electric?

As well as more economical motoring, an electric conversion will usually improve the acceleration and potential top speed of the classic cars. Engineers are able to get a better weight balance in the car too, by placing batteries front and rear giving better drivability. The maintenance costs will reduce too, as there are fewer moving parts.

It’s an appealing mix. The electric car conversion industry sees a wide range of people of all ages showing interest in classic EVs. It claims to get people interested in classics that might previously have been put off by trying to maintain an old Internal Combustion engine (ICE). Furthermore, some classic car lovers are learning to embrace an alternative technology to keep their beloved vehicles drivable in the modern age.

It’s possible you could attempt the conversion yourself if you had enough experience, training and know-how, but getting it wrong is incredibly dangerous and so it’s best to get the conversion done by a reputable company.

We’ve featured vehicles from some such companies over on Influx, from diminutive cars like a classic Mini and a Fiat 500, up to supercars like the Porsche 911. But is there a way to try and calculate the cost of these conversions?

ECC Fiat 500

It’s not an easy thing to do, but Jon Peck from Electric Classic Cars (ECC), the creator of two of the aforementioned cars, gave us a great insight about the process and what’s possible – and plausible – as well as some idea about the costs involved.

A lot of the cost will come from the donor vehicle itself and any restoration work needed, but Jon advised us (slightly hesitantly) that any classic car could be considered for conversion, so you can try to keep that in mind when working out your overall budget. Some smaller vehicles may be cheaper but they might present issues when fitting motors and enough batteries. Having said that, ECC will be converting a BMW Isetta at some point later this year or early next year, and Jon admits this will be a challenge due to its size.

As the cost of the donor vehicle can range massively depending on condition, type of car etc. it’s probably fair if we just consider the cost of the conversion itself.

Firstly, how do you get the extra parts? Where do the motors, batteries etc. come from, and what do they cost?

Some of the motors are newly manufactured, with engineers using motors that are made for the industrial market. As a cheaper solution, a popular source is insurance write-offs – currently mostly Tesla. The batteries ECC uses are generally these write-offs or ex-test batteries for the EV market, manufactured by Tesla and LG Chem.

MOTs are generally unaffected, most of the classics ECC do are MOT exempt, and obviously it won’t need an emissions test, as there are no exhausts. Typically the conversion company does not interfere with the chassis or structural integrity of the car either so there’s no need for an IVA test, just a registration with DVLA of the change to an electric drive unit.

Let’s start looking at basic costs for all this to happen. According to ECC, a Fiat 500 conversion would cost around £16k in parts, £6k for their labour and you could buy a donor vehicle in good condition for around £10k with only minor work required.

If you have the donor Fiat 500 ready, this conversion would therefore cost around £22k. Some companies may be able to offer cheaper conversions than ECC, but this is the cheapest conversion that they could do.

If you want more than a basic Fiat 500 conversion, then you could easily spend over £75k for bigger cars with higher performance and longer range.

Don’t forget there are savings to be made, though. According to research by ECC, the fuel cost can reduce by up to 17 times if you use the right overnight tariff and have home solar power. Even without this, the fuel cost is reduced by up to 5 times that of petrol or diesel. If you live in a city with restrictions based on emissions, too, you could save even more. And for vehicles that wouldn’t have been VED-exempt, there’s savings there, too.

Let’s put that “17 times” into context. At Adrian Flux, we often see classic car policies for cars that do around 5,000 miles per annum. Doing those miles in a classic car (like the Lancia Fulvia that ECC converted recently) would have set you back around £970 (based on 29MPG and petrol at £1.24 per litre = £5.64 per gallon). This annual cost could drop to just £57 – meaning over £900 would be saved in one year on fuel alone.

Finally, after converting the car to electric you’ll end up with a pile of parts you no longer need – engine, exhaust etc. These parts often have used value but again this varies greatly depending on the car & condition, and selling them on could help offset some of the cost of the conversion.

In summary, the cost starts from just over £20k – but with years of savings ahead of you, that cost is much lower in real terms.

What car would you like to convert?

The DIY Electric Car Conversion-Should You Try It?

 If you read our last post on the Pros and Cons of electric vehicles you may decided that an EV is the choice for you. So how about converting your existing vehicle to electric? It’s definitely doable, not excessively complicated, but should you do it yourself?

DIY electric car conversions aren't for the automotive faint of heart.

According to the website EVHelp.com it can be done but only by those with the some skills:

  • Mechanical – you are accustomed to working on cars.
  • Electrical – you have an understanding of basic wiring and electricity.
  • Welding – you have basic welding skills or know someone who does.
  • Troubleshooting – you have experience troubleshooting problems in vehicles.

Not all cars are good candidates for conversion. The car you’ll use is called a “donor car” and a good one is on the lighter size. A heavy one will restrict the range of the electric engine so 2,000-3,000 lbs curb weight is ideal. As far as body style, you need something that can hold all the batteries you’ll be installing and they will add up to some serious weight.

Your donor car should have room for multiple, heavy batteries.

Converting to electric power also requires some serious toys. Aside from a large toolkit complete with an assortment of wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets, hammers and saws, you will also need an engine hoist, jack stands or a hydraulic lift.

Electric car conversion kits abound on the Internet so do your homework to find the one that’s right for you. You can also find instructional videos both for purchase and on YouTube. The conversion kits may or may not provide you with some of the special tools necessary for the installation of the electric motor, but most of the tools will need to be purchased. Some tools and even an engine hoist are available for rent so you’ll save a bit here.

Additionally, you will need a lot of space. A double garage that has plenty of free space will do, or better yet a good, roomy shop. You definitely need high ceilings to accommodate removal of the engine. This is not a small garage kind of project.

The tools and workspace are only a part of the challenge. Extensive knowledge of automotive systems and mechanical ability are essential for a successful conversion. Much of it can be learned on the go, but it helps to have some experience with automotive technology. Or at least a friend or two willing to go the distance with you.

If you're going to convert your car to electric it pays to have a friends.

Does this sound like you? There are more details on what to consider before you attempt your own conversion but if you can see yourself spending the time, money and effort then this could be the project for you. Or maybe you have the desire but not the automotive chops. If so, let Sallas Auto Repair step in and help. We can advise you on car choice, financial and time investment and all of your other options to help you decide if electric is the road for you.

 

Click Here To Read More Article About Electric Car

QS 260 5000W 72V Electric Car Hub Motor Conversion Kit, 10kw Car Hub Motor and Kelly Controller KLS7275H with Regenerative Brake

 

QS 260 5000W 72V Electric Car Hub Motor Conversion Kit, 10kw Car Hub Motor and Kelly Controller KLS7275H with Regenerative Brake

 

The parts list as follows,

 

2 pcs x 260 5000W E-Car Hub Motor
2 pcs x KLS7275H Controller
1 pcs x Throttle Pedal
1 pc  x  Speedometer
1 set x 1 tow 2 Hydraulic Disc brake system

 

 

1. QS Motor 260 Model 5000W 60V/72V Single Shaft Car Hub Motor

QS 260 5000W 72V Electric Car Hub Motor Conversion Kit, 10kw Car Hub Motor and Kelly Controller KLS7275H with Regenerative Brake

260Model Electric Car Hub Motor is NEW developed for Electric Car or Electric Motorbike, the rated power can be made at 1500W,2000W,3000W or 5000W.

 

1.      Motor Type: BLDC Hub Motor with Permanent Magnets
2.      Motor design: 260 Single shaft out
3.      Bolts Pattern: 4 x 100MM
4.      Magnet: 45H Curved Magnets with SH(340Degree) Lever
5.      Pole Pairs: 16 Pairs
6.      Rated Power: 5000W
7.      Peak Power: 10000W
8.      Rated Voltage: 72V( 60V-96V Can be optional)
9.      Max No-load RPM: 1320RPM
10.  Max Torque: 230N.M
11.  Max Efficiency: 90%
12.  Brake type: Disc brake
13.  Winding Core material: Aluimium
14.  Cross Section of Phase wire: 16mm2
15.  Hall sensor phasing angle: 120 degree
16.  Temperature Sensor: Optional
17.  Max. Working Temperature: 70 degree, Peak 120 degree
18.  Waterproof Grade: IP54
19.  N.W./ G..W. : 18kgs / 20kgs
20.  Package Size: 44*43*41CM

QS 260 5000W 72V Electric Car Hub Motor Conversion Kit, 10kw Car Hub Motor and Kelly Controller KLS7275H with Regenerative Brake
 

2. Programmable Sine Wave Controller Kelly KLS7275H with Brake Regenerative Function

Key Features:

1). Very Easy connect

2). Can match with almost brushless DC motor

3). Quality Guarantee(generally no after-sale issue)

4). Programmable

5). For KLS-H models, default including fuse, IP67 waterproof grade, good heat dispersion.

 

Generally SPEC

1. Sine wave controller, programmable, with regen function                 

2. Motor Current Limit, 20 seconds:500A

3. Motor Current Limit, continuous:200A                                                               

4. Battery Voltage: 24V-72V rated, max. 90V

5. Thermic Probe: KTY83-122                                                                

6. Including one controller + USB convertor cable + matched plug                

7. Controller size: 288mm*185mm*94.8mm                                     

8. Net weight: 5kg                                                                          

9. Waterproof IP67                                                                                    

10. Default not including bluetooth; CAN BUS are optional.

 

QS 260 5000W 72V Electric Car Hub Motor Conversion Kit, 10kw Car Hub Motor and Kelly Controller KLS7275H with Regenerative Brake

 

 

 

 

3. 0-5V Electric Car Throttle Pedal

 

Throttle Pedal Hall type : JKH model (match with our motor & controller)

Input voltage: 5V 12V 15V 24V 36V 48V 60V 72V 84V 96V 120V

Output voltage: 0-5V5-0V1-4.2V4.2-1V0-10V10-0V

Deafult: 5v input voltage (depends on controller design, for our matched controllers, you can choose 5v input voltage), 0-5v output voltage.

QS 260 5000W 72V Electric Car Hub Motor Conversion Kit, 10kw Car Hub Motor and Kelly Controller KLS7275H with Regenerative Brake

 

 

 

 

 4. 48-100V Programmable Electric Car Speedometer

 

Rated Voltage:48V-144V ProgrammableShow Time, driving distance, speed, voltage, electric quantityTest Speed Type: Hall Sensor

 QS 260 5000W 72V Electric Car Hub Motor Conversion Kit, 10kw Car Hub Motor and Kelly Controller KLS7275H with Regenerative Brake

 

 

 

5. Disc Brake Assembly for Electric Car 1 tow 2

 

a left caliper and a right caliper
hydraulic service brake on foot (optional by hand)
hoses 240cm + 2 x 80cm
T-shape hose connector
parking brake cable 42cm + 2 x 140cm (optional)
220mm disc brake plate and screws (180mm optional)

 

QS 260 5000W 72V Electric Car Hub Motor Conversion Kit, 10kw Car Hub Motor and Kelly Controller KLS7275H with Regenerative Brake

QS 260 5000W 72V Electric Car Hub Motor Conversion Kit, 10kw Car Hub Motor and Kelly Controller KLS7275H with Regenerative Brake


The QS 260 5000W 72V Electric Car Hub Motor Conversion Kit, 10kw Car Hub Motor and Kelly Controller KLS7275H with Regenerative Brake destined to impress, and priced at only $2,987.68, for a limited time.



Hot-selling RHD New Energy 4-wheel electric vehicle /high speed with 7.5 KW AC motor

 

Hot-selling RHD New Energy 4-wheel electric vehicle /high speed with 7.5 KW AC motor

 

Products Show
Details Images
Vehicle Model
E8
72V Front-wheel-drive

Steering System

Right

Dimensions&Specifications



Overall dimensions(mm)

3610*1570*1490

Wheelbase(mm)

2345

Front/Rear Suspension(mm)

755/510

Tread/Front/Rear(mm)

1330/1310

Min.ground clearance(mm)

145

Rated Passengers

5

Curb Weight(Kgs)

850

Power



Voltage

72V

Type of Motor

7.5KW AC Motor

Battery

Lithium Iron phosphate battery

Mileage(Constant speed 30KM)

150

Max.speed(KM/H)

70

Power Consumption(Kwh/100Km)

14.6

Maximum gradient(Full loading)

≧25%

Driving Mode

ECO+High speed model

Driving Mode

Front-wheel-drive

Charging Time

8hours(3KW)

Steering System

EPS

Brake System

Manual mechanical parking brake

Suspension System

Front:MC Pherson Independent Suspension



Rear:Double wishbone indenpendent suspension

Drive/Brake methods

Body interior

Brake system(Front/Rear) Front disc/rear drum The brake booster

Heating
Drive Method/Rear Drive

Central control lock
Appearance

Reversing image(large screen)
Self Supporting Body
Back door duble brace
Bumper
Front door electric glass hoist
Electric rear-view mirror
Rear door electric glass hoist
High-mount brake lamp
Velvet seat
Rear fog lamp
Triangle Safety Warning Board
Antenna
Velvet Carpet
Safety Belt
LED Screen
Colors(White,Cairo Gold,Brown,Pear Red)
Front Fog Lamp
Optional Colors
Spare Tire
Blue/white match



White/Red match



Chassis member



Power-assisted steering


Aluminum wheel hub


Tyre 155/65R 13


Frontdisc/rear drum brake


Options(Extra charges)



Air Conditional


Range Booster


Electron direction assistance


Notes:● for standard,○ for optional,above specifications is according to the object,we'll inform if something is updated

 

 

Life is too short to live without the Hot-selling RHD New Energy 4-wheel electric vehicle /high speed with 7.5 KW AC motor. Be happy. Be Content. Be Satisfied.