Building an electric car on your own can take a lot of work and resources, but it can be done. It can even be a fun project–one that is extra fulfilling if you’re updating an old vehicle to have modern specs, which many vintage car owners across North America and the United Kingdom are doing.
Here’s a simplified step-by-step guide on how to build an electric car:
Step 1: Find a Vehicle to Convert
First things first–find a vehicle you want to convert into an electric car. You can use an old car that you already have or find a deal at a garage or junkyard that you can put some life back into.
When choosing a vehicle, one of the most important considerations you should make is its weight. DIY electric cars are much easier to build with less hardware as the batteries will have an easier time making the car move.
Step 2: Remove All Gas-Related Items
Because you’re converting the car into an electric vehicle, you’re not going to need any gas-related items. You can remove the following:
- Gas tank
- Exhaust, muffler, cat
- Engine
- Starter
- Radiator
- Coolant tank
- Fuel lines and filter
Taking these out will also help make the car lighter, which can improve its efficiency as an electric vehicle.
Step 3: Make the Connections
For your electric vehicle to run, you need to make sure that the moving parts of the car are connected to the power source. This mostly means connecting the motor to the transmission, which necessitates an adapter plate and a coupler. You can get these materials from a machinist or buy them from a car shop; you can also buy an electric motor from a garage.
Step 4: Install the Batteries
The motor can only run when it has batteries to power it. For a DIY electric vehicle, you’re going to need at least six batteries, placed in different compartments in the car. What’s tricky about working with these batteries is the charging voltage. You’ll need to find a charger that works with them.
Step 5: Add a Controller
The controller is an electronic box that controls the power that runs between the batteries and the motor. It’s an essential part of any electric vehicle conversion.
When shopping for a controller, it’s best to go for the highest amperage and voltage you can afford. The higher the amperage, the faster your car will accelerate; the higher the voltage, the better the speed and efficiency of the vehicle.
Building an Electric Car
Despite the increasing availability of electric car options in the market, many people are still opting to convert their existing vehicles into this modern upgrade. Whether you’re buying or building an electric car to make an environmental impact or save money, it’s important that you choose the best, which also includes shopping for adequate electric vehicle insurance to back up your investment. You need to be prepared for what may come when driving your electric car!