What Is Electric Car Conversion? What Is The Process To Convert A Car To Electric?

Electric cars are the way to go forward, and this fact is being proven day after day, with the increasing production of electric cars, and an increasing consumption of the same. However, not everyone can afford to buy new electric cars, as they are costlier than their combustion engine counterparts.

An average electric car will cost upwards of £20,000. In comparison, electric car conversion, as in, converting a combustion engine car to an electric car costs must lesser. Apart from costing less, converting a normal car to an electric car has a good impact on the environment, as the emissions from electric cars are much lower.

How Does Electric Car Conversion Work?

Electric car conversion can be started with the basic process of removing the combustion engine, along with the gearbox, exhaust, and various other mechanical components. Batteries and one or more electric motors are then put in their place.

One other method to convert a car to an electric car is with the help of an electric car conversion kit. This EV conversion kit consists of an electric motor, a structure to mount it on, high-voltage cabling, battery mounting plates, power electronics (inverters), onboard chargers and DC-DC converters.

Another way of converting a normal car to an EV is by using the batteries, motors, and other components of a proper old electric car. Some of the popular car companies that have donated their EV innards for EV conversions include the Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe, and numerous Teslas.

If you’re someone looking to convert your car to an electric version by yourself by going down the DIY way, then you should do it only if you are well versed in high-voltage electrics, with an equally high level of relevant knowledge and experience in the field.

A much easier process is buying an electric car that’s already been converted. A lot of car companies in the UK now offer EV converts for classics or modern cars.

How To Convert Your Car To Electric?

Converting your car to an electric car is not an easy process. The very first step in this process is to choose the right car for the job. After that, here is what is involved in the process:

Step 1: Gutting the car

Gutting the car means removing all evidence that your car ever used anything other than battery power to run. This means removing the dirty, oily parts from the engine bay.

Step2: Get your battery slots ready

Since there were no slots for a car battery to be put in place, you need to get your battery system boxes, slots, mounts, and anything else required, ready.

Step 3: Plan your space accordingly

Plan and determine where each of your new components will fit in your car. This is a very crucial step as it plays a key role in the functioning of your car. Secure all the parts safely and tightly in their places as well.

Step 4: Wiring it all together

After you have configured your DC controller and installed your batteries, you need to wire all the parts together. The ideal battery to place in your car is the Tesla Model 5 battery module. You also need to install a contractor which needs to be connected as well, as it needs to manage the power running from the battery to the controller.

Step 5: Electronics

One of the most important electronic devices that needs to be installed in your car is a voltmeter. A voltmeter needs to be installed into the cabin or the dashboard, as it keeps you informed about your batteries’ charge. An ignition switch is another device that needs to be installed.

Step 6: Vigorous Testing

Always ensure that you put your car through vigorous testing so that you will get an exact idea of how the car is functioning. This is a key step as you do not want anything to go wrong unexpectedly.

EV Conversion: Doing It Yourself Vs Using an Expert Company

The main difference between converting a car to electric yourself and using an expert company is that electric car conversion by yourself is much cheaper than using an expert company.

There are a lot of people who opt for generic kits, but most of the conversions are focused on classics. The prices for these cars start near £30,000 and can go beyond £500,000 for a fully re-engineered classic car.

Of course, you can opt to convert your car yourself, which will reduce a lot of cost. However, you will have to be well versed and comfortable with the mechanical and electric components of your vehicle. You will also need a lot of time on your hands.

The average price for electrical components and batteries starts at around £10,000, and it can go up, for additional performance and a longer range. Choosing to get the job done by a qualified mechanic is a good compromise, as it would cost a little more than your DIY process, but a lot less than getting your car converted by a specialist.

Why Should You Convert Your Car To Electric? What Are The Reasons For It?

The first main reason for you to convert your car to an electric car is because the emissions from an electric car a significantly lesser than the emissions from a normal car. All-electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, and PHEVs produce no tailpipe emissions when operating in an all-electric mode.

Here are a few reasons why you should convert your car to electric:

1. Reduced Emissions

Electric cars produce zero emissions as opposed to the harmful emissions emitted by cars with combustion engines, which are extremely harmful to the environment.

2. Lowered running costs

It only costs £2 to fully charge your electric car. This is much lesser when compared to how much it would cost you to fill your petrol or diesel car. The maintenance cost of an electric car is much lesser when compared to that of petrol and diesel cars. Tax and ULEZ charges are also free for electric cars.

3. Better performance

Electric motors have a higher torque than their diesel or petrol counterparts and have a much faster acceleration as a result. This results in better performance from electric cars.

4. Easier maintenance

There are a lesser number of moving parts in an electric car when compared to their petrol and diesel counterparts. This makes it easier to maintain an electric car.

5. Increased value for classic cars

Any car’s value would be increased when converted to electric. The price of classic cars, however, increases by a lot, as they have a lot of resale value and demand.

How Much Does It Cost To Convert A Car To Electric?

If you opt for a DIY conversion kit to be installed in your car by a qualified mechanic, then it could cost you roughly £15,000. However, an electric car conversion cost UK could start from the £30,000 mark if you opt to go to a specialist.

While a professional electric car conversion is costlier, without doubt, it has a higher resale value when compared to a DIY one. Depending on the car you want to convert, the prices would vary again.

Electric Car Conversions: The Law

It is completely legal to convert your older car to an electric one, but you would have to re-register it. This can be done through the vehicle registration pages on the Gov.uk website, in the UK. You converted EV might either fall under the rules for rebuilt vehicles or radically altered vehicles, depending on the extent of work done on the vehicle.

Before you can do any of this, your car should meet the UK’s Road vehicles regulations. You should fill out a V55/4 or V55/5 form and send personal identity documents like a copy of your driving licence to be able to register your EV.

A registration fee of £55 is applicable, along with payment for the vehicle tax and a current MOT Test certificate, if the vehicle is more than three years old.

A completed V627/1 form should be submitted along with your vehicle registration application, and evidence of type approval where applicable. The original vehicle’s registration certificate also needs to be submitted, with official receipts for any parts, and photographs of the car. If your application is approved, you will receive a V5C registration certificate from the DVLA.

With the exception of classic cars, which are over 40 years old, a converted electric car still needs to pass an annual MOT. The exhaust emissions part of the test is not required, although the cost remains the same (a maximum of £54.85).

Can Any Car Be Converted To Electric?

Yes, in theory, any car can be converted to electric.

Quite naturally, some cars are more suited to convert to electric cars. However, almost every ICE car can be converted to an electric car.

The output will, of course, always depend on the kind of work that’s been done on the car, and the kind of car that has been converted.

How Do You Register Your Converted Electric Car?

In general, you would have to register any car or vehicle as soon as you have

1. Bought it
2. Built it
3. Rebuilt it or altered it
4. Imported it

This can be done by filling the required forms and sending them to DVLA.

Your vehicle can be inspected by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for the following reasons:

1. To ensure the vehicle exists
2. To check if the vehicle has been assembled properly and the vehicle logbook (V5C) is in your name
3. To update their records due to the changes that have been made

No fee is applicable for the DVLA to do this. They will send you a letter if they need to do this, and you just need to cooperate.

Conclusion

Electric cars are the future, and that fact cannot be debated. Electric cars are not an easy affair to buy, which makes electric car conversion the easier approach. There are several ways through which a car can be converted to electric. Whatever option you may choose, what you must remember is to get your car a warranty, or an extended warranty, so that your car is always protected. Warranty Direct offers a highly effective and impactful warranty for electric cars, where all the important parts of an electric car are replaced and taken care of, in case of any repairs.