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Electric vehicle conversion


An electric vehicle conversion is the modification of a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) to electric propulsion, creating an all-electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

Solar cells could be used to power a vehicle converted to electric. However, currently the relatively small power generated by solar cells means that the other components in the system must be special to compensate for this. For example, the body of even a small conventional car converted to electric is still rather too heavy to be able to be matched with an electric system that is solely or primarily charged by solar power. Thus, it is usually more practical to create a solar-powered electric vehicle from scratch or specially made parts.

Most conversions in North America are performed by hobbyists who typically will convert a well used vehicle with a non-functioning engine, since such defective vehicles can be quite inexpensive to purchase. Other hobbyists with larger budgets may prefer to convert a later model vehicle, or a vehicle of a particular type. In some cases the vehicle itself may be built by the converter, or assembled from a kit car.

A two-stage vehicle is a vehicle that has been built by two separate manufacturers. The result is a standard, complete vehicle. In this process, vehicles may be converted by a manufacturer (as was done by Ford Motor Company to create the Ford Ranger EV). Alternatively, in a process known as "third-party (power)trainization", an independent converter will purchase new vehicle gliders (vehicles without a motor or related equipment) and then perform the conversion, to offer a two-stage vehicle.

In some countries, the user can choose to buy a converted vehicle of any model in the automaker dealerships only paying the cost of the batteries and motor, with no installation costs (it is called pre-conversion or previous conversion).

The electric vehicle conversion industry has grown to include conversion car garages,aftermarket kits and vehicle components.


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