How To Convert A Gas-Powered Car To An Electric Vehicle

Interest in electric vehicles is at an all time high, with sales of new EVs up 55 percent in 2022 compared to the year prior. But there are still a lot of gas cars on the road today and there will be for a long time. EV conversions are becoming a bigger trend that could help. Both the shops and aftermarket community are growing substantially to meet the new demand. CNBC explores what it takes to convert a gas-powered car to an electric vehicle and whether it could go mainstream.

Chapters:
00:00 — Introduction
02:40 — EV conversions
04:12 — Conversion shops
06:45 — DIY community
11:16 — Challenges

Produced, Shot and Edited by: Andrew Evers
Supervising Producer: Jeniece Pettitt
Narration: Robert Ferris
Additional Footage: Tinkergineering, Ford, Chevrolet, SEMA, EV West, Electric Vehicle Learning Center, Portland Auto Show

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How To Convert A Gas-Powered Car To An Electric Vehicle

[jeffsaxton]

Back in the eighties I converted a Fiat 128 to electric. I used a surplus jet engine starter as a motor and lead acid golf cart batteries. I intended to add a gas engine genset to extend range. It worked, but only went about 18 miles on a charge. As I remember, I got up to 50 MPH once. It was too early to be practical. Right now I drive a 2019 Chevy Volt. It's basically what I was trying to invent back then.

[chadnoneo]

My dad has also been doing some of these ev conversion on and off the last decade along with restoration. Right now he is retrofitting a 50's Porsche 356 that was converted about a decade ago into electric to a newer system. It's mostly the fun of rich people who get this stuff done.

[speedracerplease]

"It doesn't take a lot of money, I'm just doing this in the backyard with my dad"
a dad who gave her a Porsche and could send her to a school for this kind of thing lol
Still a very inspirational story, but let's count our blessings lol

[ohiorichkidbeats]

I'm extremely prouof that young lady converting her car to ev..im an 11yrs worker at a ford engine plant here in ohio. Her motivation is inspiring, and just gave me an idea to eventually change my 2022 bronco, I'm totally impressed

[QMaverick]

I've got n '86 Fiero I'm restoring. When I'm ready for the powertrain swap, the only thing that'll keep me from going EV is cost. If we can get conversion components down in cost a bit, I'm 100% in. That little car would be insane with all that beautiful, instant torque (after I reinforce the hell out of it). :-)

[muskrat]

Many thumbs up to that young lady!👍👍👍👍👍 Glad to see schools and training programs for EV mechanics.

[douglasdoesstuff]

I'm currently converting a 1994 Toyota Celica, these conversions are important not only for the environmental benefit that comes with cutting emissions, but for keeping these classics on the road for all to enjoy as parts become harder to obtain.

[php]

I sense lighting storm bolt paint jobs are going to be all the rage instead of flame jobs. It's not a lectric rod unless it has an intense lighting storm exploding out from the front to the back.

[kennystrawnmusic]

Heard rumors about people who have converted first-gen Mirais before; that would be a fun project to say the least as someone who owns one.

This is exactly why I’m enrolled in Saddleback College’s Auto 220 class.

[frankschwartz]

Can you do a video on converting an EV to gas power?
Soon the market (and junkyards) will be filled with EVs with dead expensive batteries.
(and ones that have burned to a crisp)

[TheJs]

I would like to see someone doing that on some Pontiac cars.

[Kelvins]

I was thinking of myself to have a similar conversion shop but couldn't get on to it due to pandemic timing. It's pretty interesting to see these changes in US. I think it is always better to give a second life to your car if economically viable. US is usually ahead in trying new things. Here is Australia things happen very slow.

[ralphqmunoz]

You go for it we need more young people like you.

[icraftcrafts]

shoutout to this lady. and jehu garcia at the end. and ev west.

[PiDsPagePrototypes]

:) Already recycling EV components in to spare parts, performance industry was always going to adapt as the demand grew. Hot Rodding has always been at the bleeding edge of technology and performance.
Tinkergineering shows the Hot Rod community is strong and healthy and adapting to new technology, and a 914 as a first car, way cool.

[SME]

That is insane … what a smart move … I’m no ev fan but this is a very smart business decision

[A_Litre_of_Farva]

I can’t wait until this becomes affordable for the average person, right now it’s obscenely expensive to convert an ICE over.

[shackf]

As a performance fan, an EV conversion is tough to beat. The instantaneous torque puts a big smile on my face every time! I agree that the convenience of a gas powered car is great, even with the high gas prices right now. We recently bought a VW ID.4 and love it, but we bought it after a ton of research and understanding how it fit into our lifestyle and travel plans. The improvements in Level 3 DC fast charging and increased availability have certainly been encouraging developments that will improve longer range trips, but we will keep an ICE vehicle for the foreseeable future. However, I am planning to electrify that ICE vehicle with a small Tesla motor and the battery pack from a Chrysler Pacifica hybrid in search of vastly improved performance and hopefully some improved MPG…we’ll see how that all turns out. It’s not a simple learning curve and high voltage can be very dangerous, but so can gasoline - just ask Leno.

[Ryukachoo]

3:17
You guys are missing a plethora of old school conversions from the 70s through the 2000s that were more like green commuter cars. White zombie was more of a paradigm shift since they were one of the first to use lithium cells and get insane power

[jon-williammurphy]

the rebate law SB301 recently passed actually! I don't know when it goes into effect or if you'll "probably" have to be a certified shop or whatever but it offers up to $4k as a rebate, so that's pretty sweet.