We're Doomed, Part 4 Million

[eddiememphis]

ETA: I do suspect eventually they will have kits to convert ICE engines into electric in old vehicles. I probably will do that. It will be bare bones and reliable in that capacity.

There are some available now. Mostly for air cooled VW's- Bugs and busses.

I was doing research into swapping an electric motor in place of a 22R in my Dad's '95 Tacoma. There are adapter plates that allow it to be bolted to the stock bellhousing. Fill the bed with batteries and away you go. Plus a lot of other things, but that's the way it goes.

[Irving]

Retro fitting old cars to be electric is already a thing with a market. It's up and coming, so not exactly known in the main stream I guess.

[Zundfolge]

There are some available now. Mostly for air cooled VW's- Bugs and busses.

At the risk of derailing this discussion (don't tell Jer or Justin we're talking about this) There are several "universal kits" out there (plus all the components you need to roll your own from companies like Manzanita Micro and others) along with many people getting Teslas and other EVs from salvage and stripping off all the parts to build some pretty cool EV conversions. Right now its the domain of hobbyists and hot rodders, but that's still a lot of people.

The biggest problem (as with factory made EVs themselves) is the batteries. Finding places for them, making them accessible enough that they can be serviced and cooled and still protected, and getting them at prices that don't make the whole process foolishness.

What I expect will become a big problem is access to "Fast Charging" with home made EVs. Right now if you try to repair a salvage Tesla, it will be locked out of super charging. You won't be able to use any sort of fast charging system with it. I expect the same will be the case for home made EVs eventually. In part because the industry doesn't want you driving EVs you didn't pay them for and in part because a poorly made EV could damage a charging station ... possibly with massive conflagrant results.

Retro fitting old cars to be electric is already a thing with a market. It's up and coming, so not exactly known in the main stream I guess.

That kind of begs an age old question; are hot rodders mainstream or not? Considering the massive amount of resources out there for people doing engine swaps and mods on old cars, I'd say yes.

[Irving]

I'd agree as well, and if we got more particular I'd say there is a dividing line between the custom fab market, and the bolt-on market. Once things reach the bolt-on stage, then it's truly mainstream.

[FoxtArt]

Then if it reaches the strap-on stage, it's truly awkward.

[Great-Kazoo]

Then if it reaches the strap-on stage, it's truly awkward.

Sounds like another project, that eventually, turns in to a pain in the ass.

[TheNash]

Then if it reaches the strap-on stage, it's truly awkward.

Sounds like another project, that eventually, turns in to a pain in the ass.

It all depends on how you face the project, it?s the type where you don?t want to turn your back on it.

[battlemidget]

I used to work with a guy that did EV conversions on junkers. For ~5k he could convert anything to electric with 20-40mi range. If you see a guy that looks like Sideshow Bob driving a ridiculously torquey junker with squealing tires, that's him.

[Eric P]

Did this advance with the weekend vote?

[Gman]

Get your sober passenger to do the blow test.