Everybody considering an EV conversion has to make up one’s mind sooner or later:
Do I want to do it from scratch by myself or use a preconfigured kit? Or shall I even have my car converted to electric by professionals in a shop?
Well, the decision depends on many factors such as one’s capabilities and budget. However, it seems that – as in other industries – the kits approach is gaining ground.
A kit is basically a combination of components and control software that form a system with certain performance features. As a kit is a “product” in itself it should come with a warranty. Kits can consist completely of new components or be a combination of new and refurbished parts such as electric motors or battery packs.
The spectrum of kits offered by suppliers is broad – from basic kits, consisting just of electric motor, inverter and some accessories, to “drop-in” kits which include (almost) everything needed for a conversion and which are – in same cases – even reversible (if one would like to switch back to the ICE age).
Some kits can be bought by private customers and be shipped to one’s garage. Others can only be implemented by partner shops selected by the kit supplier. This is particularly true for premium kits for valuable classic cars.
Talking about “premium”, prices differ widely and start at about 20,000 US-Dollars but can go well beyond a 100,000 US-Dollars.
Currently, kit suppliers very much focus on a limited number of models such as classic Land Rovers, Minis, Porsches, and VWs.
However, there are also so-called “universal kits” which are not meant for specific models. These kits usually consist of the main components. They make sense for project owners who do not want to source each component individually, but are capable of supplementing other components and make them all run together.
The following illustration provides an overview of popular classic models and kit suppliers (no guarantee for correctness and completeness).
