How do you build an electric car through a DIY project from home? One of the main challenges many car owners face is high gas prices. We like the comfort of driving a car, but refueling the vehicle has become a very expensive ordeal. Gasoline prices are linked to world crude oil prices. Every time there is a disruption in the supply of crude oil, the local price of gas skyrockets. One solution to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels is to convert our internal combustion engine powered vehicle into an electric car. How can we do it? This article will highlight the basic science of converting a car to an electric vehicle (EV) in your home garage.
The concept of an electric car is quite simple. What we want to do is replace the internal combustion engine with an electric motor. The electric motor will generate all the power needed to propel the car forward. Since we are removing the engine, all associated components such as the gas tank, radiator, and fuel lines are also removed. The existing drivetrain such as the transmission, driveshaft and clutch system can still be used. The idea is to join the electric motor to the transmission box.
To supply electricity to the motor, a series of lead acid batteries are used. Typically you will need 20-25 12V batteries to have enough power to go about 150 miles per charge. The mileage will depend on the weight of the car, the driving conditions and also the speed of the car. To get more mileage, all you have to do is add more batteries.
To control the speed of the car, a variable resistor is connected from the batteries to the electric motor. The resistor will act as the car’s throttle paddle. In general, a DIY electric car conversion project is not difficult. All you need is to pre-purchase the correct parts and have a good step-by-step instruction guide handy.