I own an S10 pick-up that blew a rod and damaged the engine block. So I decided it was time to convert my pick-up into an EV. I have wanted to convert a vehicle for a long a time. It started when I was a high school teacher in ’94 I had a fellow colleague converted a ‘70’s VW bug with his automotive club. I figured if he could teach his students how to build an EV from an existing vehicle I could try it with my students.
Well I missed my chance and it is more than 10 years later and I have a free donation vehicle to convert. I am looking forward to the experience and challenge.
I have little to no automotive experience, I know more about small lawnmower engines then I do about the 4 cylinder engine that is no longer working in my pick-up. I am handy with a wrench and I have been known to change a starter or two in an old Jeep. As for my fabrication skills I have touched a welder, sheet metal or steel since I took some college courses in the 90’s when I was getting my Industrial Science and Technology degree. Basically I am out of practice, but I hope to be to gain some of those skills back during this conversion.
I am looking to get 120–170 miles per charge. It will be used to get around town and from time to time to do some highway traveling to visit family out of town. I may also be used as a commuter so it will get use on the highway during commutes as well. I would like to be able to charge it overnight and be ready for use the next day.
Since the pick-up is paid off I don’t need to worry about paying for a donor vehicle. I am looking to budget the conversion between $5,000-$7,500. This includes outsourcing parts and pieces to expert fabricators as needed.
I have not considered any parts for this EV conversion. I am still in the process of doing research and building a project plan. I hope to capture video of this process to document as well as use the conversion to teach project management skills to teens. So any hints, suggestions and ideas you have on parts would be appreciated.
I look forward to the community’s support and assistance. I will be sure to be as active as possible. I hope to come back with questions and answers as often as possible. Thank you for taking the time to read this long post and thank you in advance for the help.
Well I missed my chance and it is more than 10 years later and I have a free donation vehicle to convert. I am looking forward to the experience and challenge.
I have little to no automotive experience, I know more about small lawnmower engines then I do about the 4 cylinder engine that is no longer working in my pick-up. I am handy with a wrench and I have been known to change a starter or two in an old Jeep. As for my fabrication skills I have touched a welder, sheet metal or steel since I took some college courses in the 90’s when I was getting my Industrial Science and Technology degree. Basically I am out of practice, but I hope to be to gain some of those skills back during this conversion.
I am looking to get 120–170 miles per charge. It will be used to get around town and from time to time to do some highway traveling to visit family out of town. I may also be used as a commuter so it will get use on the highway during commutes as well. I would like to be able to charge it overnight and be ready for use the next day.
Since the pick-up is paid off I don’t need to worry about paying for a donor vehicle. I am looking to budget the conversion between $5,000-$7,500. This includes outsourcing parts and pieces to expert fabricators as needed.
I have not considered any parts for this EV conversion. I am still in the process of doing research and building a project plan. I hope to capture video of this process to document as well as use the conversion to teach project management skills to teens. So any hints, suggestions and ideas you have on parts would be appreciated.
I look forward to the community’s support and assistance. I will be sure to be as active as possible. I hope to come back with questions and answers as often as possible. Thank you for taking the time to read this long post and thank you in advance for the help.