[MesquiteTim]

I am following your logic. When a kit car gets registered, the owner has to jump thru safety, state inspection and emissions hoops as if it is a new car. As the manufacturer, I am allowed to call it anything. If I were in your shoes, I would print the application and pretend to fill it out, looking for any "gotchas" that would void elegibility in the eyes of the IRS. I would be shocked if an kit car company would support the effort. Too much liability for companies that sell kit cars parts.

* I built a Factory Five Cobra in Cal years ago and have an Exocet underway in Nevada.

 

[MesquiteTim]

"The manufacturer or domestic distributor should be able to provide you with a copy of the IRS letter acknowledging the certification of the vehicle."

I haven't been able to find any info on applying for certification as if I was a new manufacturer trying to get my new whizbang EV added to the list.

 

[MesquiteTim]

Yep. I have built three kit aircraft. If we can find the IRS process for manufacturers to be listed, we could figure out the process and cost to become a manufacturer. Have an open mind until we know the process.

 

[MesquiteTim]

The safety requirements may/will draw you into any lawsuits that arise from accidents. If we can get a waiver/transfer of this liability to the kit builder, it would be better. Since GM and others offer an e crate motor, getting the IRS to recognize kits would be ideal.

 

[MesquiteTim]

I would go down the road of lobbying the regulators of air quality and present a business plan for a conversion kit rebate. I would start in California where it is the rage right now. Even if the EV market is wildly successful, there will still be millions of ICE vehicles on the road for decades. The regulators just might jump at a way to convert existing cars sooner by offering a rebate for kits. The kits need to be more complete in my opinion. There are still too many pieces and parts. Motor, battery, brains, and chargers with plugs between them is within reach.

 

[MesquiteTim]

True, but using parts from a wrecked EV off the road to put a conversion back on the road results in a plus 1 result.

 

[MesquiteTim]

A local shop used to convert cars and pickups to CNG. It was years ago. Certify the conversion shop and give a credit for a completed conversion. Even if the range is low, it takes an ICE off the road. I am NOT a tree hugger, I just happen to like all things EV.

 

[MesquiteTim]

Disagree. A conversion costs a fraction of the cost of a new EV. The point is that they are missing out on an entire path to "ensure there is a supply of clean vehicles at affordable prices". A conversion rebate better fits the definition of "bootstrap" than given Tesla another trillion in dollars. Every ICE engine shut down drives toward the clean air goal. If I buy an EV, my old ICE is still running because I sold it.