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UTV Gas to EV Conversion, looking for advice

2.7K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  Trickytrotter  
#1 · (Edited)
Basics of the EV conversion I am doing. I got an old Kawasaki Mule 1000, rear 2wd. I have already completely stripped everything down to the frame, removed the engine. I have left the transmission/transaxle as I plan to just drive that directly. So right now I am at the phase of cleaning up the frame and planning what to put in for the EV coversion.

As far as uses, this will just be used around the farm to haul stuff in the bed, tow some things (drag harrow and maybe a tow behind mower) so top speed is no concern to me, I don't need this to be fast. I just need it to be good hauler/tower at lowish speeds.

The part I need advice on is sizing the motor. I prefer to stick with DC (brushed or brushless, idk, they both last forever) motors for the simplicity and cost. I don't know and can't seem to find the max HP from the motor, I have found the max torque, 33 nm. It would be nice to find a motor/controller/wiring kit but I have no problem sourcing them separately either.

So given that, I would love the advice from others who have done similar conversions on the right sized motor to pick. Thanks!
 
#2 ·
Not sure if this helps, but I'm doing a Mule 3010 conversion the moment. I'm planning to use a Golden Motor 10kW 48V motor and VEC500 controller (I had them left over from another project). If I've got my calculations right, I reckon with 0.75 gear reduction in high gear on the transmission I'll get the following:

Motor RPMOverall Drive RatioMotor PulleyTransmission PullyM/T RatioRollout (mm)m/minkPH
1000​
8.36​
30​
40​
0.75​
1834​
164.53​
9.9​
1500​
8.36​
30​
40​
0.75​
1834​
246.80​
14.8​
2000​
8.36​
30​
40​
0.75​
1834​
329.07​
19.7​
2500​
8.36​
30​
40​
0.75​
1834​
411.33​
24.7​
3000​
8.36​
30​
40​
0.75​
1834​
493.60​
29.6​
3500​
8.36​
30​
40​
0.75​
1835​
576.18​
34.6​

So, that's a 30 tooth T10 timing pulley (27mm wide) on the motor and a 40 tooth on the transmission driven by 25mm T10 timing belt. And, looking at motor power & torque I reckon:

Motor Speed RPMMotor kWMotor NmGeared Nm
1000​
4.8​
35​
46.67​
1500​
7​
33​
44​
2000​
8.4​
33​
44​
2500​
9.6​
32​
42.67​
3000​
10.8​
30​
40​
3500​
11.5​
26​
34.67​

Which compared with the Mule 3010's 620cc engine peak power of 14.7kW and 47Nm of torque looks close enough for my low speed use (small 12 acre lifestyle block).

Still several months away from completion (doing a few hours each weekend), but happy to share results.
 
#3 ·
Not sure if this helps, but I'm doing a Mule 3010 conversion the moment. I'm planning to use a Golden Motor 10kW 48V motor and VEC500 controller (I had them left over from another project). If I've got my calculations right, I reckon with 0.75 gear reduction in high gear on the transmission I'll get the following:

Motor RPMOverall Drive RatioMotor PulleyTransmission PullyM/T RatioRollout (mm)m/minkPH
1000​
8.36​
30​
40​
0.75​
1834​
164.53​
9.9​
1500​
8.36​
30​
40​
0.75​
1834​
246.80​
14.8​
2000​
8.36​
30​
40​
0.75​
1834​
329.07​
19.7​
2500​
8.36​
30​
40​
0.75​
1834​
411.33​
24.7​
3000​
8.36​
30​
40​
0.75​
1834​
493.60​
29.6​
3500​
8.36​
30​
40​
0.75​
1835​
576.18​
34.6​

So, that's a 30 tooth T10 timing pulley (27mm wide) on the motor and a 40 tooth on the transmission driven by 25mm T10 timing belt. And, looking at motor power & torque I reckon:

Motor Speed RPMMotor kWMotor NmGeared Nm
1000​
4.8​
35​
46.67​
1500​
7​
33​
44​
2000​
8.4​
33​
44​
2500​
9.6​
32​
42.67​
3000​
10.8​
30​
40​
3500​
11.5​
26​
34.67​

Which compared with the Mule 3010's 620cc engine peak power of 14.7kW and 47Nm of torque looks close enough for my low speed use (small 12 acre lifestyle block).

Still several months away from completion (doing a few hours each weekend), but happy to share results.
I'd love to hear more about your project with the mule. I have a 3010 sitting here with a dead engine and am just starting to look into EV conversion. Did the 10kw motor prove to be enough power?
 
#5 ·
Basics of the EV conversion I am doing. I got an old Kawasaki Mule 1000, rear 2wd. I have already completely stripped everything down to the frame, removed the engine. I have left the transmission/transaxle as I plan to just drive that directly. So right now I am at the phase of cleaning up the frame and planning what to put in for the EV coversion.

As far as uses, this will just be used around the farm to haul stuff in the bed, tow some things (drag harrow and maybe a tow behind mower) so top speed is no concern to me, I don't need this to be fast. I just need it to be good hauler/tower at lowish speeds.

The part I need advice on is sizing the motor. I prefer to stick with DC (brushed or brushless, idk, they both last forever) motors for the simplicity and cost. I don't know and can't seem to find the max HP from the motor Can-am Renegade accessories, I have found the max torque, 33 nm. It would be nice to find a motor/controller/wiring kit but I have no problem sourcing them separately either.

So given that, I would love the advice from others who have done similar conversions on the right sized motor to pick. Thanks!
For your Kawasaki Mule EV conversion, a 10–12kW brushed DC motor would be ideal. It matches the original torque needs and offers plenty of low-end grunt for hauling and towing around the farm. Stick with 48V–72V for a good balance of power and simplicity. A series-wound motor like the Motenergy ME1003 is a solid, proven choice. Pair it with a compatible controller rated for 300–400A peak. You can go with a kit or source parts separately—just make sure the controller matches the motor specs. For batteries, LiFePO4 is the best long-term option. Lead-acid works too if budget is tight.