Ready to Electrify? Your Ultimate EV Checklist

So, you’re mentally ready for the project of a lifetime—swapping your ICE powertrain for an electric one. Great choice, but you need to be physically ready as well. Let’s get one thing straight: converting your car to electric isn’t as simple as swapping out the engine and plugging in a charger. You’ve got to plan, prep, and execute. But don’t sweat it—we’ll make sure you’re sorted with this checklist. Let’s get rolling.

1. Evaluate Your Vehicle

Is your car up for the challenge? Not all cars are made equal, and trust us, not all of them are ready to go electric. Here’s what to check before you dive in:

1. Chassis strength: Is your chassis in good enough condition to handle the additional weight of the battery?

2. Space for batteries: Batteries aren’t only heavy, they’re big. Some smaller vehicles may be too limited on space for a conversion.

3. Component availability: Make sure that necessary conversion parts and systems are available for your vehicle’s make and model.

2. Set Your Budget

Converting to electric isn’t free. In fact, it’s not even cheap. So, make sure you have a budget in mind before you get too excited. If you want a more detailed price estimation, check out our blog on it here. But for now, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Batteries: We’re not talking about AAA batteries. An EV battery will likely be the priciest part of your build.

2. Electric Motor: High power equals high price.

3. Labor costs: Unless you’re handy with a wrench, factor in the cost of paying someone else to do it.

4. Extras: Don’t forget the bits and bobs—suspension upgrades, new tires, and maybe even a cold beverage for when it’s all done.

3. Choosing the Right EV Conversion Kit/EV Conversion Motor

The right EV conversion kit is like the ultimate combo deal. It gives you the right motor, batteries, controller, and all the other bits and pieces for your new vehicle to work together like a well-oiled machine (or, in this case, a well-built EV). So, if this is the route you’re going to take, don’t just grab the first kit you see. Consider this:

1. Pre-packaged vs. do-it-yourself electric car conversion kits: A pre-packaged kit is like a meal kit that already has everything measured out and covers every level of the food pyramid. Go with this option unless you’re a certified electrical genius with connections to component suppliers.

2. Motor power: Does the kit you have in mind come with a motor that suits your car’s size and weight? You don’t want to slap a tiny motor into a big truck. Match the power to your needs.

3. Battery pack compatibility: Not all kits come with batteries included, so check what works with the motor and controller you do have in yours. You’ll want enough power to get you the range you need without needing a massive overhaul.

4. Controller quality: Your controller is like the brain of the operation. Cheap kits can skimp here, and trust us, you don’t want a car that feels stupid. Make sure your kit includes a controller that can handle the motor’s power output and give you smooth acceleration.

5. Mounting options: Every car is different, so double-check that the kit’s motor, controller, and battery mounts will fit your vehicle. You don’t want to be fabricating custom brackets after you’ve already spent thousands on a “universal” kit.

4. Choose Your Battery Pack

Want to drive 100 miles, 200 miles, or more? Your range and vehicle performance relies heavily on the size of your battery pack. Here’s what to consider:

1. Range: Conduct a down-to-earth assessment on the purpose of your vehicle. Are you commuting to work or planning a cross-country road trip? Most  vehicle can accommodate a range of 100-200 miles.

2. Placement: Do you have enough room for those batteries? Get creative, think of using the trunk, the area under the seats, or the engine bay.

3. Cooling: Hot batteries are bad batteries. If you’re going big, make sure they stay cool by planning for additional cooling systems.

5. Plan for Charging

Don’t forget—you need a way to recharge your car once it’s sitting in your garage. Here are your options:

1. Home charging: A Level 2 charger (240V) installed at home will give you faster charging times than a standard 120V outlet.

2. Charging network: Check out local charging infrastructure. No one likes being stranded.

6. The Legal Stuff

You can’t just convert your car and start driving (most of the time). Here’s a couple reasons why you should look into the local laws:

1. Registration: Local laws may require your car to pass inspection before it hits the road. Do your homework and make sure you’re set before you get slammed.

2. Incentives: Make sure you claim any available tax credits or rebates. After all, several states offer thousands of dollars in incentives and rebates. You are saving the planet. They owe you that much.

7. Join a Club

There’s a community of EV enthusiasts out there who’ve been where you are—and they want to help you. It’s us–and we have friends everywhere. Join our community and you’ll get access to tips, tricks, and a helping hand if things go sideways. There are also dozens of other communities looking to help you.

That’s it. You now have all the preliminary info you need to start thinking about the nitty gritty of your conversion. Check all these boxes, and you’re ready to take your first steps–and you’ll be cruising down the road in no time. And be sure to let us know if you need help.