Converting Car Models to Electric: German Startup
As environmental standards become ever harder to meet around the world, vehicle manufacturers are now heavily encouraged to introduce more electric vehicles. Yet what will transpire to the gas-driven automobiles already created? A venture capital firm hailing from Dachau, Germany has a clever plan in mind.
This company, e-Revolt, aspires to convert existing cars run on fuel, whether gas or diesel, to full EV vehicles. Without question, they are not the initial ones to herald this solution but they have optimized their procedure in a way that the transmutation only takes up eight hours of time.
Despite most companies specializing in high-end classic cars, e-Revolt is aiming their services towards more generic vehicles. As proof of this, they recently converted a Volkswagen Golf VII wagon that held a diesel engine before its electrical components took over. Euronews Next spoke with the company’s managing director and main technical leader, Rolf Behling, who revealed that the conversion process can now work on up to 42 different car models.
The cost for converting an existing car into an electric vehicle runs from approximately €12,000 to €15,000 (equating to roughly $13,000 to $16,000 using the current exchange rate). This kind of expenditure is expensive, particularly when you are purchasing a used car. Alternatively, bargain EVs are few and far between in 2023, so this direction of investment may be sensible for those who care about sustainability but can’t afford the prices of new EVs. As a comparison, even the lowest costing China-made Dacia Spring starts at more than €20,000 before discounts.
In terms of range, e-Revolt states the battery has a capacity to go up to 250 to 300 kilometers (155 to 186 miles). However, they are still working on advancing the technology, so more advancements could be made. Beneficial to existing car owners, this module replacement kit enables them to switch out for an improved battery whenever it becomes available.
The initial procedure begins with a pre-assessment of the vehicle to guarantee it is appropriate to receive the electric transformation. Following this, the gasoline/diesel motor is detached along with the rest of the superfluous elements. The company is not discarding the old components; they are instead being recycled or reused for other purposes.
Once the space in the engine bay has been freed up, e-Revolt puts in a “plug and play frame” that is linked to the original mount points that were created for the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). Additionally, an e-CAN (controller area network) module is installed to make sure all the new parts are compatible with the car’s existing elements.
The business furnishes all that is needed for the conversion, ranging from hoses to screws. Additionally, a remarkable infotainment-inspired lay-out crowns the dashboard, giving all EV related information.
Nevertheless, there are certain elements of this issue that remain uncertain. For instance, the output capacity of the electric motor is not known, nor is it understood how much energy the battery holds. Furthermore, the period of time it takes to charge up is a concern; moreover, it’s definite that the transformation from internal combustion engine-powered to electric-charged will increase the weight of the vehicle and influence the distribution of mass in an undesirable manner. Therefore, modifications should be made for the suspension system to cater for the additional load.
We have contacted e-Revolt in an effort to address any anxieties. We will update this post once we obtain a response.
Sources: Euronews Next, e-Revolt