- European automakers’ face tariff hikes, high costs, rivalry
- Many firms concerned over Europe’s emissions goals for 2035
- Chinese automakers gaining market share in Europe, China
MUNICH, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Major automakers showcased their latest models at the Munich car show on Monday, unveiling new EVs and lower-cost models as Europe’s auto sector fights crises ranging from tariff hikes to rising costs and rivalry with Chinese firms on their home turf.
What’s not possible? Upgrade kits or that somebody would do it?
Upgrade kits. Where are you doing to fit the battery? It’s super heavy, it would move center of gravity if you don’t put it very low. To connect electric engine you would have to change shitload of other parts. How would you install regenerative breaks? Even if you somehow figure it out you would only be left with original body and seats. It wouldn’t make financial sense.
From what I see on EV conversion kits, basically the regenerative braking is just a feature of the accelerator pedal that just makes “engine braking” a normal usage model. Blended braking from the brake pedal is not viable.
EV conversion is a thing complete with regen braking, but it’s highly impractical and expensive compared to just doing a new car.
Of course the original question was about a hybrid upgrade kit, which I’ve never heard of. I could imagine a modest battery with an electric motor/generator replacing a torque converter to convert engine braking to regen braking…
To be accurate, ev conversion is a thing, but like you say, it isn’t a conversation you do to save money, it’s to preserve some iconic classic with an EV drivetrain. Costs more than getting a new EV and then you end up with pretty modest range because the batteries are relatively tiny
So a rich person with their classic car might do this, but the daily driver market just buys a whole replacement car.
But they do exist
I imagine it could be produced and executed for less than $20-30K if it was mass produced.
Interesting. I did some searching and I found couple of weird kits (like here’s an electric motor and a pedal) but no opinions from people that actually used it or news for known websites. For me it looks like DIY electric car kits misleadingly labeled as “conversion kit” but maybe I’m wrong. Have seen someone actually building a hybrid car with such a kit?
I’m saying a hybrid conversion, so keeping ICE but adding electric assist. I guess that’s a huge undertaking and doesn’t look like any reputable manufacturers are doing it. But I think they could if they wanted to.
Electric conversion seems to have some reputable companies, but still small.
I saw a company called REVR trying to do something with hubs like an e-bike: https://www.revr.tech/
Haha check this out:
https://www.instructables.com/DIY-Plug-In-Hybrid-Car/