How difficult / expensive is it to electrify an ICE these days?

Buddy Bubs

OH has a mini cooper, 2004, its in storage in my job. Its not really running, but only needs possibly a battery and a power steering pump to get it up and running.

However, I have what is probably a crazy idea. How difficult, and by difficult I mean expensive because I dont know how to do it myself, would it be to turn this into an EV. Something like a 80/100km range car at a guess.

This atricle makes it sound cheap but I dont know if there is any accuracy in it.

https://www.irishevs.com/how-electric-car-conversion-works

Body work is in decent shape, so is the interior. Roughly 120,000 miles on it. I know I'd never recoup my investment and its more of a silly project than anything.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058366833/how-difficult-expensive-is-it-to-electrify-an-ice-these-days

According to the article you shared there it's about €5k, perhaps reach out to New Electric and ask them?

Jonathan

Check out Damien Maguire on YouTube. He has lots of experience in doing exactly this.

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122558949#Comment_122558949

Looks like an interesting channel, I have heard his name here a few times. I have subscribed, more for an interest than anything.

the_amazing_raisin

Maybe give @unkel a shout since he was working on one of Damien's conversions a while ago

joe1303l

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058366833/how-difficult-expensive-is-it-to-electrify-an-ice-these-days

I don’t think a Mini would be a great donor vehicle for a conversion. Notoriously difficult to work on mechanically and limited space for batteries etc. It’s also relatively modern with the complication of Canbus, ECU etc. Time to weigh it in or break it for spares.

zg3409

There is no one offering coversions commercially in Ireland. UK firms charge uk£20,000 for just the basic bolt in kit for some classics.

Irs not financially viable, makes more sense to just buy a cheap leaf, even converted the range won't be great on a mini and charging speed will be slow. A few people in Ireland have DIY converted cars but it can take years with costs and labor high. Most don't use them as daily drivers, more of a once off project car.

Buddy Bubs

Yeah it's not viable yet. The car will go to the crusher, I can't see anyone buying it or even taking it for free.

That article threw me, but it's not realistic

the_amazing_raisin

Rich rebuilds did it a couple of years ago, but it's important to note that his pricing excludes any labour cost since he does it himself

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRnFzklXi4o

As a general rule it seems that if you aren't doing the work yourself or getting it for free then it's never financially viable

Ir3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122559858#Comment_122559858

there’s a racing championship in Mondello for juniors in these so defo a market for it, I would advertise it in the rally section.