Most people think that if they want to drive an electric vehicle, they must buy a completely new car. Chevrolet, however, shows that you don't have to get a new car to drive an electric vehicle. Now, with the release of its first-ever electric motor conversion kits in 2021, the popular automaker shows that it's possible to drive an electric car simply by making a few replacements. Starting in mid-2021, Chevrolet provides car owners with the opportunity to swap out the existing gasoline engines on their current cars for electric motors instead. The process will take some legwork, but it can give you a more environmentally sound and fuel-efficient car in the long run.
What to Expect in the Electric Conversion Kits
Chevrolet expects to release its electric motor conversion kits, called eCrate kits, sometime in the middle of 2021. The kits can adapt gasoline engines to electric powertrains. The electric motor that will be used is a motor derived from the Chevrolet Bolt EV, a popular electric vehicle produced by Chevrolet. The electric motor has a maximum power output of around 200 HP, and its peak torque capacity is about 265 LB-FT. Along with the electric motor, you will get a separate battery with a charge of 60 kWh. Some accessories will also be included, such as wiring harnesses and production controllers. You may need to get some additional parts to retrofit your car, too, such as an electric steering kit, an electronic controller, and an electric pump.
Conversion Kit Installation
Although you may need to get some additional components to complete a retrofit of your car, it should be relatively simple for a certified eCrate installer to replace the car's gasoline engine with an electric motor instead. The transmission from the Chevrolet Bolt EV can be connected to the existing transmission in your vehicle. The brakes can also be connected to the electric motor, although you may want to upgrade the brakes to provide the same regenerative capabilities found in the Chevrolet Bolt EV. You may want to get an electronic controller as well that connects to the fuel gauge to show the battery power that you have left in the vehicle.
Parts from the eCrate system come from the Chevrolet Bolt EV, which provides substantial electric power with an output of 200 HP from its engine. With the Bolt EV, you will also get close to 600 miles of range per electric charge and a responsive acceleration mechanism.
