On a bright note, we were all super excited when lockdown lifted, yet on the flip side, we have to deal with the mayhem in the aftermath. If you live anywhere on this planet, you know everything about 2020 became pre-covid and post-covid. It feels almost apocalyptic and something straight out of Twilight Zone. Most of the prices of essential goods skyrocketed, including gold, air tickets, seafood, eggs, and fuel prices.
Talking of the double-digit petrol and diesel prices, vehicle owners now have no choice but to look at other options.
If you are contemplating how you can convert your car to electric, read ahead to know more. This article will cover
- Why switch to electric vehicles?
- Can you convert petrol car or diesel car to electric?
- Advantages of retrofitting your vehicle
- Kinds of electric vehicles
- Where we are in technology
- Electric car conversion companies
Why switch to electric vehicles?
Back in 2019, the research company BloombergNEF made a grand prediction that by 2040, India would be one of the 4th largest passenger electric vehicle markets, with electric vehicle sales at 2.6 million. In its report, it further forecasted that India would join Germany in numbers. China would stand at 14.6 million and the United States at 9.7 million. Moreover, EV sales in India may beat France, Japan, the UK, and Korea. The report foretells this result while simply analyzing the sales of electric four-wheelers.
Advantages of retrofitting
• Conserve and economy
It is a well-known fact that hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles can support fuel conservation, reduce fuel expenses, and decrease emissions.
• Reduced noise pollution
Far more than other factors, you can enjoy a smooth, almost noise-free ride as you navigate your way through chockablock traffic. Apart from a slight whirring sound, an EV is a hummer with just the sounds of gravel, wind, road noise, and nothing else.
• Go green
Yay! with zero emissions on the road. EVs will assist decrease of CO2 and toxic greenhouse fumes.
• Low maintenance
Except for the initial investment, once you convert to an EV, overall costs are much lower than if you were to continue driving on petrol or diesel. An electric four-wheeler has few parts, is less complex, so the cost of maintenance is low.
Can you convert petrol and diesel cars into electric vehicles?
There were few options a decade or so ago. It was rare to convert your fuel-driven car into an electric vehicle. But we live in a new age where everything is possible. Also, authorities have permitted you to do vehicular modifications to make it more eco-friendly.
Transforming the classic models can also be considered here, giving them a revamp with the aid of an electric-powered core. The Government has amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. It has boosted the conversion of hybrid electric and electric vehicles. Now, petrol or diesel-run vehicles, both can be retrofitted with an electric core. Further, there is the option of electric-battery-operated applications to power vehicles and conserve the environment.
Kinds of electric vehicles:
So one may classify the EV into three main categories
- Battery Electric Vehicles
- Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
- Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Battery electric vehicles
They charge with DC Fast Charging, level 3 chargers. We may note that DC charging is feasible at an extreme voltage and is competent to power certain plug-in electric vehicles with a range of up to 800 volts. It provides the user with very rapid charging.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
They rely on batteries to power an electric motor. Gasoline or diesel powers the combustion engine and propulsion source. Their battery powers through charging equipment and regenerative braking. Examples include Porsche, Mercedes, BMW. PHEVs produce lower levels of emissions
Hybrid cars
It uses both gasoline and electricity for power. HEV allows you either option. These vehicles customarily use electricity at first to move, then shift to fuel with growing speed. Examples: Toyota and Honda have a line of these cars.
Where we are in technology?
Although India has many EV options, the alternatives for conversion companies are limited. It is in constant innovation, and the results are looking good. Sources claim, BOSCH India was retrofitting a Maruti Suzuki Baleno with cutting-edge technology at their Pune facility, and the results are amazing.
Top conversion companies with retrofitting kits that may interest you:
Bosch eAxle kit
The Bosch Retrofit Kit eAxle is a compact, cost-effective solution for electric drive systems. The advantage comes from the electric motor, power electronics, and transmission integrated to create a compact unit. It helps make electric drives less complex and more manageable. Additionally, the Bosch power-train is cost-effective and more efficient.
- It offers up to 96 % efficiency for great range, also a reduction in battery, due to the application of silicon carbide semiconductor technology.
- Compact, with a single system housing, backed by the integration of electric motor, power electronics, and gearbox.
- High-performance scalability at 50–300 kW and various voltage levels of 400/800 V enables an extensive range of applications for all types of vehicles.
- Cost-effective by integrating electric motor, power electronics, and transmission. All in a single drive unit, you get to save on components and expensive connecting cables.
Engineering Specifications
- 50 to 300 kW scalable output
- 1 000 – 5 000 Nm @ drive shaft scalable torque
- 16 000 / min, 18 500 / min – maximum speed of the electric motor (400 V, 800 V)
- approx. 90 kg weight at a power output of 150 kW
ETro
Established in 2017 and approved by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) for its novel plan of converting ICE (Diesel/ Petrol) vehicles into electric. Etro has been converting cars like the Maruti Alto and Dzires. They purchase old cars, restore them, remove all the petrol or diesel-related components, and fit the vehicle with electric kits.
- Core components are a motor, controller, and lithium-ion battery.
- Range of the battery range is up to 150 km on a single charge.
- The electric motor does not need any gears. Hence it is easier for rookie drivers with learners licenses to move around.
- The Kit is cost-effective at Rs 4 lakh. Investment may seem expensive, but the long-term savings in switching to the electric-powered car is undeniable.
BharatMobi
Another company based out of Hyderabad and founded in 2017, Bharat Kits, can retrofit hatchbacks and sedans.
- The range after conversion is good. It offers a customized battery with a range of 80km per charge and a top speed of 80 kmph after being charged for four to five hours.
- The motor power of the retrofitting Kit is a 15 KW motor and a LiFePO4 battery. It also includes a battery controller and a well-configured battery management system.
- The capacity of the hatchbacks battery is 12 kwh, and for sedans, it is 15 kwh. However, speed and range remain the same. They offer customized conversion kits too.
- The cost of retrofitting is Rs 5 lakh. Besides converting, they offer a telematics system to monitor battery temperature, cell temperature, and vehicle health, even from a remote computer or laptop.
- The conversion process takes a week. The retrofitting happens at the startup’s facility in Hyderabad.
- It has received an ICAT and ARAI certification for converting Maruti Alto, WagonR, and Swift Dzire.
Loop moto
This company produces a compact electric powertrain. They retrofit Electric cars and are ARAI certified to convert many brands.
- The motor power is a compact electric powertrain with Lithium-ion batteries, a battery management system (BMS), and other accessories.
- The Loop moto range is 180 Km
- The battery has the technology of LiFePO4, a smart BMS with a battery capacity of 7.8kwh
- The motor has a 15kw 3 Phase AC
- It has a charger AC onboard of 3.3kw charger
- The gearbox is gear-less
- The top speed is 80 Km/hr
- EV Conversion Centres: Pan India
- The Vehicles converted with ARAI Certification include Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Maruti Suzuki Swift, Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Verna, Honda Amaze, Honda City, and Honda Civic.
North way motor sport
It is a Pune-based EV company that designs, develops, and manufactures components for EV power-trains. North Way M S does not Convert Vehicles for Customer cars and hence does not take conversion requests. It recently developed an EV said to have a range of around 240 kilometers and charges fully in just one hour.
Motor Power a 17 kWh lithium-ion battery pack fitted with a standard 11 kWh pack.
- The 17 kWh pack provides 110 – 200 km of range, depending on other factors.
- The additional battery pack weighs 175 kg and costs in the range of Rs. 3.25 lakh, inclusive of taxes.
- Range extenders varying from RE-50 that provides 50 km range
- 20 kWh battery pack that provides 240 km of max range
- The standard Mahindra E2O plus electric hatchback has 3 alternatives – P2, P4, and P6. All three can be powered by a 3-phase AC induction motor producing 25 BHP and 70 Nm.
Rexnamo electro
It is a Ghaziabad-based company that takes the shells of old classic models and reconstructs them. Rexnamo’s auto shop has sold many retrofitted electric cars and DIY conversion kits in the past decade.
- Rexnamo markets converted cars for £2,800 / ₹2,40,000 and £6,600 / ₹5,70,000.
- The Kit offers top speeds of 55mph / 88 kmph and a driving range of up to 50 miles / 80 km before it needs to be recharged. The cost is approximately ₹8,56,680 for a Compact car like Swift, Indica.
- Vintage cars like Lancers, Honda City, Contessa, Old BMWs, Volkswagens, and Porsches, can be fully restored and electrified using the latest lithium batteries, costing around £38,000 / ₹32,79,677.
- Range Basic Rexnamo Vehicle retrofit gives a range of 130km to 160 km on a full charge.
These companies want to show the consumer what the electric car is capable of. They feel it’s fun to observe people change how they think about conversion.
