this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2024
281 points (97.6% liked)
Technology
59456 readers
3605 users here now
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Our Rules
- Follow the lemmy.world rules.
- Only tech related content.
- Be excellent to each another!
- Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
- Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
- Politics threads may be removed.
- No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
- Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
- Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
Approved Bots
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Do you mean converting an ICE into an EV in your garage? There are hobbyists who do that, but it's not a small project.
Do you mean taking an existing ICE frame and making an EV version? It happens. The Mini Cooper EV is a Cooper S with the guts from the BMW i3 dropped in. They changed as little as they could get away with. They even left the hood scoop on.
It makes for an EV that's just OK, but not great.
Meaning it can be done. I don't think there are that many engineering challenges to overcome. If the main obstacle is money, perhaps stopping the subsidies to Big Oil would help?
The main obstacle is that they aren't very good. They're a transitional step. We're already moving past the point where it makes sense. The next Mini EV models coming out will be purpose built designs.
It can be done, but it makes a worse product. EVs are built to fit batteries and motors in the most optimal place. Likewise with ICE cars with engines and transmissions. What you end up doing is shoving batteries in the engine compartment which is shaped wrong and you significantly change the balance of the car. You leave much of the expensive parts of the ICE car, while adding more expensive parts. It just doesn't work well in practice. If you are going to spend time engineering, it is better to engineer a proper EV than try to shoehorn an EV into a size 6.