Interest in electric vehicles is skyrocketing, with a 55% increase in sales of new EVs in 2022 compared to the previous year. However, gas-powered cars still dominate the roads and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
But there’s a new trend emerging in the automotive industry that’s giving a new lease on life to internal combustion vehicles – converting them to electric. This has led to significant growth in both the conversion shops and the aftermarket community, as they strive to meet the growing demand.
One such pioneer in this field is EV West, founded and led by Michael Bream in San Diego, California. He shared, “This is a 1976 BMW 2002 – a really fun-to-drive car but underpowered. This particular customer wanted to go all out, so we’re installing a 550 horsepower Tesla drive unit in it.” EV West has become so popular that they currently have a four-to-five-year waitlist for their services.
Bream sees this transition to electric vehicles as an exciting time, comparing it to the computer industry in the 90s. He wants the shift to sustainable fuels to be enjoyable and captivating for automotive enthusiasts and those passionate about car culture.
Apart from professional conversion shops, there is also a rapidly growing community of DIYers who are taking on these projects themselves. Despite the complexity of electric vehicles, young enthusiasts like 14-year-old Frances Farnam are fearlessly tackling conversions. Frances is currently working on converting a 1976 Porsche 914 and has been documenting the process on her YouTube channel, Tinkergineering.
Frances shared, “I’ve always wanted an electric car, and my mom has a BMW i3. I hope that what I’m doing with this project proves that it’s not too challenging. I’m simply doing this in my backyard with my dad.” Throughout the process, Frances and her father have received valuable assistance from the online 914 community. To acquire the necessary skills for working with electrical systems, Frances took a course with Legacy EV, an electric vehicle aftermarket shop.
The aftermarket ecosystem is experiencing a surge in EV-focused parts to support individuals like Frances who aspire to build their own electric vehicles. Major players like Ford and GM offer components for EV conversions, while other companies are also entering this space. The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), a prominent trade organization representing automotive manufacturers and resellers, has witnessed exponential growth in the number of EV-focused products in the market.
According to Mike Spagnola, the President and CEO of SEMA, the growth has been remarkable. He revealed, “Two years ago, we started with a small 2,000 square feet EV section at our show. However, last year, it expanded to an impressive 22,000 square feet. I’m confident that in the next five years, it’ll reach 100,000 square feet.”
If you want to explore more about converting internal combustion engine vehicles to EVs and whether it’s poised to become mainstream, watch the video provided.
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