Table of contents for Summer 2024 in EV Builder Guide

AS the EV aftermarket, and especially the EV swap space, continues to evolve it is useful to look at another pivotal movement in hot-rodding history—the advent of the LS swap. In 1997, Chevy debuted the LS series of motors as the replacement for the previous generation of small-block Chevy V-8s. In the years that followed, hot-rodding pioneers began to work on fitting this affordable and powerful engine into almost anything with four wheels: Miatas, E30s, El Caminos, C10s, Land Cruisers, the list goes on and on. Even now in 2024 the LS series of motors is still the ubiquitous choice for reliable, V-8 power on a budget. A plethora of resources, both online and in print, developed over the past 27 years makes finding answers and solutions simple. Furthermore, plug-and-play…

WATTS UP, DOC? IN Reno, Nevada, a software engineer named Jacob Graham has transformed the iconic 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 into an electric beast aptly named AC/DMC. Jacob’s journey began with a vision sparked by the “World’s Fastest DeLorean”, fitted with a 3.8L twin-turbo V-6, and featured on Drive with Matt Farah. Acquiring this exact DeLorean in 2014, he quickly realized the classic was far from the smooth, futuristic ride he dreamed of. It was a project begging for a revival, and thus, the seeds for AC/DMC were sown. “I bought the DeLorean in March 2014 after seeing the video. When I received it, it was in poor condition: the wiring was ratty, the engine was shot, and the clutch was terrible. It had essentially been sitting since the early ’90s.…

"We are making waves in the market, and we are poised for success. DEEP in Georgia, Southfield Classics is on a mission to seamlessly integrate the nostalgia and elegance of classic cars with undeniable electric power. The accomplished team at Southfield Classics has over 85-plus years of combined bumper-to-bumper automotive experience and does almost all work in-house. At the helm is industry veteran Daniel Paul, who started as an automotive painter and has now spent more than 35 years demonstrating a dedication to excellence and a passion for automotive craftsmanship. According to Paul, the decision to embrace electric powertrains was driven by a forwardthinking vision to anticipate evolving regulations while embracing a cleaner, more sustainable future. By replacing the conventional internal combustion engine with battery packs and an electric motor,…

THE future is electric, and it’s moving toward us with the force of a thousand volts. The electric vehicle (EV) revolution isn’t just coming; it’s here, electrifying the streets and highways of America. And who’s leading the charge? You, the innovators, the dreamers, DIYers and fleet managers alike. You’re not just converting cars; you’re also changing minds. Let’s explore the different archetypes of people pioneering EV conversions. 1 Empowering the DIYer You’re the mavericks with a wrench in one hand and a blueprint in the other, transforming the rumble of a gas engine into the hum of the future. You have a thirst for knowledge, the latest EV setups, the most reliable components, and the wisdom only the insights from experienced DIYers and their real-world experiences can impart. Those with the…

TECH THE OHM WAGON JUST west of Denver, Terry Breheny’s latest project, a relatively rare 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Lakewood, is getting a thorough makeover. He’s turning it into the “Ohm Wagon!” Terry’s always been a car guy. He started young, fixing up a 1965 Mustang with his father as a 15-year-old. Since then, he’s had all kinds of cars, a rock-crawling Jeeps, a late-model SRT Hemis, but he’s got a soft spot for the classics from the ’50s and ’60s. Now he’s doing something a bit different. He’s taking his cool old car and making it run on electro-juice. Why? Because it’s awesome, and because he can. So how does an old-school car guy whose daily driver is a ’52 Ford truck with a rumbly V-8 end up in the EV-conversion…

THE aftermarket EV space is growing at a breakneck pace, with new and improved products coming to the market virtually every month. Take a look at our picks for this summer, and stay tuned for even more groundbreaking developments. 1 Vero BMS V2 The Vero BMS V2 is a battery management system designed specifically for Tesla batteries. Building upon the success of the original Vero BMS, the V2 further simplifies using Tesla modules in your EV conversions. This BMS is equipped with new Control Center software for effortless setup and monitoring, specialized outputs for battery thermal control, regenerative braking management, and complimentary over-the-air updates. The unit is seamlessly compatible with Tesla battery modules through a plug-and-play modular Tesla wWiring harness system, and is housed in a sleek anodized aluminum CNC…

IN the world of electric vehicles, the term “Loss of Isolation” (LOI) sparks curiosity and concern. As EV conversions become more common, understanding how to maintain the electrical separation between the high-voltage (HV) system and the vehicle chassis becomes paramount. Federal regulations mandate the vigilance of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in monitoring chassis for HV leakage, making LOI a prevalent concern and one of the more common failure modes in EVs. When building an electric vehicle, it is important to understand this principle as well as how to perform manual testing methods that ensure the HV system’s integrity. What is “loss of isolation” and what can cause it? The high voltage system of an EV is an isolated “floating system”, meaning that there is no direct electrical connection between any…

ROLLING SILENTLY ACROSS THE BLOCK THE Barrett-Jackson auction is experiencing a notable shift in dynamics as electric vehicles (EVs) take center stage, reflecting the evolving tastes of collectors in the automotive market. The auction, renowned for its diverse offerings, is witnessing a surge in interest and participation surrounding electric mobility. In fact, several electrified resto-mods have crossed the BarrettJackson auction block, like Electric GT’s 1978 Ferrari 308 GTS in 2018, and Legacy EV’s 1965 VW Beetle and 1971 Chevy C-10 in 2021. This year two standout examples of electrified resto-mods came from INGENEXT and Legacy EV, respectively. Electro-Mod 1966 Pontiac GTO The Electro-Mod 1966 Pontiac GTO AE250e convertible by Ingenext stands as an exemplary electric vehicle (EV) conversion, featuring a Tesla 50 KWHR motor seamlessly integrated into the original engine…

EMPOWERING THE ELECTRIC REVOLUTION TECH THE electric vehicle (EV) industry is experiencing rapid growth, leading to a surge in demand for skilled EV technicians. However, the existing discrepancies in job descriptions and experience requirements present challenges for both job seekers and employers in this evolving field. A closer look at job listing sites like Indeed reveals a lack of standardized descriptions for EV technician roles, complicating the navigation of the industry for potential candidates. Publications like Reuters often misclassify EV technicians as electricians, and if you know anything about the difference between alternating current and direct current, you know those jobs are very different. Similarly, O*NET doesn’t even have a job code for EVSE or EV technicians! So, organizations like Clean Fuels Michigan have been working toward establishing clear standards to…

AMPED HERITAGE A classic lowrider icon receives an electric heart from within the bustling city of Los Angeles. Brian C. Dilley’s brainchild, Current Electric Vehicles LA, has taken a monumental leap, transforming a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air into a Bel EV! "This iconic ‘57 embodies Current Electric Vehicles’ philosophy: classic aesthetics, modern functionality, and sustainable innovation. At the helm of this evolution is Brian C. Dilley and his team at Current Electric Vehicles, a visionary team who melds the allure of classic cars with sustainability in the new EV era. Their mission is simple: repurpose the past for the future without betraying the soul of an automotive icon. Brian’s journey into EV conversions started not with a schematic or a blueprint but with an idea from his daughter. The family’s…

NEW/OLD STOCK LOOKING down the hillside, I see a small, old, brown Toyota pickup in the distance approaching me through the windy hills of Fallbrook, California. There’s a custom dirt jumper mountain bike mounted to a custom steel bed rack in the truck bed, and everything about this truck is custom, yet it looks and feels OEM. As this 1972 Toyota Hilux is heading up a gravel driveway with only rear wheel drive, the truck performs quite well while climbing up the steep grade, in spite of not being a 4×4. The BFG 31-inch Mud-Terrain tires mounted on Bezos Speed and Machine steel wheels definitely help with grip, and even though it’s an EV, the squeaking of the frame and suspension and sound of these big tires on the ground…

PULLING AMPS AND CHASING RECORDS AT EL MIRAGE IT’S 5am and the noise and the slow rumble of diesel generators begin to sound off throughout the quiet sleepy desert lakebed. As crews begin to rise prepping for a weekend of racing that will close out the race season, the smells of propane begin to mix with the diesel generators, which in time, bring the smell of coffee and fried bacon. At some point you’re bound to hear, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning!” because let’s face it, this crowd loves dad jokes. As the sun rises you see light beginning to hit these machines that surround you. Some covered in blankets, like horses, keeping their batteries warm and others covered in chrome that catches the sunrise with…

TECH AIR KANDY WHEN it comes to the higher-end, more expensive electric vehicles, they usually come with upgraded suspension for optimal handling. For cars like this 2023 Lucid Air Touring owned by RJ Silva with Eye Kandy Designs, every option box was checked from the factory. RJ ordered this car to get the exact accessories he wanted, but one that didn’t come factory on the car was adjustable air suspension. While several of the Tesla electric vehicles have direct bolt-on air suspension, no one had attempted to swap out the stock Lucid suspension, which left RJ on the hunt to make it happen. RJ is no stranger to custom vehicles, as he has had past SEMA builds and works heavily in the aftermarket industry creating work for multiple companies. As soon…

TEXAS SUPERSTAR "E-Muscle Cars’ ambition stretches beyond mere electrification; they endow their creations with unparalleled versatility. In Denton, Texas, near Dallas, where the legacy of muscle cars endures as strongly as the state’s love for barbecue and football, a new local innovator, E-Muscle Cars, is shifting the automotive landscape. Founded by Kevin Emr and Bill Schofield, this visionary duo is on a mission to blend the rebellious spirit of classic American muscle cars with the forward-thinking ethos of electric vehicles. Leading their electrifying lineup is the E-Cobra, a machine that not only looks like it has leaped directly from the ’60s, but also boasts the power of tomorrow’s technology. Kevin Emr’s transition from a die-hard gearhead to the president of an EV conversion company is a tale worthy of any…

NO HARM DONE These are exciting times we are living in! A new era of go-fast technology is being blended with classic metal in a way that was unimaginable to most a decade ago. In some ways, it’s the same type of hot rodding we’ve seen over generations. Only now, power comes from high voltage batteries coupled to (in many cases) incredibly potent electric motors. The case of APP EV’s Porsche is no different. What is different is the company’s approach to the conversion process. Unlike systems that include the necessary components to properly convert a vehicle but leave integration of the system to the specialist (of which there are some good ones), APP EV’s system is completely Plug & Play. And we mean completely. There is no cutting, no…