The initial objective of the European Union was that, starting in 2035, only new electric cars would be sold within the framework of the global strategy to achieve emissions neutrality by 2050. However, the opposition of some countries to the measure opened the way. door to internal combustion vehicles powered by synthetic fuels being able to continue alive. Although this may be the case, the trend continues to point towards the expansion of electric models.
However, these vehicles usually have a high price that not all budgets can afford. As an alternative, there is the possibility of converting a car powered by fossil fuel into one with a battery. If you have a diesel or gasoline vehicle, you can probably give it a new life by converting it to an electric one. The process is called retrofit or electromod.
There are several companies that transform a gasoline or diesel car into an electric one. As a general rule, the process takes between two weeks and six months. However, the German startup e-Revolt claims that it can reduce this time to eight hours. To do this, they have developed a system by which they remove the combustion engine and have a frame that uses the old points of the engine.
In this way, as e-Revolt explains to Euronews, they only change the fossil fuel engine with the new frame and components. Thanks to this modus operandi, they are faster than an individual solution adapted to each vehicle. Of course, for this to be effective, they need to have a large production volume, since it requires a lot of money and work to develop this approach.
Thus, the process of converting a diesel or gasoline car to an electric one consists of a first evaluation of the car. Next, they remove the old engine and other components that are not needed. In this regard, they guarantee the responsible reuse or recycling of those parts that are discarded.
The motor is then replaced with its patented battery technology and motor frame. Finally, the car is fully digitalized, with an infotainment system. Once the procedure is completed, the car would become 100% electric, being able to display the desired ‘0’ on the environmental sticker of the General Directorate of Traffic.
The range of cars that can be digitized varies depending on the company that undertakes the process. Previously, an individualized evaluation of the vehicle in question will be necessary. In the specific case of e-Revolt, they can convert up to 42 different models, including the Volkswagen Golf and Polo, as well as the Audi A3 and the Seat León.
The price for converting your gasoline or diesel car to an electric one by the German company ranges between 12,000 and 15,000 euros. After this conversion, the converted electric vehicle would have a range of between 250 and 300 kilometers.
Although it is not exactly an economical price, it is more affordable than purchasing a new electric car. Furthermore, the process favors the circular economy. Of course, if it reaches a significant boom, it would put in check the sale of new electric cars, something that manufacturers would not like.
