EV Conversions

There are two parts to this (Research, and Simulator). You will need Laptops.  You may want to peruse the topic a bit yourself in preparation of this day.

Open discussion on their thoughts on electric vehicles.  Who has an electric vehicle at home?  What is the source of electricity here in BC?  What about Alberta?  Discuss range anxiety.  Discuss charging rates (speed, not fees). Talk about electric conversions.

1) RESEARCH: EV Conversion

Duration: 75 minutes

Goal: Understand the basics of converting a gas-powered vehicle into an electric one, including components, costs, fabrication, and real-world implications.

Assignment Overview

Students will work in pairs or small groups to research and answer guided questions using basic Google searches. They’ll explore the mechanical, electrical, and ergonomic aspects of EV conversions and present their findings in a short summary or poster.

Materials Needed

    • Internet access (phones, laptops, or desktops)
    • Printed worksheet (below)
    • Pens/highlighters
    • Optional: chart paper or digital slides for presentation

Part 1: Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Discussion Starter:

“Imagine you’ve got a rusty old Honda Civic in your driveway. What would it take to turn it into a clean, silent electric ride?”

Ask students:

    • What do they know about EVs?
    • Have they seen or driven one?
    • Why might someone want to convert a gas car to electric?

Part 2: Guided Research (50 minutes)

Students will use Google to answer the following questions. Encourage them to use simple keywords like “EV conversion kit cost” or “how to convert gas car to electric.”

Section A: Components (10 min)

    • What are the main components needed to convert a gas car to electric?
      (Hint: motor, batteries, controller, charger, etc.)
    • What parts from the original car can be reused?

Section B: Cost & Range (10 min)

    • How much does a basic EV conversion kit cost?
    • What’s the average range of a converted EV?
    • What factors affect cost and range?

Section C: Fabrication & Installation (10 min)

    • What kind of tools and skills are needed to do the conversion?
    • How long does a typical conversion take?
    • Can a high school shop class realistically do one?

 Section D: Environment & Recharging (10 min)

    • How does converting a car to electric help the environment?
    • Sources of Electricity can actually be damaging to the environment – identify some?
    • What is our main source of Electricity in this province?  How is that main source damaging to the environment?
    • What are the types of EV chargers and how long do they take?
    • Where can you recharge a converted EV?

Section E: Weight & Ergonomics (10 min)

    • How does adding batteries affect the weight and handling of the car?
    • What changes might be needed to make the car comfortable and safe?

Part 3: Creative Wrap-Up (15 minutes)

Option A: Poster Pitch

Create a poster or slide titled:

“Why Our School Should Convert a Car to Electric!”

Include:

      • Key facts from research
      • Benefits to students and the environment
      • Cool design ideas or sketches

Option B: “EV Conversion Mythbusters”

List 3 myths about EV conversions and bust them with facts.

Bonus Exploration (Optional)

Assessment Criteria

Research Completeness (    /10)
Clarity of Answers (    /10)
Creativity in Wrap-up (    /10)
Teamwork and Effort (    /10)
Total (    /40)

Teacher Tips

    • Walk around and guide students with search terms.
    • Encourage curiosity—there’s no “perfect” answer.
    • Use student posters to decorate the shop or hallway!

2) SIMULATOR: EV Conversion

Send students to EV Conversion Simulator and have them work through the simulator.  Should take about an hour.

As a class, compare and discuss the various results that the students got.

Using the information from the simulator, have students use Google to find CANADIAN sources and prices for the various cars/parts/components that they need to ACTUALLY put this all together (OMG – Battery Costs!!!).  See if they can also find labour times (how long it would take to perform the various jobs to complete the tasks).

For filler: 1965 Ford F100 EV Conversion Playlist