Could drop-in conversion kits help increase the use of EVs?

Recently, the University of Cardiff and specialists from Electrogenic demonstrated a new drop-in kit that allows owners of old Land Rover Defenders to convert their vehicles into EVs. What challenges do EVs present to consumers, what does the drop-in kit do, and could such kits be the answer to faster electrification of automotive vehicles?

What challenges do EVs present to consumers?

When EVs started to hit the markets in the mid-2000s, they were plagued with various issues: extremely short ranges, long charging times, and high prices. Fast forward to 2022, and EVs are often regarded as somewhat luxurious vehicles with decent ranges, high acceleration, and high integration of advanced technologies. In fact, charging points have become prevalent enough that EV owners rarely have to worry about finding charge points (large supermarkets will often have EV bays that charge vehicles for free).

And yet, for all their benefits, EVs are still struggling to become mainstream. When it comes to haulage vehicles, EVs will likely never become a reality due to the weight/range problem whereby increasing the range requires a heavier battery which increases the weight of the vehicle and thus reduces the amount of cargo that can be transported. 

Regarding cars, EVs are often very expensive even when considering the reduced running costs and fewer moving parts. Of course, smaller EVs do exist, but their practicality pales compared to vehicles manufactured by Tesla that provide all the benefits of larger vehicles in EV form.

Researchers develop a drop-in electric kit for Land Rover Defenders

Recently, a team of researchers from the University of Cardiff and specialists from Electrogenic jointly developed an EV drop-in kit that can be used to upgrade older Land Rover Defenders into EV vehicles. The kit includes an electric motor that attaches to the vehicle's clutch housing and a 52kWh battery mounted under the bonnet. This combination allows the vehicle to be electrical while still providing drivers with a manual transmission (important for working vehicles in rugged terrain). 

Overall, the kit gives the older vehicles a range of up to 100 miles on roads and more when driving off-road (this is mainly because, unlike gas-driven vehicles, EVs are most efficient at low speeds). It has been estimated that the new conversion kits increase the life span of an old Land Rover Defender by 200,000 miles, and the removal of the engine can help keep vehicles in service for longer now that spare parts are becoming increasingly more difficult to source.

According to the developers of the kit, Land Rover currently over no solution that can match the performance of their EV kits, and the extensive use of the older Defenders in farms and other off-roading sites could see significant benefits by switching to electric power.

Could drop-in kits be the answer to the EV challenge?

Vehicles are costly to manufacture, and EVs are even more expensive, which is why petrol-driven vehicles are still massively popular. But including drop-in conversion kits supported by garages could give vehicle owners a new option for entering the EV market.

Instead of purchasing an entirely new vehicle, existing vehicles could be retrofitted with an electric system whose cost would be a fraction of a new EV. Furthermore, customers could change their battery size to fit their budget or extend the range (something that mainstream EVs rarely offer).

Of course, such kits have numerous challenges, as most vehicles have a large degree of uniqueness. Sure, many vehicles use the same oil or air filters, but when it comes to engines and brackets, the number of internal variations vehicles can have is incredible. As such, creating a single drop-in kit for all vehicles is virtually impossible.

However, this could be solved using standardised electric motors and custom bracket fittings for each vehicle. Instead of creating unique drop-in kits, only bracket fittings are customised for vehicles. Such brackets could be offered by automotive manufacturers or even custom designed by mechanics in-shop. 

Overall, drop-in kits could provide an economical option for those looking to upgrade to EV technology without having to purchase new luxury vehicles. Furthermore, the increased use of EVs will further encourage the creation of more charging stations, which will, in turn, help to reduce the price of future EVs as they become more established.