New to electric… got some questions?

Tech Support Forum
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I’m new to this and interested in an electric motor swap. I have some questions I hope someone can help with.

  1. If I get two motors for each axle, can I have an interface that makes the vehicle rear-wheel drive and allows toggling all-wheel drive?

  2. Are there custom interfaces for this? I know anything is possible with money, but are there existing options, and what are they called?

  3. Is it possible to create an electric vehicle with a stick shift and paddle shifters so I can switch between different driving modes at any time?

Sorry if these questions have been answered before or if I posted in the wrong section. I look forward to any responses.

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This forum has some great discussions about EV conversions

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Weston said:
This forum has some great discussions about EV conversions

Thanks for the tip, I’ll check it out

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You might get better answers in this forum focused on EV conversions

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  1. If you mean one motor in front and one in the rear, it’s theoretically possible. But they need to work together, so expect a lot of custom software work. It’s a field where people often get degrees and full-time jobs. It won’t be easy to do it alone.
  2. A Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) designed for EV conversion could be a start. But you’ll need to consider battery size, motor size, and choose a suitable Battery Management Unit (BMU) if making your own pack.
  3. It might be possible. How much money or time do you have?

While it’s theoretically possible, making it all work is likely out of reach for most individuals.

You really need to research how EV conversions work. Start by watching videos or reading guides. This isn’t a cheap or easy project, no matter what you’ve been led to believe. Consider these questions:

What components do you need?

What vehicle requirements must you meet? Size? Mounting positions? Weight limits?

What motor size? Power? Will your current drivetrain work with the motor? What will need to be replaced?

What battery size? Where will it fit? Will you make it or buy one? Will you need to strengthen the frame for added weight?

Are you buying a crashed EV and swapping components? Are those parts safe? Is it cheaper? How can you check?

How much customization will you need? What skills and tools do you have access to? Electronics? Metal work? Programming?

Are you buying off-the-shelf parts? If not, how much do you know about programming or sourcing components? Do you know what you need?

How much money or time do you have? Will you outsource work if you’re short on time?

I support your goal of converting your car to electric, but if you can’t do it safely, it might be best not to proceed. Working with high voltage is dangerous, and mistakes can be costly in both money and safety.

I hope this helps you get started. I’m not trying to discourage anyone, but you must respect the challenges involved to be safe and successful.

I simplified much of the EV process in this comment for easier understanding.

If you’re reading this and feel you need to correct something, please do it in a way that helps the person who posted this and others new to EV conversion positively.

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@Hadley
I totally agree… I was hoping there were existing software solutions for this so I could start exploring how to implement it. Seems like that’s not quite there yet, but thanks for the detailed response

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I don’t think you can do that at the moment

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Ari said:
I don’t think you can do that at the moment

My dreams have been humbled, but I appreciate the insight

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To achieve true rear-wheel drive with free-wheeling front wheels, you’d need front motors with a clutch disconnect.

If you use front induction motors without a clutch disconnect, you’ll need to send some power to the front to prevent friction from the motor.

You can add a transmission, but it’s not necessary for normal highway speeds, especially with one motor per wheel. Modern EVs typically have two-speed transmissions for performance over 100 mph, specifically built to handle the torque of electric motors.

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@True
Thanks for the response. I’m curious if there are programs that can simulate gears rather than hooking up a traditional transmission

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Sawyer said:
@True
Thanks for the response. I’m curious if there are programs that can simulate gears rather than hooking up a traditional transmission

In theory, programming such behavior is possible, but I’m not sure if there’s a ready-made solution for that

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@True
Yeah, they manage that in video games

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Sawyer said:
@True
Yeah, they manage that in video games

The Ioniq 5N does it as a production vehicle, but you may need extensive custom programming for a DIY EV conversion.

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The e-GMP platform allows RWD in eco mode, but I assume that’s not what you’re looking for. Sounds like it’s time to build a car with four VESCs

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From what I know, you won’t have a gear shift stick or paddles. There aren’t any gears like with internal combustion engines.

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Haven said:
From what I know, you won’t have a gear shift stick or paddles. There aren’t any gears like with internal combustion engines.

I’d even be okay with simulated gears

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Sawyer said:

Haven said:
From what I know, you won’t have a gear shift stick or paddles. There aren’t any gears like with internal combustion engines.

I’d even be okay with simulated gears

Why do you need gears? An internal combustion engine requires them to handle its peaky torque. Electric motors have a flat torque curve, reducing the need for multiple gears.

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@Hollis
It’s not about speed or efficiency; it’s about the driving feel

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Sawyer said:
@Hollis
It’s not about speed or efficiency; it’s about the driving feel

I get what you’re saying about wanting to feel the engine, but electric motors behave differently than internal combustion engines. Even if you attach an electric motor to a manual gearbox, the experience will feel different.

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@Darin
I think instead of a physical gearbox, the gear simulation could be done with resistors, and shifting could just be a button