- Many EV conversions are outrageously expensive, but not this one.
- For less money than any new EV on the market, this electric Porsche 924S looks like fantastic fun.
- The owner got a great deal on the 924S that had been sitting for 15 years, and the electric bits from a 2023 Nissan Leaf were a great fit.
Converting a classic car into an electric vehicle is sometimes accompanied by an eye-watering bill. But it doesn’t have to be like that. Cheap and cheerful EV conversions are possible, and the Porsche 924S in the EVTuners video below is a testament to that.
Imagine this: $20,000 for a classic two-door sports car with enough performance for everyday driving, a real-world highway range of around 200 miles and access to public charging nationwide. What’s not to love?
Karl Nichols, the owner of the red 1988 Porsche 924S, was eyeing the red German sports car for a while. It had been sitting in his mechanic’s backyard for the better part of 15 years, so when the opportunity arose, he jumped on it. He bought the car for a great price and got to work.
Thankfully, it’s a rust-free car that lived most of its life in New Mexico, which made things a lot easier to manage. Then, the search for a donor EV began. A 2023 Nissan Leaf with the big motor and big battery was sourced, and it was a good deal once again. With just 8,000 miles on the clock, the EV’s main components were as good as new.
Half of the 60-kilowatt-hour battery pack sits under the hood, alongside a relay box and a Tesla-sourced power brake system, while the other half of the battery lives where the backseat used to be.
The original engine and transmission were thrown out, with the Leaf’s 214-horsepower electric motor powering the rear wheels through a set of reinforced CV axles. A Resolve EV controller ties everything together nicely, including the original CHAdeMO charging port.
When it comes to performance, the owner says it’s plenty for everyday driving, with a zero to 60 miles per hour sprint of around five seconds, which is close to the Leaf’s 5.5-second time.
Range-wise, Nichols said he’s getting around 200 miles on the highway and more around town. That’s almost identical to the 2023 Leaf’s EPA rating of 212 miles. The regenerative braking system is adjustable, so the driver can choose to coast or come to a complete stop when lifting off the accelerator.
There’s no heating or cooling for the moment, but that will come at a later date, as the car is still a bit of a work in progress. So far, it has taken about a year and a half to get to this stage. When it’s all said and done, it’s not bad at all for a fun, electrified vintage sports car.
