When you buy an EV power plant from Legacy EV, you will receive everything you need to make the wheels spin. You will still need to fabricate mounts, battery boxes, and cut/splice some wires. We offer upgrade items for builds that you can check out on our kit pages. These upgrades include AC compressors, heater cores, power steering pumps, motor mounts, and battery boxes.

Every conversion is different but you can find Authorized Installers on our website that are able to give you an accurate quote on how much the labor for your project will cost. Other than that the prices are listed for each of our kits. If you plan to build the conversion yourself we have included everything from motor, batteries, and controllers all the way to wiring and connectors so you don’t have to do any guesswork on how much money the materials will cost you. 

If you are looking for a shop that can do the work on your conversion simply go to the Authorized Installer section of our website to find a list of installers closest to you that can do the conversion for you.

In the EV industry, you will encounter several terms for kits of different parts. Different manufacturers have different terminology that they use for different systems. For example, Netgain has their Hyper 9 kit which includes the motor, inverter, motor controller, wiring harness, and contactor. Cascadia Motion calls their motor and inverter an Integrated Module, but that package does not include wiring harnesses, plugs, or anything else you need to make the system work. Some suppliers sell an EV Kit which can often include everything you need except the batteries. 

At Legacy EV, we call our complete EV conversion packages - Integrated Systems, which include everything you need to make the wheels spin. These Integrated Systems come with the complete motor system, charging system, coolant system, battery system, all contactors, relays, wires, and wiring harnesses you need to get power to the wheels. It is up to the builder to figure out system mounting and battery boxes, although we do offer that as an additional service with each of our kits. 

Motor mounts are not included as a stock option but can be added to each kit. Legacy also offers a number of stock mounting options for motors such as the Hyper 9 Motor Cradle.

When completing an EV conversion you can use the OEM cable-driven speedometer or a GPS speedometer to connect to existing gauges or new digital gauges. To find a GPS speedometer for your build, follow the link here. For instructions on how to wire the OEM cable-driven speedometer, check out our certified technician course. 

The best motor for your build is going to be dependent on your build goals and budget. Legacy EV offers a variety of EV motors and kits. You can compare each kit and the performance specs using the compare button below each kit. You can also search our website by year, make, and model to find which motors and kits are compatible with your build. If you would like more help finding which motor or kit is best for your build, reach out to the experts at info@legacyev.com. 

There are a few options for the transmission when it comes to EVs. The most common options are to maintain the existing manual transmission or use gear reduction in the form of a single speed gear box. To figure out if your current vehicle would benefit from a gearbox without reworking the gearing in your differential, use the Top Speed Calculator. To read more on which transmission is best for your build check out our blog post here or join our Certified Technician Training program. 

A battery pack, module, and cell are all different classifications of a battery. A cell is the smallest level. It is one individual unit with a positive and negative lead with no bus bars or wires connecting it to other battery cells. A module connects battery cells in different series and parallel configurations (more on that in our certified technician course). These usually range anywhere from 2 to 6 kWh in total capacity. Lastly, a battery pack is the entire unit of battery modules, wired together to form the entire traction battery, this is the largest classification of a battery. 

The number of batteries in your EV will be determined by three factors. First, the minimum and maximum voltage requirements of your inverter and other HV components. Second, the continuous and peak amp draw of your inverter. Third, the desired range for your vehicle. Batteries have to match the necessary voltage and amperage requirements of your motor, so your range will either increase or decrease in set intervals. These calculations may seem overwhelming but Legacy EV is here to help. We ensure the batteries in your kit are properly specced so all you have to decide is how much range you want for your vehicle. 

First, please note that we can not guarantee range figures for any kit due to the wide variety of factors that influence range. The range of your EV is determined by two factors, the mile/kWh efficiency and the kWh capacity of the battery pack. Just as a Porsche 911 has different gas mileage (or fuel efficiency) than a Ford Bronco, they also will have different EV efficiencies which are measured in miles/kWh. This number will vary depending on all the factors that influence efficiencies such as aerodynamics and travel speed. Most EV conversions will have a miles/kWh efficiency of between 1.0 - 3.5. So, to get a rough range estimate, use the following formula and multiply the battery capacity measured in kWh by the estimated efficiency of your donor vehicle. 

range (miles) = battery capacity (kWh) x estimated efficiency (miles/kWh)

The need for liquid cooling depends on the specific system, its operating load, and the manufacturer's requirements. Motors, controllers, and other components can require liquid cooling, air-cooling, or passive cooling depending on the make, model, and application. If batteries are being put under strenuous loads from requiring high energy input or output, they will need liquid cooling but if they have minimal loads compared to their rating, they likely will not. To see if your system requires liquid cooling, check the specification sheet for your product on the product’s page. 

Legacy EV sells all kinds of electric motors including brushless DC, AC induction, and permanent magnet AC. To find what kind of motor you are looking at either check the specification sheet or the product description on the product’s page. 

We are able to assemble an EV kit for all vehicles, regardless of the size, because our kits are not application-specific.

In most cases, replacement of the rear axle will be unnecessary. However, in the same way that you would consider a regear of the rear differential in the case of an engine swap or tire size change it might be a good idea to change gearing or strengthen the axle. Ultimately it’s going to depend on a wide variety of factors. If you would like more application-specific information please reach out to our team at info@legacyev.com.

Yes, you can convert a 4x4 vehicle. If you want to use the stock transmission, you will need to shop Legacy EV’s list of stock transmission adaptor plates. If you want to get rid of your transmission you can mate directly to the transfer case or mate to the transfer case using a gear reduction box, provided your transfer case is divorced. If your transfer case is not divorced, a custom adapter plate will likely need to be manufactured. It is also possible to mount a motor to drive the front axles, and another motor to drive the rear axle. 

There are many ways you can mount multiple motors in your vehicle. To learn more about each motor and how they mount, check out our Certified Technician training program. Each motor will have different options available for how to mount multiple in your vehicle based on size, motor output shaft, etc. Some of the more widely applicable methods include the following. 

Mount each motor connected directly to each axle (you may want to perform an axle swap to do this). Then you can program the motors to communicate with each other and work together to propel your vehicle. 

Mount each motor on a belt drive connecting the output shafts. 

Mount each motor to a torque vectoring Torque box (such as the Torque Trends ____.

Yes, DC fast charging is in the process of validation for aftermarket applications. If you are interested in DC fast charging, make sure you choose AEM controls for your vehicle. 

The cost for an electric vehicle conversion kits will vary depending on the performance and range you are looking for in your EV conversion. Kits with batteries, controllers, motors, inverters, charging systems, all necessary wires, coolant tubes, fittings, and connectors typically start around $16,000 but can exceed $80,000. Please note that these costs do not include shop labor.

While Legacy EV does not build vehicles for customers, we train and supply parts to a wide network of Authorized Installers that can convert your vehicle or build you a custom EV. If you are interested in having one of our Authorized Installers build your electric vehicle, check out ourAuthorized Installers page.

There are a number of tools available to keep the classic look of your dashboard display. In most cases, it will be possible to retain the OEM gauges and displays.

A successful conversion will require a comprehensive understanding of electrical safety and principles, strong mechanical competence, and some mild fabrication skills. Provided you have these skills, then the conversion will be relatively straightforward once equipped with Legacy EV’s certified technician course, installation guides, and build support.

In order to become an authorized installer, your shop needs to complete a proof-of-concept build that will be verified by a Legacy EV design engineer. Additionally, your shop must have at least one technician who has successfully completed the Certified Technician Course and passed the end of course final. 

There are many benefits to becoming an authorized installer. First and foremost, being an authorized installer allows you to receive leads from Legacy EV, be listed as an authorized installer on the Legacy EV website, and take full advantage of Legacy EV's marketing efforts. Secondly, potential customers will have peace of mind knowing that your technicians have the skills necessary to convert or build their vehicles.

The Certified Technician Program is a self-paced virtual program, designed to be taken alongside a build and give existing mechanics and DIYers the skills necessary to successfully, efficiently, and safely complete bespoke EV conversions. This course includes EV fundamentals, high-voltage safety, build planning, wiring, mounting, and programming. For more information please visit: https://legacyev.com/pages/edu.

Soon! Currently, our educational programs are virtual and self-paced. However, we are in the midst of developing in-person intensive instruction, as well as a curriculum for K-12, Jr. Colleges, and Technical Schools.

We do not currently have any open positions, but we are growing quickly and are always on the look-out for more talent. If you are interested in joining our team, please send a resume and cover letter to info@legacyev.com.

Yes. Successful completion of the certification course is a prerequisite for becoming an authorized installer. 

Certification offers two primary benefits for your shop. First, you can rest assured that your technicians understand EV systems, and can install them successfully, efficiently, and safely. Second, certification means you are eligible to become an authorized installer upon successful completion of a proof-of-concept build. 

A drive system package includes a paired inverter, and often wiring harness to go along with the motor, whereas a motor will need an inverter/controller of some kind as well as associated wiring.