Mr. Bishop, thank you for the quick tour of some of the BEST personal WORKMANSHIP I’ve seen on a personal EV conversion. I like all of the capability (aerodynamics, lightweight/strong construction) of the original Honda Insight, and you have turned one into an excellent EV that has already given you 42,000 mile of service. Nicely done! And inspiring. Thank you.
The Leaf Modules are not new so they don’t have full capacity. Range is just guessable. I’d say about 60 or 70 miles if driving easy. He did not give that information but I know of a converted MG Midget that has a range of about 120 miles with a 144v pack in the vehicle. I would say he could get upwards to 100 plus miles without too much issues with handling. New Leaf Modules and 144v it would be easy to put in a good distance pack. It has plenty of power for sure. Because he left it in 2nd I will assume he has a 144v system in the beastie. So 42 modules will be a few short of the Leaf and will easily give 100 miles range in such a light weight vehicle.
Amazing job! I live in California and have a 2000 insight I would love to convert to all electric if I could get at-least 200 mile range. However i May just replace the battery since I can get 50-65 mpg and maybe save up to convert in future
I'd want to cover the hood & roof in thin light solar panels/cells for some trickle charging power. Make a solar panel the shape of the windshield & rear window that slide down from the roof to cover them. Stack 3 solar panels on the roof, the top 1 is for the roof, 1 underneath slides down to cover the windshield & the other 1 underneath slides down to cover the rear window. In summer this helps keeps heat out of the car.
Do you have the specs for the adapter and spacer? I’d like to actually utilize the stock clutch and not just have one gear. But anything is preferable to the stock setup hybrid.
@@beezowdoodoozoppitybopbopb9488 Lower voltage EV Conversions typically utilize the stock transmission. However my VW Bug has a special racing transmission with a 3.44:1 R&P and all the gearing of the Type III. Specifically for utilizing the high torque of the electric motor. Even with this 1st is pretty much useless but the rest are totally usable. Depending upon the conditions of the drive. I can use just one speed all day if I so choose or use them all if I so choose. As with even the gasoline car the risk of gear failure is there. The car was designed for the transmission. No need to reinvent that. As for shedding the weight it is pretty useless unless you are planning on racing a few pounds or ounces shed won't make much difference to the electric motor or your end efficiency. I don't plan on putting in a TESLA motor or using 400volts for a battery pack. I plan on 144 volts and 500 amps with an AC Induction motor. I may use a different controller and use up to 156 volts and 600 amps. That would make this beastie fly. I think I can fully utilize this transmission without issue. Ive done three conversions already.
@@onegreenev well you know more than I do. Whole reason I even watched this is because the thought crossed my mind to yank the d15b7 out of my old civic and do the conversion. What kind of range and top speed are you seeing?
@@beezowdoodoozoppitybopbopb9488 The range depends upon the size of battery and how you drive. I have gone 70 mph so far but that was with my DC motor setup. I do not know with the dual motor setup. My transmission is designed for around town and for freeway flying. It could easily do 120mph.
Mr. Bishop: I saw your reply below you get ~80 miles from 16KWH at 65mph, or 0.2 KWH/mile, which is really efficient traveling. Congratulations. Better than the Leaf. specifications I've read (0.29?). How do you get so efficient? So at 65 mph is air drag about 10 KW, tires about 0.6 KW, and drive system, accessories etc and losses about 1KW? So wall plug to wheels (charger batt drive motor) efficiency, ~ 80%? What is your battery pack setup's output voltage? Did you have to do a lot of rewiring of pack modules, to match to HPEVS inverters and motor? Also, how has range been in the cold or high heat, with heater or AC onr? I ask because here in the Northeast our electricity costs ~2x more than TN unfortunately, and we have to run the heater more. Thank you.
Are you able to shift through all the gears or are you only using 2nd gear? I'm very interested in converting a honda to electric. Great video! I love seeing more Hondas being converted to electric
Dr. Derbz I'm using only second gear. It makes driving smooth and simple. Acceleration is adequate and top speed is 92 mph. If you want to talk more, reach me by email at mcbishop111@gmail.com
I bought an insight the beginning of this year, there is only one time that I wished I had 4 seats but i really didn't want to carpool with my little sisters friends... so win win LOL
Thanks! The pack, which currently is about 16 kwh, is good for about 80 miles at 65 mph, in mild weather. The total cost was about $14000. That included $3000 for the car, $3600 for the motor and controller, $3600 for the surplus battery, and about $2300 for the charger.
no need to trick the ecm. it just needs to think its always in a state of key on engine off. a manual trans has a speed sensor that should work with the key on 2 position. 2 position also disengages steering lock. that said, if the steering lock was disabled he wouldnt even need a key to drive the car if he didnt care about having a radio or a speedometer. Everything should be controlled seperately.
what? The plug on every plug in device ever is male. That should be isolated from battery voltage at all times, though, it's just powering the charger. I do agree that an SAE connector would be better, though.
Do you offer adapter plates for others to do this to their vehicles? I was interested in converting one of these. What is your range at 65 mph on a full charge and the Nissan Leaf came out in 2011. Im not a happy camper with the early Leaf Modules. HPEVS makes great motors.
Pete, I have a hobby machine shop and would be glad to work with you in making an adapter plate and coupler for your EV project. I agree with you about Nissan Leaf batteries. They tend to lose capacity over time, and their energy density is not the best. The batteries have been quite reliable other wise. My pack is 3 modules short of a full '24 kwh' leaf pack. The advertised capacity is about 21 kwh. The cells are 11 years old, and presently are about 16 kwh. In mild weather, the range at 65 mph is about 80 miles. You are right, HPEVS motors, as well as company support are great. Fell free to contact me about work on your project, I'll be glad to do what I can. Mark Bishop mcbishop111@gmail.com 865-457-5939
The original range with gas is nearly over 600 miles. Why spend $14k to convert it to an 80 mile range electric version? Is there a purpose to doing this? Or just doing it for fun? Thanks for the video otherwise!
@Thunderlux In another post, he said the range is 80 miles at 65mph and consist of 3 leaf modules 21-24kw batteries. I'd take a chance with a 200 mile conversion though! I don't even drive 100 miles a day. 200 is doable. Surely not 80 😅
To have an electric car instead of a gas (hybrid) car. People have been converting cars to electric for a few decades at least, normally with less range than the car originally had. Although with so many BEV options on the market it is likely just for fun, like how some people have project cars as a hobby.
Seems like they were all salvage parts at low cost. But considering there are people who spends thousands on regular cars and new ones cost over 40 thousand clearly this is just to save money and make the switch from gasoline. Plus electric is usually used for city driving at less than 40 miles per day.
not fast enough for me. too bad no way to mount motors from a Tesla 3. with the 400 mile Tesla battery. I'll keep my Honda Insight hybrid just update the battery to modern one out of a 2nd gen Insight.
His way, he keeps his power steering and AC. Swap in a Tesla motor and you'd have to cobble together an HVAC system and power steering. I agree the Tesla would drive better but this way is quicker. These cars are sub-2000lbs so it doesn't need much power to be decently fast.
Front engine from the model 3 dual motor why not but the battery from the model 3 is absolutly impossible: way too big and too heawy for such small car!!!
Apparently you haven’t driven a light weight vehicle with an HPEVS motor. This is likely an AC-50 and it would be plenty fast and if he used the new 144v controller it will be plenty fast. Faster than the Stock Engine for sure. Not a tesla but then again I wouldn’t want such a light weight vehicle to have Tesla Power for every day street driving. Tesla is overkill for the most part and many who get them can’t handle the power and wreck them for us to scavenge them. Im putting two AC-35 motors in my Bug. It will be overkill and will be plenty fast enough. High torque creates serious torque steer. Be careful with that Tesla Powered Light weight vehicle.
@@markbishop1425 that isn't bad range; how fast can it be charged? Would you have some sort of plans you'd be willing to share; my cars engines are fine but its getting hard to find parts for clutches and seals etc. Might be easier to drive all electric.
@@litestuffllc7249 My battery is nowhere near optimal. With a better battery, I think 200 miles is possible. I'd be glad to share everything that I know. When you buy an HPEVS motor kit, it comes with a generic wiring diagram, and the support from the company is great. You need the motor-controller, a pack battery, a battery management system, a dc-dc converter for your 12vdc source, a throttle assembly, like from a Prius, a charger, some heavier rear springs, and some switches and relays. The only specialized equipment that you need, is for fabricating the adapter plate for the motor, and the coupler. Some welding will also be required. I'd love to help if you decide to convert one. One Honda item that you need, is the center of the clutch plate. That becomes part of the coupler. Save your clutch plates!
Unfortunately the tech isn't there yet to make this viable environmentally d/t power generation, conversion and transmission losses, and strip mining and pollution for batteries. Maybe some day we'll move away from lithium and go modern, safe nuclear. Then we just need to double or triple the power grid.
Mr. Bishop, thank you for the quick tour of some of the BEST personal WORKMANSHIP I’ve seen on a personal EV conversion.
I like all of the capability (aerodynamics, lightweight/strong construction) of the original Honda Insight, and you have turned one into an excellent EV that has already given you 42,000 mile of service. Nicely done! And inspiring. Thank you.
Grill block, front air dam, and full flat bottom. i LOVE My INsight.. looking forward to diving into a full ev conversion
Awesome work! Glad to finally see one of these cars be converted to electric only
Thanks, they make a great conversion.
Incredible work by an even more incredibly modest smart man!
Nice work, Mr. Bishop!
The CVT on my 2002 Insight just died, would like to convert to electric...
what sort of range have you been getting out of your conversion?
yes love to know
Excellent work now that we have an plugin hybrid wrangler jeep we would love to see some one convert one to fully electric also.
Wish you could have included some range/specs numbers.
The Leaf Modules are not new so they don’t have full capacity. Range is just guessable. I’d say about 60 or 70 miles if driving easy. He did not give that information but I know of a converted MG Midget that has a range of about 120 miles with a 144v pack in the vehicle. I would say he could get upwards to 100 plus miles without too much issues with handling. New Leaf Modules and 144v it would be easy to put in a good distance pack. It has plenty of power for sure. Because he left it in 2nd I will assume he has a 144v system in the beastie. So 42 modules will be a few short of the Leaf and will easily give 100 miles range in such a light weight vehicle.
one day I would love to have my 95 Civic Coupe into EV power.
There's an fully EV RG hatch that's been going around here. Crazy build!
@@roodick85 whoa! i would love to see it.
Amazing job! I live in California and have a 2000 insight I would love to convert to all electric if I could get at-least 200 mile range. However i May just replace the battery since I can get 50-65 mpg and maybe save up to convert in future
Best insight mod
You should put an aluminum plate over the radiator grill for better aero dynamics
04dram04,
I agree about blocking off the radiator opening. Actually, I have some of that plastic card board plugging the hole.
Mark Bishop
What is the range?
Hi where can l buy all these parts to do this? and a how to video really like to try this!
Very nicely done!
I'd want to cover the hood & roof in thin light solar panels/cells for some trickle charging power. Make a solar panel the shape of the windshield & rear window that slide down from the roof to cover them. Stack 3 solar panels on the roof, the top 1 is for the roof, 1 underneath slides down to cover the windshield & the other 1 underneath slides down to cover the rear window. In summer this helps keeps heat out of the car.
Do you have the specs for the adapter and spacer? I’d like to actually utilize the stock clutch and not just have one gear. But anything is preferable to the stock setup hybrid.
Good luck. EVs have historically been 1 speed for a reason. Transmissions with multiple gears are prone to failure
@@beezowdoodoozoppitybopbopb9488 Lower voltage EV Conversions typically utilize the stock transmission. However my VW Bug has a special racing transmission with a 3.44:1 R&P and all the gearing of the Type III. Specifically for utilizing the high torque of the electric motor. Even with this 1st is pretty much useless but the rest are totally usable. Depending upon the conditions of the drive. I can use just one speed all day if I so choose or use them all if I so choose. As with even the gasoline car the risk of gear failure is there. The car was designed for the transmission. No need to reinvent that. As for shedding the weight it is pretty useless unless you are planning on racing a few pounds or ounces shed won't make much difference to the electric motor or your end efficiency. I don't plan on putting in a TESLA motor or using 400volts for a battery pack. I plan on 144 volts and 500 amps with an AC Induction motor. I may use a different controller and use up to 156 volts and 600 amps. That would make this beastie fly. I think I can fully utilize this transmission without issue. Ive done three conversions already.
@@onegreenev well you know more than I do. Whole reason I even watched this is because the thought crossed my mind to yank the d15b7 out of my old civic and do the conversion. What kind of range and top speed are you seeing?
@@beezowdoodoozoppitybopbopb9488 The range depends upon the size of battery and how you drive. I have gone 70 mph so far but that was with my DC motor setup. I do not know with the dual motor setup. My transmission is designed for around town and for freeway flying. It could easily do 120mph.
Amazing job! I want one!
Mr. Bishop: I saw your reply below you get ~80 miles from 16KWH at 65mph, or 0.2 KWH/mile, which is really efficient traveling. Congratulations. Better than the Leaf. specifications I've read (0.29?). How do you get so efficient? So at 65 mph is air drag about 10 KW, tires about 0.6 KW, and drive system, accessories etc and losses about 1KW?
So wall plug to wheels (charger batt drive motor) efficiency,
~ 80%?
What is your battery pack setup's output voltage? Did you have to do a lot of rewiring of pack modules, to match to HPEVS inverters and motor?
Also, how has range been in the cold or high heat, with heater or AC onr? I ask because here in the Northeast our electricity costs ~2x more than TN unfortunately, and we have to run the heater more. Thank you.
Are you able to shift through all the gears or are you only using 2nd gear? I'm very interested in converting a honda to electric. Great video! I love seeing more Hondas being converted to electric
Dr. Derbz I'm using only second gear. It makes driving smooth and simple. Acceleration is adequate and top speed is 92 mph. If you want to talk more, reach me by email at mcbishop111@gmail.com
@@markbishop1425 I wonder if the range would increase if you use 4th and 5th gear, on the Hwy?
I was think about purchasing an Insight and wanted to know if the lack of a backseat was a major limitation or just a minor annoyance?
I bought an insight the beginning of this year, there is only one time that I wished I had 4 seats but i really didn't want to carpool with my little sisters friends... so win win LOL
Outstanding work sir! If you don’t mind my asking, what is the typical range you get and do you have a guess at the cost of conversion? Thank you.
Thanks! The pack, which currently is about 16 kwh, is good for about 80 miles at 65 mph, in mild weather. The total cost was about $14000. That included $3000 for the car, $3600 for the motor and controller, $3600 for the surplus battery, and about $2300 for the charger.
Very impressive conversion!
You can buy a used Nissan Leaf for $3000, might need to change the battery. Just a thought.
No driver demo for us then ?!
I was disappointed when he did not take it out for a spin.
How did you do the cooling of motor and battery pack? What did you do for tricking the ECM to think it still has an ICE?
no need to trick the ecm. it just needs to think its always in a state of key on engine off. a manual trans has a speed sensor that should work with the key on 2 position. 2 position also disengages steering lock. that said, if the steering lock was disabled he wouldnt even need a key to drive the car if he didnt care about having a radio or a speedometer. Everything should be controlled seperately.
Impressive!
Thanks
Wow, this is really interesting. I think I’ll stick with my original G1 motor or K-swap.
Everything looks good except for the charge port. Why male? Get quite the shock when touched lol
what?
The plug on every plug in device ever is male.
That should be isolated from battery voltage at all times, though, it's just powering the charger.
I do agree that an SAE connector would be better, though.
Do you offer adapter plates for others to do this to their vehicles? I was interested in converting one of these. What is your range at 65 mph on a full charge and the Nissan Leaf came out in 2011. Im not a happy camper with the early Leaf Modules. HPEVS makes great motors.
Pete,
I have a hobby machine shop and would be glad to work with you in making an adapter plate and coupler for your EV project. I agree with you about Nissan Leaf batteries. They tend to lose capacity over time, and their energy density is not the best. The batteries have been quite reliable other wise. My pack is 3 modules short of a full '24 kwh' leaf pack. The advertised capacity is about 21 kwh. The cells are 11 years old, and presently are about 16 kwh. In mild weather, the range at 65 mph is about 80 miles. You are right, HPEVS motors, as well as company support are great. Fell free to contact me about work on your project, I'll be glad to do what I can.
Mark Bishop
mcbishop111@gmail.com
865-457-5939
The original range with gas is nearly over 600 miles. Why spend $14k to convert it to an 80 mile range electric version? Is there a purpose to doing this? Or just doing it for fun? Thanks for the video otherwise!
@Thunderlux In another post, he said the range is 80 miles at 65mph and consist of 3 leaf modules 21-24kw batteries. I'd take a chance with a 200 mile conversion though! I don't even drive 100 miles a day. 200 is doable. Surely not 80 😅
To have an electric car instead of a gas (hybrid) car. People have been converting cars to electric for a few decades at least, normally with less range than the car originally had. Although with so many BEV options on the market it is likely just for fun, like how some people have project cars as a hobby.
Seems like they were all salvage parts at low cost. But considering there are people who spends thousands on regular cars and new ones cost over 40 thousand clearly this is just to save money and make the switch from gasoline. Plus electric is usually used for city driving at less than 40 miles per day.
Is the car for sale?
not fast enough for me. too bad no way to mount motors from a Tesla 3. with the 400 mile Tesla battery. I'll keep my Honda Insight hybrid just update the battery to modern one out of a 2nd gen Insight.
His way, he keeps his power steering and AC. Swap in a Tesla motor and you'd have to cobble together an HVAC system and power steering. I agree the Tesla would drive better but this way is quicker. These cars are sub-2000lbs so it doesn't need much power to be decently fast.
Front engine from the model 3 dual motor why not but the battery from the model 3 is absolutly impossible: way too big and too heawy for such small car!!!
Apparently you haven’t driven a light weight vehicle with an HPEVS motor. This is likely an AC-50 and it would be plenty fast and if he used the new 144v controller it will be plenty fast. Faster than the Stock Engine for sure. Not a tesla but then again I wouldn’t want such a light weight vehicle to have Tesla Power for every day street driving. Tesla is overkill for the most part and many who get them can’t handle the power and wreck them for us to scavenge them. Im putting two AC-35 motors in my Bug. It will be overkill and will be plenty fast enough. High torque creates serious torque steer. Be careful with that Tesla Powered Light weight vehicle.
Thanks for showing your car. I have 2 insights 2000 models. I was wondering how far you are able to go on a charge now?
Lite Stuff,
The battery pack is about 16 kwh, and that's good for about 80 miles at 65 mph in mild weather.
@@markbishop1425 that isn't bad range; how fast can it be charged? Would you have some sort of plans you'd be willing to share; my cars engines are fine but its getting hard to find parts for clutches and seals etc. Might be easier to drive all electric.
@@litestuffllc7249 My battery is nowhere near optimal. With a better battery, I think 200 miles is possible. I'd be glad to share everything that I know. When you buy an HPEVS motor kit, it comes with a generic wiring diagram, and the support from the company is great. You need the motor-controller, a pack battery, a battery management system, a dc-dc converter for your 12vdc source, a throttle assembly, like from a Prius, a charger, some heavier rear springs, and some switches and relays. The only specialized equipment that you need, is for fabricating the adapter plate for the motor, and the coupler. Some welding will also be required. I'd love to help if you decide to convert one. One Honda item that you need, is the center of the clutch plate. That becomes part of the coupler. Save your clutch plates!
Unfortunately the tech isn't there yet to make this viable environmentally d/t power generation, conversion and transmission losses, and strip mining and pollution for batteries. Maybe some day we'll move away from lithium and go modern, safe nuclear. Then we just need to double or triple the power grid.
Great work. But if your goal is to create less pollution, you should have left it as is.
Why do you say this?
I disagree. It also drives better and is way less maintenance. Thanks for your comment.
Wow your smart
And _you’re_ not?😅