Megan Hall: Welcome to Possibly, where we take on huge problems like the future of our planet and break them down into small questions with unexpected answers. I’m Megan Hall.
Two years ago, we aired an episode responding to a question from a listener named Monica. She wanted to know if it was possible to convert her gas car into an electric one. We said it’s technically possible, but it’s not really worth it.
Has that answer changed?
To find out, we had Harrison Katz and Ashley Junger from our Possibly team look into this question again. Welcome Harrison and Ashley!
Harrison Katz: Hi, Megan!
Ashley Junger: Hello!
Megan Hall: So, in our last episode on swapping engines, we said that trying to swap your car’s engine is complicated, expensive, and even dangerous. Why?
Harrison Katz: Well, There weren’t any clear, streamlined methods for this. If you wanted your car’s engine swapped, you’d really have to do it yourself.
Ashley Junger: In a gas powered car, the engine is also responsible for heating and cooling. So, it’s not as simple as just swapping motors, you’d have to rethink other parts of the car too.
Harrison Katz: And those parts aren’t cheap. The whole process could cost more than $10,000 in parts alone.
Ashley Junger: Also, working with a car’s engine means exposing yourself to high voltages, which can be very dangerous.
Megan Hall: So what’s changed in the past 2 years?
Harrison Katz: To find out, we talked to Brian Silvestro, a staff writer for Road and Track magazine. A few months ago, he wrote an article on this topic.
Brian Silvestro: I’d say it hasn’t changed much. But there’s a lot of stuff going on right now that suggests that it will change very soon.
Ashley Junger: Brian says that some companies, including Porsche, will perform this swap for you.
Brian Silvestro: It’s already happening with old vintage cars. Essentially, if you have the money, it’s 100% possible. You could send your car to one of these companies right now and get your car electric swapped reliably easy, and it will work just as it did before.
Harrison Katz: Since an expert would be performing the swap for you, it’s a lot less complicated and it’s safer.
Ashley Junger: But it’s still very expensive. For someone like Monica, with a 2010 Toyota Camry, the swap would be more expensive than the car’s worth.
Megan Hall: Is that why engine swapping is mostly happening with old, vintage cars?
Harrison Katz: Yes, but Brian says it’s also because older vintage cars are a lot simpler.
Brian Silvestro: A Volkswagen Beetle is a perfect example. Because there’s no computers in the car, all you have to do is reverse, forward, and it has buttons inside. Whereas in a brand new 2020 BMW, there are so many electronics and computers that are intertwined that electric swapping would be essentially impossible without months of software work.”
Ashley Junger: But, while some vehicles will never be good candidates for electric swapping, the overall process will get cheaper.
Harrison Katz: Batteries and other electric vehicle parts are getting less expensive every year. And as electric swapping gets more popular, more mechanics may specialize in the process.
Megan Hall: So, in the future, electric swapping might be worthwhile for a car like a 2010 Toyota Camry?
Ashley Junger: Maybe. But even then, it won’t be for everybody. For most people, it still makes sense to just buy a new or used electric vehicle.
Brian Silvestro: In 20 years, every car manufacturer is gonna have several electric only car offerings. I’m sure they’ll have a fit for everyone.
Megan Hall: So, what’s Brian’s advice to Monica?
Harrison Katz: She’s still probably better off just keeping her Camry until she’s ready to replace it. And then she can buy a decent used electric car for less than the cost of an engine swap. It may be becoming easier to swap your engine, but it’s probably not the best option for the average driver.
Megan Hall: Great! Thanks, Harrison and Ashley!
That’s it for today. For more information, or to ask a question about the way your choices affect our planet, go to the public’s radio dot org slash possibly. Or subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
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Possibly is a co-production of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown’s Climate Solutions Initiative, and the Public’s Radio.
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