Building an Electric Vehicle: Color Edition - Step-by-Step Conversion

In this review of Building an Electric Vehicle: (Color Edition) the book's clearest strength is its visual, step-by-step approach to converting a gasoline car to electric power, making it most useful for hands-on hobbyists and small workshop builders. The reviewer found the 180 pages and more than 130 color pictures particularly helpful for understanding assembly stages and practical decisions. For anyone who wants a visual playbook of the conversion process, this book is worth considering; readers seeking exhaustive engineering calculations may need supplementary resources.

Key Features

• Step-by-step conversion: The book walks through the conversion process from initial funding to the final driving stage, helping readers follow a complete project arc.
• Extensive color photos: More than 130 color pictures illustrate every major step, reducing ambiguity where written instructions alone can be vague.
• Two vehicle build examples: Following two separate builds shows different choices and outcomes, giving practical context for design tradeoffs.
• Practical lessons on mistakes: The text discusses what not to do as well as recommended actions, which helps readers avoid common pitfalls during conversion.
• Design and efficiency focus: Illustrated principles concentrate on producing the most efficient vehicle possible within the book's scope.

Who It's For

This book is best for DIY enthusiasts, amateur engineers, and independent builders who already have basic mechanical skills and want a visual, project-oriented guide to an EV conversion. The straightforward photos and sequential coverage are most useful to someone working through a conversion in a garage or small workshop.

It is less suitable for readers who need detailed electrical engineering theory, exhaustive component specifications, or step-by-step wiring diagrams at the component level; such readers should pair this book with dedicated electrical reference material or technical manuals.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear, photo-driven presentation makes assembly stages easy to visualize for DIY conversions.
• Coverage of two separate builds provides comparative insight into decisions and outcomes.
• Honest discussion of mistakes helps readers learn both best practices and pitfalls.

Cons

• The book has mixed customer feedback about depth, so some readers may find technical detail lacking for advanced design work.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Building an Electric Vehicle: (Color Edition) is a practical, photo-forward conversion guide that delivers strong value to hands-on builders who prefer visual instruction and project examples. While not a substitute for detailed electrical engineering references, its transparent coverage of two builds and discussion of mistakes makes it a worthwhile guide for garage conversions and learning by doing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book show full builds?
Yes, it follows the design and construction of two electric vehicles from funding to final driving stage, with photos of each major step.

Will this replace technical manuals?
No. The book is visual and practical but readers seeking detailed electrical calculations or exhaustive wiring schematics should use it alongside technical references.

How many pages and photos are included?
The book runs 180 pages and includes more than 130 color pictures to illustrate the conversion process.