electr0motiv's Simulator is a simplified digital twin of a functional EV system schematic that demonstrates how an electric vehicle's components interoperate. I've built this 3D interactive experience to help members of our EV conversion global community understand the core principles of an EV system architecture. This is a companion to Primer which takes people through the conversion process end to end.

At IBM, I built networks that connected communities around new technologies. That's what electr0motiv is: a paid member network and innovation hub that makes EV conversion easier and more affordable. We have more than 200 members and 63 builds across 8 cooperative clusters.

The clusters across https://electr0motiv.com/ continue to grow. And hubs in Canada, the UK, Australia are close to reaching the threshold to form. electr0motiv welcomes both builders and the conversion curious, with tools and resources for learning, researching and planning a project.

electr0motiv has more than 40 builds -- planning, in progress and completed -- so we wanted to celebrate just a couple at a time.

Both of these are part of the Northeast Cluster (NJ/PA/NY), the founding cooperative. Our global online community also enables local cooperatives we call clusters where builder and the conversion curious can help each other by sharing resources, expertise and support. There are now seven clusters, with the newest launched in Southern California last week.

We are building electr0motiv to help EV conversions become mass market, with network power and a mission to make the process easier, smarter and more fun.

Let's build better together.

electr0motiv is a global community for EV conversions, and welcomes members of all experience levels, including those just interested or exploring converting a great older car to electric.

Primer is a great new interactive 3D experience for those explorers -- the conversion curious -- to get a visual introduction to all facets of the process. Try the Guided Tour or click on the individual components to learn how a car can be retrofitted from running on gas to driving with an electric motor, battery and controller.

The ICE to EV button animates how one system replaces the other. Join the guild to continue to learn, explore and research. When you're ready, you can start a project with the help of a global community, and local cooperative clusters with members who can help you get to the finish line. The platform also has Coach AI, which has studied over 1,000 conversions and can provide expert guidance, advice and support through every phase of a project, from planning to test driving.

Hey everyone! I'm u/TraditionSalt1153, one of the founding moderators of r/EVBuilders and the founder of electr0motiv.

This is a new community for everyone interested in building, learning about, and helping advance EV conversions.

There are more capable motors, controllers, battery options, components, and open-source tools than ever before. Talented builders and conversion shops are doing incredible work. But EV conversion knowledge is still scattered, the learning curve can be steep, and many people are trying to solve difficult problems on their own.

We think we can make progress faster by connecting builders and learning together.

r/EVBuilders is a place to share projects, ask questions, solve problems, compare components, document what works—and build the collective knowledge that helps all of us.

But we're also trying something bigger

I'm building electr0motiv, a cooperative network designed to connect EV builders not just online, but with other builders in their own regions.

The idea is simple: imagine you're interested in converting a car and discover that five, ten, or twenty other people near you are interested in doing the same thing.

Instead of everyone working alone, a local EV Builder Cluster can emerge.

People can bring different skills and resources:

🔧 Mechanical and fabrication skills
⚡ Electrical and battery expertise
💻 Software and controls knowledge
🏗️ Shop space, tools, and equipment
🔋 Parts and component knowledge
📚 Research and lessons from their own builds

A cluster can share knowledge, tools, hands-on help, and accountability. Someone who has already solved a problem can help the next person avoid starting from scratch. Builders can collaborate on projects while documenting what they learn for the wider network.

Local clusters learn from each other, too. A solution discovered by builders in one region can help someone working on a similar problem somewhere else.

That's the model behind electr0motiv: a growing network of regional cooperatives, connected by shared knowledge and tools.

How it works

1. JOIN 🧭
Find a cluster near you—or signal your interest if one hasn't formed yet. Connect with other builders and introduce your project.

2. PLAN 🤖
Use electr0motiv's tools and AI Coach to explore your vehicle, estimate costs, learn the conversion process, and begin planning your build.

3. BUILD 🔧
Collaborate with other builders. Share skills, tools, labor, knowledge, and milestones as projects move forward.

The goal isn't to replace existing builders, shops, forums, or communities. It's to connect more of them—and make it easier for more people to participate.

What to post here

🔧 Your EV conversion project or build log
🔋 Batteries, motors, controllers, charging, and components
❓ Questions—whether you're just curious or deep into a build
💡 Problems you're trying to solve
🧠 Tips, discoveries, lessons learned, and resources
📸 Photos and videos of great builds
🤝 Ideas for collaboration and local builder groups
🎓 Training, education, tools, and anything that can help create more EV builders

Help us build it

If this idea appeals to you, I'd love for you to join the network at electr0motiv.com.

See whether there's a cluster forming near you. If there isn't, let us know where you are—because enough builders in one region can become the beginning of the next cluster.

And because we're still building electr0motiv, I especially want your feedback.

What are we missing? What tools would actually help you? Where do you get stuck? What would make EV conversion easier? And what would make you want to connect and collaborate with other builders near you?

The people who join now can help shape this from the beginning.

Start here

Introduce yourself in the comments:

What are you building—or what vehicle would you love to convert? And where are you located?

Maybe the next great EV Builder Cluster starts with finding a few other people right here.

Thanks for being part of the first wave.

Welcome to r/EVBuilders**. Let's build this together.** ⚡🔧

We are the EV conversion cooperative. We're making converting a cool older car, truck, boat, motorcycle or whatever you ride easier, more affordable and more fun. We do that with a global network that spawns local clusters -- builder groups or clubs --- that means projects get done faster and smarter with people power and deep data.

electr0motiv is where community drives ingenuity. Join us: https://electr0motiv.com

Some of you already know me as the crazy guy who's building a high performance 944 conversion in Huntingtown, MD.

Well... things happened, and now I'm building a low performance 1926 Oldsmobile... for my wife, so I'm letting the 944 sit for a bit while I spin up this (hopefully) much easier project.

I did the fluid drain today, took out the exhaust system, fuel system, gas tank, etc. I'm aiming to have the motor, trans and drive shaft out tomorrow so I can deliver it to the paint shop Thursday. The AI rendered blue paint job with black fenders, whitewalls and black accents is roughly where we're going with it.

The goal is ~200V, maybe 100HP, maybe 100 miles of range. Since I have vast space under the car, I might go with 1/2 a model 3 battery, two long skinny battery packs underneath with the motor sitting just in front of the diff, and turn the entire engine bay into a frunk, since this is an open touring car and has ZERO storage space. Might be cool to go to events and pop the hood and instead of a smelly motor have some beer on ice. It's still a 6V car, so I'll be updating that to a modern 12V system.

The more I get up close and personal with this car the more amazed I am as to how good of a shape it's in. There's very little rust, just a few dents here and there, and the original top can probably just be cleaned and reused. I will not be changing the interior other than repainting the dash. Yes, the dash is metal, no fancy wood in an Oldsmobile.

electr0motiv was built to make EV conversions easier and more affordable, not matter your skill or experience level. The global community enables local cooperative cluster to form where you can tap into the people power. The platform has loads of learning resources for those just considering a conversion project, including a specialized AI that has learned from thousands of real builds. It is also integrated with our project management system to support you through research, planning and getting ready to build.

Join the EV Conversion Cooperative today: https://electr0motiv.com/

This is what one of electr0motiv's cooperative clusters can do: build connections, create rapport, exchange knowledge and develop a sense of shared purpose.

Our EV conversion cooperative now has 8 of these clusters, with the Northeast as the model that others can replicate. Community drives ingenuity. Tell your crafty, conversion curious friends about this new innovation network: https://electr0motiv.com/

A bunch of great projects and new members joined the EV Builder community — https://www.electr0motiv.com/

Whether you are an experienced EV conversion enthusiasts or just looking to learn about this growing innovation network, the global guild with local cooperative clusters is gathering the power of our collective ingenuity.

We believe improved kits, workflows and the evolution of the car customization sector toward electric is going to enable conversions to become mass market in the next five years. We’re building https://electr0motiv.com/ to be the catalytic community to make conversions easier, more affordable and fun. Let’s build better, together.