Should you retrofit an old BMW X1 with an EV conversion kit?

There are no certified kits available for the X1 currently however a licensed agency could take to get the certification for conversion.

Published On Aug 24, 2024 07:30:00 AM

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I want to retrofit my 2011 BMW X1 with an EV powertrain. Is Bosch the best option? Please share contact details of EV kit installers in North India, if any. I am fine even if it results in a loss of power as I don’t want to sell the X1 due to its emotional value and I have a Toyota for outstation driving.

Shiraz Bhardwaj, New Delhi

Autocar India says: While the government is promoting retrofitting EV kits to older vehicles to transform them into more sustainable mobility solutions, the space is still in its infancy, with very little options available in the market. There are only a few players like the Bengaluru-based Hawk EV and Pune-based Northway Motors, who offer EV retrofitting solutions, albeit for popular mass-market models such as the Swift, Dzire and Wagon R.

Although there are no certified EV kits presently available for the BMW X1, a licensed player could take anywhere between four and six months to get the certification for the said vehicle, and the conversion would cost around Rs 10 lakh.

However, since retrofitting an EV kit involves the transplant of complex EV hardware, including a battery pack, high-voltage cables, motor, and controllers, it is advisable to refrain from getting it done owing to the high probability of reliability, safety, and performance issues cropping up in the long run.

Since the vehicle is not originally designed to work with such an EV drivetrain, there could be incompatibility issues leading to poor driving dynamics, and vehicle safety as well. Moreover, given the complexity of the hardware, aftersales service is also a critical prerequisite, which could be an unknown territory with less-renowned and smaller players.

Therefore, instead of retrofitting the BMW X1 with an EV kit, we would recommend getting a well-maintained, pre-owned EV like the MG ZS EV, which would offer a much superior overall experience with its ground-up EV architecture, impressive performance, top-notch features, and range on offer.

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