About this ebook
The definitive, up-to-date guide to building your own electric vehicle—written for the 2026 EV landscape.
The electric vehicle revolution is here. But while automakers want you to buy sealed, unserviceable appliances, the world of DIY EV building has never been more accessible. Salvaged batteries are affordable. Motors and controllers are readily available. Online communities are thriving. And now, this book gives you everything you need to join them.
Written for the home mechanic, the classic car enthusiast, and the curious tinkerer, Build Your Electric Vehicle walks you step by step through the entire process—from choosing the right donor vehicle to taking your first silent, powerful drive. No engineering degree required. Just mechanical aptitude, patience, and the guidance contained in these pages.
Inside you will discover:
How to choose the best donor vehicle for your goals, budget, and skill level
Which motor type—BLDC, AC induction, or PMSM—is right for your build
How to select, assemble, and safely mount a lithium battery pack
How to wire your EV correctly, including contactors, fuses, BMS, and pre-charge circuits
Step-by-step instructions for motor mounting, battery enclosure fabrication, and final integration
How to register and insure your homemade EV (state-by-state guidance)
Complete maintenance schedules and troubleshooting procedures
Real-world case studies from builders who have done it before you
Updated for the 2026 EV landscape:
Salvaged battery packs that cost a fraction of what they did five years ago
Controllers with user-friendly programming and pre-configured motor profiles
Open-source software and community-driven documentation
Component suppliers who cater specifically to DIY builders
Whether you want to preserve a classic car, build a high-performance street machine, or simply understand electric vehicles from the ground up, this book is your roadmap.
The revolution is here. You can buy it. Or you can build it.
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About the author
Jackson R. Williams has been building, modifying, and obsessing over vehicles for over twenty years. What began as a teenage fascination with restoring old motorcycles grew into a career in mechanical engineering and a lifelong passion for electric propulsion. He built his first electric vehicle in 2012—a converted Ford Ranger that barely made it twenty miles on a good day and left him stranded more times than he cares to admit. Every failure taught him something. Every success pushed him further.
Since then, Jackson has completed six EV conversions of his own, ranging from a classic Porsche 914 to a modern track-focused Mazda Miata. He has consulted on dozens of other builds, helped friends work through seemingly impossible problems, and written extensively about electric vehicle technology on his website and in various online forums. He believes that the best car is the one you build yourself, not because it is perfect, but because it is yours.
Jackson lives in the Pacific Northwest with his family, a garage full of tools, and a driveway that has not seen a gasoline-powered vehicle in over four years. He is already planning his next build.
