In this episode of DIY EV Chat we’re headed back across the pond to chat to Karim Omara all the way from California. Karim has a pair of incredible EV-swapped vehicles, a classic 1973 Beetle and an E60 BMW 5-series – the Chris Bangle designed car that still splits BMW enthusiasts. Karim’s car is even more controversial now that it is powered by a mix of Lexus drivetrain and Chevy batteries!

We're back across the Atlantic again this episode, with two time DIY EV builder Patrick Roth and his absolutely incredibly Lexus GS450h/Tesla-powered AMC Rambler. The quality of work on this project is incredibly high, from the beautiful paint job and custom interior, to the very neat under-bonnet and custom display. A real example of a DIY classic EV-swap done right.

In this episode I chat to electric Land Rover Freelander builder and car alternator enthusiast, Alister Brown - also known as AliBro over on YouTube, where he has documented his build. You can also find his build diary over on the OpenInverter Forum.

A Tesla-powered Porsche Boxster, built at home and now a daily driver. Fancy one of those? Paul Young did it all in his garage.

In this episode of DIY EV Chat, I Paul and I talk Tesla-power, buying cars on eBay, and the criticality of a good set of crimping tools to any DIY EV project.

Ben Bament has built an electric MGF in a barn, using OEM parts from a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Before that he built an electric quad/ATV and now he's working on a Nissan Leaf-powered tractor.

In this episode of DIY EV Chat, we talk about how Ben got started, his choice of components, issues with the DVLA, and his new project.

You can find more about Ben and his projects here: https://www.somersetev.co.uk/

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In episode 12 of DIY EV Chat, I speak to Tom De Bree, the man behind the SimpBMS battery management system on which so many of us rely in the DIY EV community.

We talk about how Tom got started, the evolution of SimpBMS, and his new products now that he's focused on his own business.

You can find out more about Tom's new products and projects at https://engovis.com but all products can only be bought through distributors who also provide first line support. Stocks are currently low because of the chip shortage but this will be rectified with the new range.

Anthony Bezencon has built an electric classic Mini that can spin the wheels yet is only the same weight as the original - and has even better weight distribution. In this episode Anthony tells me about his super-neat electric car conversion, component selection, the control boards he has designed, and the process - which had more ups than downs (apart from a few dead Teensy microcontrollers).

Chris Hazell is a DIY EV-er turned professional - and a very significant professional at that. He's the creator of the first Tesla-powered Skyline drift car, and founder of Zero EV, one of the most significant companies in the EV conversion scene, not just here but around the world. In this episode we talk about how he got started, and about the state of the conversion industry, both professional and amateur. And how that industry is likely to change with shifts in the supply chain and regulation.

I chat to Kit Lacey from eDub Services about how he got started in EV conversions, his electric VW buses, and the conversions his company now offers on Porsches and more.

Damien Maguire was the person who convinced me - and many others - that I could build my own EV. His instructional videos, rich with information and wry humour have been the gateway drug to EV conversion for many members of the DIYEV community. In this episode he explains how he got started with a DIY DC motor controller, before progressing through a series of BMW builds to today, when his - deliberately small - EVBMW business provides the brains behind many swaps.

In this episode I interview Johannes Hübner, the founder of the OpenInverter project on which my EV conversion and so many others are based. We talk about how Johannes got started, his three conversion projects, and the evolution of the OI community.