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Mechanic Installed A Tesla Engine In A Chevrolet Impala. Now The Vehicle Has Over 550 Horsepower And A Range Of 200 Km, But Still Retains All The Structural Elements.
Classic car enthusiasts generally do not take a liking to electric cars. On the other hand, fans of electric vehicles tend to hate classics due to their polluting engines. However, Swedish mechanic Jan Karlander seems to have found a way to balance these two types of vehicles. The mechanic, along with a friend, installed a Tesla engine in a Chevrolet Impala.
Tesla Engine From A Model S P85D Now Part Of Jan Karlander’s Chevrolet Impala
On the outside and inside, the mechanic preserved almost everything from his 1966 Chevrolet Impala. But under the hood, he hid the entire electrical system and mechanical assembly of a Tesla. The 5.35-liter V8 engine, which took it to 100 km/h in just 9.4 seconds, was removed, replaced by all the electrical components of a Tesla Model S P85D, including the independent suspension and disc brakes.
The old V8 engine of the Chevrolet Impala was replaced by a large battery pack installed inside the engine bay in an aluminum box the same color as the old engine block. In total, the box contains 18 modules, which were originally from Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, divided into three strings of 6 modules connected in series.
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Each of the modules has a nominal voltage of about 60 volts, meaning that six modules connected in series provide a nominal voltage of 360 volts. Thus, at full load, it’s 400 volts. The entire set has a capacity of 47 kWh and doesn’t weigh much more than the engine and transmission it replaced.
Chevrolet Impala Has 557 Horsepower
Since the battery cells were designed for a hybrid application, they are optimized to deliver greater power rather than greater range. The current is even greater than what the electric motor can receive: 2,400 amperes. At 360 volts, this results in an output of 864 kW.
This power is sent to the Tesla motor installed on the rear axle, which, according to the mechanic, can generate 557 horsepower. In addition to power, the battery also provides a range of just over 200 km.
Despite having a large battery pack, the Chevrolet Impala maintained its weight of 1,969 kg, lighter than a Tesla Model S, which weighs about 2,108 kg. The entire system is water-cooled through hoses connected to the side of the large red box. There is also an adjustment for the braking system balance, allowing for minimum braking in the rear and maximum in the front, as there are independent cylinders for the front and rear brakes.
Chevrolet Impala 1966 Converted In A Year And A Half
Other than that, almost everything about the Tesla-powered vehicle remains exactly the same as the original Impala. Except for the headlights, which were replaced with those from Dapper Lighting California, which produces modern lights with a classic appearance.
The wheels of the mechanic’s vehicle were also changed to 19-inch (48.26 centimeters) steel ones. On the inside, a small touchscreen was installed in the original dashboard location. It acts as the car’s transmission, allowing selection between drive, reverse, and parking.
The display also shows information like speed and engine RPM. A system to control the air suspension was also installed on the dashboard, along with an emergency button to turn off the Tesla engine. In total, the construction of the mechanic’s Chevrolet Impala took a year and a half to complete.
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