Utah man who converted his 1980s Toyota truck into an EV shares how much it really cost
Published on Feb 02, 2026 at 5:43 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jan 30, 2026 at 8:44 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Ben Thompson
A Utah man who converted his 1980s Toyota truck into an EV has opened up about how much it cost to do.
YouTuber Electric Supercar made it clear from the get-go that there was no set price for an EV conversion.
It was very much dependent on component choices, packaging constraints, and other factors.
There was a lot to take into account – so what would the final price be?
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What it takes to turn a Toyota truck into an EV
Although this YouTuber had previously converted his 1980s Toyota truck, he didn’t make his analysis solely about that project.
There was no definitive price, and a lot to take into consideration.
When it comes to motor and control electronics, costs can vary massively.
Tesla drive units are often chosen because of availability and value, as specialty motors can often be much pricier.
In this YouTuber’s estimation, batteries were the biggest cost driver.
Whether to go with new or used batteries can be a big decision, particularly if a person is hoping for a longer range.
Production EVs have given people ranges of 300 miles, but most conversions simply can’t manage that due to a lack of space for the battery packs.
And with new batteries potentially costing around $10,000, used batteries come out looking like the more economical choice.
Parts and components all come with varying prices, but labor costs can’t be ignored.
Disassembly alone can take up to 40 hours, which equals $4,000 if we’re using a conservative estimate of $100 per hour in a shop.
Which brings us to a grand total of $14,000.
And this is all assuming that there are no hidden costs that pop up during the conversion – hidden suspension damage or other nasty surprises.
So with that being said and done, did this Utah man still think an EV conversion was worthwhile?
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We love seeing cars get an EV conversion
He put out a call for anyone curious about doing an EV conversion to get in touch with him.
“We’re happy to do it all if you need a custom conversion,” it read.
“We’re also happy to help if you’re a DIY weekend warrior.”
We’ve seen plenty of EV conversion success stories to know that it’s a worthwhile endeavour.
One man out in California converted his 2001 Volkswagen Passat and racked up a ton of miles on it.
Meanwhile, in Kansas, a man converted his 1962 Mercury Comet.
And that’s not forgetting this Mercedes-Benz Pagoda turned EV.
Ultimately, you need to make the decision for yourself about whether you’re happy to shoulder the costs for a conversion.
To see Electric Supercar go over the costs for yourself, visit his YouTube channel.
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Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
