High-School Student Builds 900 HP Electric Honda S2000

May 26th, 2013 by Jo Borrás

Here’s another super fun EV project, story reposted courtesy CleanTechnica sister site Gas2:

A perfect embodiment of the “I can’t buy it, I’ll have to build it” spirit that fuels tuners and racer everywhere, high-school student Juan “Thinmint” Ehringeras has tackled his 900 hp (!?) electric Honda S2000 project from the ground up. Like a boss.

Starting with a pair of readily-available electric motors and a salvaged Honda S2000 roadster body, Thinmint has designed every piece on CAD. He’s sourced parts from other makers (the Ford 8.8″ rear-end, for example) and has even built the electric Honda’s battery packs himself from component lithium polymer cells. Along the way, Thinmint’s developed quite a following on the S2000 boards, despite building a “blasphemous” electric Honda out of the company’s greatest most iconic convertible.

Thinmint’s 900 hp electric Honda S2000 is impressive enough that he was asked to give a TEDx talk about the project, which – once finished – promises to be one sikk ride. Even if it weighs a bit more than the stock S2000 did before he got started, the project car should be capable of nearly 1500 (one-thousand five-hundred) lb-ft of torque from 0 rpm. That’s more than enough to turn the car’s rear tires to goo and alter the solar orbit of … maybe not Earth, but definitely Pluto.

Here’s Thinmint’s electric Honda taking its maiden test-drive …

… so it’s closer to being finished than you might have thought, no?

When asked how he manages to get so much done, young Ehringer coolly replied, “Well, I am finally a senior in high school, so in my off time I do homework & work on this car. I also am a (stand-up) jetski enthusiast, and work at my business, Laser Werks. My business basically comprises of me designing things in CAD and cutting them on my laser.”

That’s right, dear reader: a high-school student that calls himself Thinmint has his own business making go-fast PWCs and mind-bending electric supercars. How can you not love this kid!?

12 more pics over on Gas2.

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Tags: DIY, DIY electric car, DIY Electric Honda S2000, Electric Honda S2000, Honda, Honda S2000, Honda S2000 DIY EV, Honda S2000 electric, Honda S2000 EV

About the Author

Jo Borrás I've been involved in motorsports and tuning since 1997, and write for a number of blogs in the Important Media network. You can find me on Twitter, Skype (jo.borras) or Google+.

Matt

Ok the motor have 1500 but how much does it get to the road. I’m sure it is a lot, but no way all. A min he would need 4 wheel drive and much bigger tires.
J_JamesM

Fifteen. HUNDRED. Pound-feet. Of torque.

From 0 rpm.

Dear lord, this kid’s a lunatic. And a genius. A crazy, crazy genius. I wish I had the temerity(and the money, and the expertise…) to convert my Eclipse to an electric car. Then again, I DO hate automatics, so…
- Bob_Wallace
  
  Jamb this thing to the floor and you’d be pulling so many Gs you wouldn’t be able to get your arm forward to move a shift lever… :o)
  - J_JamesM
    
    Pretty sure that I wouldn’t even care at that point, because 1500 lb- ft is enough to turn your brain into chunky salsa.
    
    Funny quote from a Tesla Model S customer(440 lb-ft)- “Put your foot down at 20 mph and your eyeballs turn inside-out.”
    
    It’s all about the electrons, baby. EV cars have become the Driver’s Cars. Prius be damned.