An electronics enthusiast successfully powered a vintage Reva G.Wiz electric car using a battery pack assembled from 500 recycled vape batteries. The modified vehicle achieved a top speed of 35 mph and an 18-mile range on its test drive, and can even be charged via a USB-C port.
The project highlights the creator's mission to repurpose the lithium-ion cells from single-use vapes, which are frequently discarded. The older, low-power G.Wiz was a suitable match for the experimental battery pack, unlike a modern electric car which would require thousands more cells.
The main topics covered are the technical details of the vape-battery-powered car conversion, the environmental motivation behind reusing e-waste, and the performance results of the unique vehicle.
Vape battery-powered car boasts 18-mile range, 35mph top speed, USB-C charging port — 500 vape batteries power early 2000s Reva G.Wiz
The same electronics whiz previously made a home powerwall from old vape cells.
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A TechTuber who previously hit the headlines after making a home powerwall from a concoction of thrown-away vape components has shared details of his vape battery-powered car. Chris Doel actually repurposed the 500-vape battery powerwall device, put it in an aluminum case, and plugged it into a quarter-century-old electric car. Conclusion: It was a great success, but it is well worth tuning in to enjoy the full journey by watching the full video below.
In the intro, Doel complains about how the throwing away of single-use vapes is still a ‘normalized’ activity. He reminds viewers that as many as a million of these electronic devices are thrown away every day by UK vapers. However, Doel is on a mission to reuse these cast-aside components, specifically the Lithium batteries, in various projects. He started small with powerbanks, and progressed to a mighty powerwall in a previous video, which managed to take his workshop ‘off grid,” and now he’s going mobile.
Doel picked the old Reva G.Wiz electric car from the early 2000s, which he found to be a surprisingly good fit for his 500 vape battery array of power. This compact car weighs 400kg, and had a top speed of about 50 mph, factory fresh. Originally, it used a 48V battery pack using lead-acid technology. So it is a good target for the 50V power supply from the prior vape battery powerwall project.
Contrast that to a modern Tesla electric car. According to Doel, a Tesla would need about 12,000 vape cells and complex battery management to get off the driveway. Moreover, Musk’s autos have peak draw power measured in hundreds of kW.
So, it sounded like the old G.Wiz and the vape cells behind the previous powerwall project were a good match. And indeed it was, as the first power-up test we see in the video was a success. With the battery still on the driveway, Doel was extremely cautious rolling the car forward and back.
At this point, we also saw Doel plug in a charger to top up the vape cells. It was a USB-C charger, and it also worked the first time. So, as well as the world’s first vape-powered car, this little G.Wiz also became the first USB-C charged car.
An original G.Wiz can pull 350A if you put the pedal to the metal, which made Doel concerned that “the fuses will probably start popping,” as the vape battery pack is only good for ~120A, according to his calculations. Luckily, the inverter could be programmed, and the car profiles can be reworked to limit the power to safer levels.
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Test drive shows vehicle has an 18-mile range
With the surprisingly quick development and installation of the new vape-powered battery into the G.Wiz, it was time for a test drive. The TechTuber started off slowly, naturally. A smartphone monitor constantly updated on the condition of the vape battery cells. However, the car was paused, and temperatures were thoroughly checked for safety after a short run.
On the road trip, we saw the little car speed up to a maximum of 35 mph, and it was impressive to see that regenerative braking (10A) also worked as intended. With building confidence, the TechTuber drove to a nearby McDonalds drive through, parked up to eat, then went to a tool store. Next up, the car faced its first major uphill section, which saw a power draw of 100A continuous, so the cautious drivers slowed and caused a little traffic jam.
The weather turned worse, and the car’s wipers and headlights were required, eating away at the battery some more. However, the biggest challenge yet was a hill that saw 150A pulled at peak. The car made it. Overall, the vape-powered G.Wiz managed 18 miles before it lost power as battery cell bank 12 gave up. The observed max temperature of the cells was 19 degrees Celsius (it is still winter in the UK).
Doel mused whether the 500 vape smokers ever thought their trash would one day power a house, or a car. The video ended with a punchline, showing the car had a ‘vape exhaust’ installed.
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Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.
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