Rywire's Electric S2000 Restomod Hits SEMA
It's hard to imagine why someone would swap and F20 or F22 for electric power... But it is the SEMA Show, so nothing is off limits.
Going Electric
As is usually the case, this year's SEMA show brought together a melting pot of various styles of builds. There was no shortage of noteworthy highlights, the E30 BMW with an S2000 heart being among the most impressive. But there was a special focus on EV swaps this year. While the old BMW received an F20C transplant, Rywire's S2000 ditched the 4-banger for electric power.
Challenging Conversion
The man in charge of Rywire, Ryan Basseri will admit this build was not without its challenges. Being the company's first-ever EV swap, it was accompanied by a good deal of trial and error. Ultimately, though, the end result speaks for itself. Not only does the S2000 now benefit from the instant grunt of its new electric powertrain, but it also remains relatively close in curb weight to the factory roadster, gaining only about 200 pounds.
>>Join the conversation about the electric Rywire S2000 at SEMA right here in S2Ki.com.
Tesla Motors and Chevy Battery
The car is now powered by a battery back from the Chevy Volt. The electricity is transferred down to the wheels via a Tesla Large Performance Drive Unit. Packaging was a huge hurdle throughout the build. The folks at Rywire had to extend the chassis by a whole eight inches! They still managed to keep the wheelbase unaltered, though. And the same goes for the width.
>>Join the conversation about the electric Rywire S2000 at SEMA right here in S2Ki.com.
Standing Out
The Rywire Honda S2000 build also features interesting visual modifications to go with its overhauled underpinnings. Most notably, those wheels are quite the attention-grabbers. Some would argue ridding the S2000 of its glorious power and drivetrain elements is counterintuitive. But SEMA is always a hotbed of experimental builds, such as this, that aim to grab the onlooker's attention in a sea of project cars.
>>Join the conversation about the electric Rywire S2000 at SEMA right here in S2Ki.com.
