Old 2009 Maruti WagonR Given Second Life With EV Conversion Kit For Rs 2.25 Lakh

An aftermarket workshop, Sriaan Electric Vehicle, has transformed an ageing 2009 Maruti WagonR petrol hatchback into an electric vehicle for a cost of around Rs 2.25 lakh. The Maruti Suzuki WagonR, popular in India since its launch in 1999, has traditionally been offered with petrol and CNG engine options, with no official production EV version yet available from the manufacturer.

To complete the conversion on the 17-year-old vehicle from Madhya Pradesh, the workshop removed the original engine, gearbox, fuel tank, and exhaust system. However, the original clutch, gearbox, and flywheel were retained, allowing the main high-voltage electric motor to couple directly to the gearbox.

The throttle pedal was reused with a converter. For the HVAC system, a dedicated 1 kW motor from an e-rickshaw powers the compressor since the main electric motor lacks an idling function.

A DC-DC converter and a smart display monitor battery and motor stats, while the motor controller features N, D, and R modes alongside the manual gearbox’s reverse gear. The battery and motor were installed in the engine bay with custom-fabricated support, and high-voltage wiring harnesses run underneath the carpets.

Charging is handled via an industrial 16A port located in the fuel filler cap, connected to an electrical board inside wired to the battery. The converted WagonR achieves a top speed of around 75 km/h and delivers a range of approximately 100 to 110 km on a single charge.