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The original Acura NSX is widely recognized as an emblematic vehicle. Its elegant design, entirely aluminum build, and pricing on par with a Corvette ZR1 from the same era rendered it an accessible supercar for the masses. Remarkably, it even set the standard for the renowned McLaren F1.
The automotive landscape is evolving. Some traditional gasoline-powered supercars of the past can now be outpaced by a modern Toyota, while electric-powered beasts are dominating the drag strip. Therefore, when experienced electric vehicle enthusiast Rich Beniot from Rich Rebuilds learned about a project converting a classic Acura NSX to electric power, he was intrigued to witness it firsthand.
Upon meeting Jeff, an all-encompassing car enthusiast who harbored a long-standing desire for an NSX, the decision to acquire one amid his other ventures (including an LS1 Miata, Volvo Amazon, 1965 Thunderbird, and Saab Sonet) led him to explore his interest in executing his own electric vehicle conversion. Having previously assisted a friend in converting an old Nash Metropolitan to electric power, Jeff felt confident in attempting the same on an NSX.
Luckily, Jeff managed to acquire a 1994 Acura NSX with 229,000 miles that had already undergone a turbocharged K-series engine swap. Consequently, he was able to bypass the daunting task of removing the factory 3.0-liter V6 himself. It was revealed that Jeff informed the seller of his intention to convert the vehicle to electric power, prompting the previous owner to remove the combustion engine and manual transmission before transferring ownership.
Upon having an empty engine bay, Jeff promptly began the process of installing a substantial drive unit sourced from a Tesla Model S. The electric motor was mounted in reverse (with the differential facing the front) for clearance reasons, allowing him to retain the original suspension setup. Configuring the motor to run in reverse at maximum speed proved to be straightforward with the assistance of the Open Inverter platform, though he did need to create a notched subframe for it to fit properly. Encounter…
To maintain a tidy engine bay, Jeff opted to place the battery in the rearmost trunk area. Notably, the original battery was salvaged from a 2006 Toyota Prius Hybrid, providing a modest 1.6 kWh capacity. This temporary setup enabled the vehicle to operate under its own power initially. However, within a few weeks following the filming, a new 16-kWh pack sourced from a Chrysler Pacifica had been successfully installed. Jeff’s future plans involve utilizing a 24-kWh pack from a Nissan Leaf to power the vehicle, complemented by a 10-kW Tesla Charger and a DC-to-DC converter from a Chevy Volt.
Although the project remains a work in progress, Jeff’s undertaking is commendable as one of the pioneers in converting such a highly desired classic vehicle. It’s interesting how relatively “simple” the process appears to be when converting an NSX to electric drive.
As indicated in the video, Jeff intends to utilize the vehicle as a daily commuter rather than a high-performance vehicle. Despite the NSX no longer producing traditional engine sounds, it will undoubtedly provide an exceptionally distinctive driving experience.
If you have any tips or queries for the author, reach out to them directly: rob@thedrive.com
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