Vape-Powered EV Gets 18-Mile Range And Charges Over USB-C

A Reva G-Wiz, the infamously cramped and polarizing (meaning: crappiest) micro-electric car from the early 2000s, has been granted an improbable second life through a power source found in 7-Elevens everywhere: vape batteries—500 of them. UK-based engineer and YouTuber Chris Doel was able to eke out a top speed of almost 40 mph with an 18-mile range from this DIY project.

Rather than sourcing pricier automotive-grade lithium cells to replace the ones on the donor car, Doel turned to the environmental problem that is disposable vape batteries. Vapes typically contain high-quality 3.7V lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries that are discarded while still capable of holding a significant charge, which Doel figured would make a great alternative source of electricity for the G-Wiz deathtrap.

To manage the 500 individual cells, Doel built a custom battery management system (BMS) to ensure even charging and prevent any volatility associated with mismatched lithium ...