🌵 Arizona EV Collective
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Before they were a team, they were individuals with a spark, looking for a current...

From Solo Spark to Collective Power

Dreaming of converting a classic to electric, but feeling daunted by the solo journey? At electr0motiv, we help ignite local "clusters" – supportive communities where EV enthusiasts unite to share knowledge, resources, and turn ambitious projects into reality, together.

This is the imagined journey of one such team:
The Arizona EV Collective.

Witness their 12-week transformation – from seven individuals with a shared passion to a collaborative EV conversion powerhouse. See how an electr0motiv cluster comes to life.

7
Founding Members
12
Weeks of Growth
1
Major Shared Success

Scroll down to see their evolution, week by week...

Week 1: The Spark - Initial Gathering

Meet Your Teammates (Introductions on electr0motiv Forum)

SM

Sarah
Leader

DL

Dave
Mechanic

MG

Maria
Software

CR

Carlos
Shop Owner

Dave: "Been wanting to electrify a classic truck, but sourcing a motor and battery solo felt overwhelming. Plus, my shop's too quiet!"
Maria: "I'm a coder, fascinated by EV tech, but have zero hands-on car experience. Hope to learn by doing with a supportive group!"
Carlos: "My auto shop has spare bays on weekends. I'm curious about EV conversions and think a group could make it fun and less risky to explore."

First Activity: Virtual Dream Garage & Skills Inventory

📷Share your workspace (however humble)
🚗Post your dream conversion vehicle & top 3 skills you bring
🌟What's one EV question you hope this group can answer?

Week 2: Building the Blueprint

Cluster Decides Its Rhythm & Tools

How should we meet?

(Decided via Doodle poll on their new Slack channel)

Shared Resources Setup:

  • Maria created a shared Google Drive for notes, parts lists, and dream project specs.
  • Sarah started a simple Trello board for tracking skill-share topics & 'help needed' requests for Saturday sessions.

Pre-Meeting Momentum

Reminder (Slack): Bring any EV parts to show! First in-person @ Carlos's!

Ice breaker (Trello card): What skill can you teach in 10 min?

Maria shared on Drive: "Songs to Convert Cars By" 🎵 Playlist

Week 3: The Donor Car Jackpot!

🛠️

The Opportunity: A Wrecked Nissan Leaf

Carlos, using his shop contacts, found a wrecked Nissan Leaf for $3,000. More than just a battery, it was a treasure trove:

  • Complete 24kWh Battery Pack (good for 2-3 smaller projects)
  • 80kW Electric Motor & Inverter
  • On-Board Charger & DC/DC Converter
  • Cooling System Components (radiator, pump, fans)
  • Wiring Harnesses & Various Control Modules

Four members (Sarah, Dave, Maria for a small project, and new member Jake) quickly realized they could each use key parts for their diverse builds.

$750
Each (4 members)
~60%
Avg. Savings / Member
4+
Projects Accelerated
100s
Hours Saved Sourcing

How They Decided & Organized

1
Urgent Slack Poll: "Leaf Parts - Who's In?"
2
Maria, with Carlos's input on parts valuation, built a detailed cost-sharing & parts-allocation spreadsheet on Google Drive.
3
Carlos used his dealer license for a slight discount & arranged towing to his shop.
4
Parts stored at Carlos's shop; disassembly planned for next "Sunrise Session."

Trust & Momentum Building

Dave: "Splitting this donor car just supercharged my truck project. Couldn't have afforded this motor otherwise!"
🔓 Cluster Level Up: Shared Component Library Started! 🔓 Cluster Level Up: Digital Resource Hub Growing!

Weeks 4-6: Finding Their Groove & Capturing Knowledge

☀️ Sunrise Sessions

Their signature Saturday morning ritual at Carlos's shop.

☕
8-9 AM
Show & Tell + Skill Share (Topics from Trello)
🔧
9-10 AM
Group Problem-Solving / Hands-on Project Help
📋
10-11 AM
Planning Next Steps & Collective Dreaming

Cluster Values Emerge

After a minor disagreement over shared tool usage in Week 4, Sarah facilitated a discussion (using an electr0motiv guide on group dynamics). They drafted their "Cluster Code":

✓ Safety first, ego last ✓ No question is stupid ✓ We all teach, we all learn ✓ Document discoveries!

Knowledge Capture Begins

💡

Realizing the wealth of information being shared, Maria started a "Cluster Knowledge Base" document in their shared Drive. Each "Aha!" moment or solution found during Sunrise Sessions gets added.

This became the foundation for their "50+ documented solutions."

Week 8: First Collective Victory!

🎊

Ellen's Golf Cart Goes Electric!

The cluster's first completed collaborative conversion.

Everyone Contributed Their Expertise:

DL
Dave: Welded custom battery box & motor mounts.
SM
Sarah: Designed the solar charging system & helped troubleshoot wiring.
MG
Maria: Programmed the BMS (after leveraging Dave's electrical know-how and a BMS guide from the cluster's Knowledge Base).
CR
Carlos: Sourced specialty connectors cheap & provided shop space/tools.

Cluster Capabilities Unlocked!

📸 Shared Project Gallery
👥 Team Credits & Skill Tags
📈 Knowledge Contribution Points (Tracked on Trello)
🤝 Formalized Mentorship Pairings

Week 9: Word Spreads, Cluster Grows!

📣

The "Golf Cart Effect"

Ellen proudly showcased her solar-charged electric golf cart at a local "Cars & Coffee" event. Her enthusiasm, and crediting the "Arizona EV Collective," sparked interest. Three new enthusiasts (including Jake, who'd joined for the Leaf parts) reached out via the electr0motiv platform looking to join the Phoenix cluster. The original members voted to welcome them, expanding their skill pool.

Month 3: Tapping into the Wider electr0motiv Network

🌐 Cluster Network Activated!

🤝

The Connection: Porsche 944 Twins

Sarah, prepping for her Porsche 944 conversion, searched the electr0motiv "National Project Registry."

JC
James - Colorado EV Mountaineers

Also converting a 1986 Porsche 944.

James Shared: Complete CAD models for battery box & motor mounts.
Sarah Shared: AZ cluster's research on high-temp battery cooling strategies.
Sarah: "James's CAD files saved me weeks! And our cooling findings will help his high-altitude setup."

Network Benefits Unleashed

🛠️
Specialized Tool Co-Investment

Split cost of a rare 944 transmission adapter with James's cluster.

📹
Cross-Cluster Virtual Build Sessions

Real-time video troubleshooting across state lines.

🎓
Innovation Cross-Pollination

Arizona's desert cooling expertise meets Colorado's mountain performance tuning.

The Transformation: After 3 Months

The Arizona EV Collective: A Thriving Hub

What They Built & Achieved:

✓1 completed collaborative conversion (golf cart)
✓4+ major member projects significantly accelerated (Leaf parts)
✓$15,000+ collectively saved through group buys & shared resources
✓50+ documented solutions & build guides in their shared Knowledge Base
✓Grown to 10 active members, with a waiting list

What They Became:

♥A trusted support network & real friendships
♥A dynamic learning environment of mentors & students
♥An local innovation accelerator for EV conversions
♥A go-to resource for Phoenix-area EV conversion questions
♥An active node in the wider electr0motiv innovation ecosystem
Dave: "Best decision I've made in years. My truck's almost done!"
Maria: "I actually understand CAN bus now! And I'm co-leading a battery workshop next month."
Sarah: "My Porsche dream is happening, faster and better than I ever imagined alone. This cluster rocks!"

Your Cluster Journey Starts Here

Inspired by the Arizona EV Collective? Join a local electr0motiv cluster or get help starting your own. Transform your EV dreams into reality with the power of collaboration.

Find Your Cluster Start a New Cluster