Tesla-Powered, All-Electric, EV Honda S2K: Smart or Sacrilege?
Motorsport electronics specialists, Rywire, decided it was time to test the capabilities of batteries in a new EV Honda S2000 build.
Since the release of the iconic roadster that cemented Honda’s legacy in performance enthusiast vehicles over 20 years ago, we have seen all different types of builds arise from the platform.
From the wildest engine swaps to the most slammed stance cars you’ve seen, the S2000 has been the building block for it all. It simply is a flexible and capable chassis for a variety of applications.
You’d assume that after existing for all these years of experimentation, its potential would be completely tapped out. However, in the ever-evolving technological landscape we currently live in, things constantly progress.
One of the most relevant pioneering technology that is currently transitioning to the forefront of the industry is electrification. You might be thinking, nobody would ever make an EV Honda S2000, but Rywire already did.
The next question you might reasonably ask is why? Under what context would ripping out one of the most iconic high-revving 4-cylinders of all time for a set of lifeless batteries make sense?
Well, to answer that question, we need to understand who Rywire is and what they do. Thanks to Hoonigan on YouTube, we get to see a build breakdown as part of their Build Biology series. Let’s dive into it.
Who Is Rywire?
Joining the Hoonigan crew to explain the details of this electric roadster is Ryan Basseri, owner and founder of Rywire. Rywire as a company specializes in motorsport wiring harnesses and electronics.
However, even with their heavy background in electronics, the team had never attempted to build an electric car before. Here’s the connection. Basseri is a die-hard Honda aficionado and has spent a lot of time working with Honda platforms over the years.
Here’s the other thing, Rywire’s builds are second to none. To emphasize their attention to detail we’ll show you a sample of some of the company’s previous Honda builds.
Tackling the Idea of an EV Honda S2000
So when the opportunity to experiment with a new challenge presented itself, Basseri was ready to take the challenge. Because they knew if they were to do this controversial build, they had to do their absolute best to execute it as perfectly as possible.
“It’s more than just putting a motor into a car. There is all of this mindset and strategy to have it work properly,” stated Basseri. This idealogy was the driving force that allowed for continued interest in this build from the team.
In order to get the proper aesthetic that would set apart this project from a “regular” S2000, Basseri would team up with neighboring companies Ballade Sport and Vicari Design.
Basseri clarified his intention with the build, “I want to do this S2000, but I want it to look electric.” Thus, they combined a Ballade Sport front bumper with an integrated CR lip featuring a “Volkswagen prototype” front grill.
The eye-catching front grill was completely made from scratch using 3D printing and still offers functional breathing channels on opposing sides.
Innovating Designs
Another notable aesthetic feature that screams “EV” is the completely custom wheels made by Vicari Design. Initially, the plan was a completely solid metal face.
They were looking for a futuristic take, something with a low drag coefficient, but still a bit of flash. Thus, inspired by another Volkswagen build, they decided to make a cut out exactly where the StopTech BBK is displayed to show it off.
You might think the asymmetrical cut out may lead to the wheel being unbalanced, but the design accounted for the weight differential by shaping the same cavity on the opposing side as well. The wheels are a bit heavier than desired, but aesthetically are 100% unique.
What’s Under the Hood?
So we have covered a lot about the exterior aesthetic, but what is actually going on underneath to make this S2K actually move (albeit, in complete silence)?
Well, first let’s take about the battery enclosure under the hood. Inside of the custom-made honeycomb pattern dry carbon enclosure lies two Chevy Volt battery packs.
This results in a total of about 38 kWh (overall capacity and power output capability). For comparison, a Tesla P100D features 100 kWh.
Because there is no engine vacuum available for the brakes, the S2000 also features a trick master cylinder made by Bosch.
This unit features an electronic motor inside the booster to regulate vacuum as opposed to a conventional system. A novel tech, only a few factory cars offer such a solution currently, according to Basseri.
How the Hell Fid They Fit Everything?
“The real estate was the hardest car about this car,” Basseri said. The S2000 chassis may be flexible but it has tight clearances because of its compact sizing.
Basseri wanted the car as functional as possible. This meant not going to the easy route and stuffing the trunk with electronics just to have no storage space.
Thus, lots and lots of compromises were required to make the logistics work in this sports chassis. Just like a combustion engine, batteries require optimal temperature ranges to operate at maximum efficiency.
Thus, heating and cooling must be introduced in certain contexts. This requires actually tuning, just like a regular engine. Hoonigan host Ron Zaras provides a great comparison:
So instead of doing timing, boost, and fuel maps, you’re really doing all the strategy to make the battery run in best temperature it can: hot or cold.
All of this is made possible by an AEM “VCU” – a specific standalone ECU for tuning EVs, and is crucial for the EV Honda S2000. Even the thought of a unit like that existing five years ago would have been a fantasy.
Bespoke Rear Subframe
However, this is far from the end of the details put into this project. Perhaps the most important component of all is the drive unit.
The drive unit is comprised of three components: a big motor, an inverter, and a single-speed transmission combined. This unit is built and designed by Tesla.
To build a similar system from scratch would be a feat in itself, requiring serious cash flow and time reserves Rywire had no interest in devoting to.
Thus, this Tesla unit is placed squarely in the middle of the rear subframe, in front of the Quaife LSD and DSS axles (yes, this S2000 has a functional LSD and everything).
However, in order to fit all these massive components in that tight space, the subframe was extended about eight inches.
The resulting combination sits quite low underneath the car, so a multi-functional skid plate was also designed to tie everything together.
This plate combines the top and bottom of the extension of the custom-built subframe that is required to fit all the components.
The trunk is fully functional but features a glass panel where one can see the high voltage cables and complex wiring required to get this unit running.
Interior to Tie Everything Together
If you haven’t noticed yet, Basseri is the type that rather be patient and shape the project exactly how he envisioned it than rush a single detail.
The epic black CR tonneau cover, comprised of ten unique pieces, took a year and a half to receive. The red Sparco seats are custom made to match the custom Alcantara door panels with red stitching and Alcantara Sparco steering wheel.
The gear selection knob that replaces the shifter was sourced from a shop overseas. Basseri wanted something that would look clean enough to pass as OEM.
They wanted to make sure it was well executed because they knew it would be a focal point. Thus they 3D printed the enclosure which snaps into place just like the OEM piece.
Like many of us die-hard enthusiasts, there will never be a clear-cut replacement for the visceral and intoxicating experience that an internal combustion engine provides. However, despite the jury still being out on this EV Honda, potential found in electrification is undeniable.
For Rywire’s first attempt at a project of electrification in a very young and pioneering field, we are blown away by the detail and dedication to this build. So while seeing the original heart of the S2000 ripped from its chest hurts, we appreciate the effort put in.
Because if anybody is going to ruin a Honda, at least let it be somebody who really knows and cares about them. While we didn’t get to see a test drive in this video, we are curious to see this thing accelerate in the near future.
The point from the beginning was that it’s faster now right? What are your thoughts on this EV Honda S2000? Is it worth the 500 HP? Join the discussion here at Honda-Tech.
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