Published on November 9th, 2015 | by Kids Battery Cars

Can You Modify A Kids Electric Car?

Our range of kids electric cars comes in a range of size and power options, from 6v entry-level models ideal for toddlers to 24v models which can put out an impressive amount of power. However, for some parents, even 24v isn’t enough, and a community has grown up around modifying kids electric cars.

Modifying a kids electric car lets you create a one-of-a-kind vehicle with the look and power you want. Modifications come in a variety of forms, from simple cosmetic mods like additional spoilers, paintjobs or sticker kits, to full engine and battery modifications which give kids electric cars a supercharged boost. We’ve taken a look at some of the best and worst modifications to put together this guide to modifying kids electric cars.

Before we begin with the guide, it’s important to remind you that modifying your kids electric car is likely to void your warranty, especially if you’ve replaced the engine or battery. With this in mind, please remember that modification is carried out at your own risk, and we recommend extreme caution. It’s worth remembering that kids electric cars are for kids, and kids often do things like this:

So, if you’re set on upgrading your kids electric car, proper adult supervision is more important than ever.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get onto the business of modification, starting with…

Cosmetic Modifications For Kids Electric Cars

The simplest, safest, and most common form of kids electric car modding is cosmetic modification. This means paintjobs, stickers, accessories and other additions that don’t affect the engine. Car manufacturers’ websites often have sticker kits available, so it’s fairly easy to get the branding you want. When it comes to accessories like spoilers or chromed parts, this is where those dad-skills come in handy. Any piece of scrap from your garage can be the basis for a new look for your kids car – just make sure you sand down all sharp or rough edges, and for larger pieces use bolts rather than just glue. If you want to repaint your kids electric car, then most successful modders recommend Krylon, as it bonds well to the plastic chassis and stands up to wear incredibly well.

Upgrading the battery in your kids electric car

One of the most popular ways to squeeze more power out of a kids electric car is to upgrade the battery. Some kids electric cars feature batteries which are weaker than the maximum input of the motor, purposely designed to limit motive power. This means that you could boost your power simply by substituting a more powerful battery. By experimenting with a car battery, you can find out if your existing battery is the limiting factor. If this is the case, then all you need to do to take advantage of that untapped power is to buy a replacement sealed battery

Engine Modification for Kids Electric Cars

If your battery is not the limiting factor, and your kids electric car is fitted with a lower-draw motor, then you’ll need to replace the motor if you want to get more power. 12 volt motors are surprisingly powerful, so it may be worth trying this option before going for a 24v. Since most kids electric cars depend on a plastic frame, fitting a motor which is too powerful can literally rip the body of the car apart.

When looking for a new motor, you want one that’ll fit with the minimum amount of modification and fabrication; and remember, the mountings will need to be pretty strong because it’ll be trying to rip itself out of them. Rather than invest in a brand new motor, it’s perfectly possible to recycle something like a chunky rechargeable drill, an electric golf caddy or wheelchair, possibly a rechargeable lawnmower, windscreen wipers or electric windows. This strategy is great for experimenting with different setups, so if you’ve got a garageful of scrap, this is the perfect opportunity to get some use out of it.

Engine upgrades offer the most potential for increasing power. Just check out this video of a kids electric Jeep which is so powerful it can tow a real Jeep:

However, more power often means more danger, so make sure you properly test your upgraded kids electric car before letting any little ones behind the wheel.

Tips For Getting the most out of your Modified Kids Electric Car

The internet is filled with examples of kids electric car modifications, from simple cosmetic makeovers to insanely-powerful souped-up mini-beasts. One of the best modifications we’ve seen is the Lightning McQueen Power Wheel belonging to five year old Evan and souped up by his dad Sean. In the video below, Sean takes you through the process of adding an aluminum back half chassis, dual sealed gel batteries with an output of 24 volts, a 500 watt .66 horsepower electric motor, disk brake, throttle modulated variable speed control with reverse and sparco battery cut off switch:

The potential for fun and games is huge, and there are a whole host of online resources for the kids electric car modding community. Check out Modified Power Wheels for tips, guides, and ideas. Once again, we’d like to remind you that modification of battery or engine will result in your warranty being void.

If you’ve modded your kids electric car, then send us your photos and videos, we’d love to see what you’ve been up to.