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Engineer and YouTuber Michael Pick converted a damaged BMW i3 REx into a small pickup by removing its rear section and adding a custom cargo bed. The Drive reports that the project came in under Pick’s $10,000 budget, though the truck is a one-off build, not a production vehicle.
Engineer and YouTuber Michael Pick has turned an auction-purchased BMW i3 REx into a small pickup, cutting away the rear of the electric car and building an open cargo bed. The Drive reports that Pick finished the one-off project under his $10,000 budget, offering a homemade alternative for someone seeking a compact electric truck without waiting for the Slate’s planned launch.
Pick bought the i3 sight unseen at auction, according to The Drive, and began converting it by removing the rear bodywork. A steel frame connects the remaining car to the new bed, which is made from plywood, sealed with epoxy and finished with bedliner. The original report describes the result as clean-looking, while making clear it remains a custom project rather than a factory-built truck.
The donor car is an i3 REx, which uses a gasoline engine as a range extender beneath the rear-seat area. Since the seats were removed to make room for the bed, the bed was designed to be removable for engine servicing. Pick also applied waterproofing sealant at the seams and epoxy to exposed sections of the carbon-fiber structure cut during the conversion.
Much of the i3’s original equipment and electronics was retained. The Drive says BMW’s systems made it simpler to preserve components than to modify the vehicle’s firmware to account for missing locks, taillights and data connections. Pick’s under-$10,000 target included the conversion and other purchases; the report says the final cost was several thousand dollars below that cap, but does not give an exact total.
A DIY Route to a Small Electric Truck
The project shows how an individual builder adapted an existing electric car to serve as a small utility vehicle, rather than waiting for a purpose-built model. Its reported cost may interest shoppers drawn to the idea of a low-cost electric pickup, but the figure applies to this specific build and is not evidence that similar conversions can be completed for the same amount.
The conversion also highlights the trade-offs involved. Retaining much of the BMW’s equipment helped avoid extensive electronics work, while cutting into a carbon-fiber passenger cell and fabricating a bed introduced structural, weatherproofing and maintenance challenges. The report does not establish how the modified vehicle performs in regular use or whether it has been tested for crash safety.
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The i3’s Unusual Construction
BMW launched the compact i3 in 2014. Its carbon-fiber-reinforced passenger structure was unusual for a mass-market car, while its small hatchback format did not make it a conventional pickup donor. The Drive notes the model was not a major success, particularly in North America, where larger vehicles are popular.
Pick’s stated motivation was to get an inexpensive electric truck for himself rather than wait for the Slate, a separate planned vehicle referenced in The Drive’s report. The article does not provide a Slate launch date or a direct comparison of specifications. Its headline’s “to shame” framing is an editorial characterization; the confirmed development is Pick’s personal conversion and its reported cost.
“He wanted a cheap electric truck for himself.”
— Michael Pick, as described in The Drive’s report
Cost, Safety and Road Use
The original report does not state the exact final cost, provide a detailed parts list, or say whether the truck has undergone independent engineering or crash-safety testing. It also does not clarify the vehicle’s registration or inspection status, its payload capacity, range after modification, or how the added bed affects handling and efficiency. The project is a single custom build, so its reported budget should not be treated as a typical conversion price.
Pick’s truck retains the i3 REx’s gasoline range extender, but the source does not give a measured electric range, fuel use or reliability record for the modified vehicle. Nor does it establish when the Slate will launch or whether it will match the i3 pickup’s equipment or price.
Whether the One-Off Proves Practical
The source material describes the completed conversion but does not announce a production plan, follow-up build or commercial offering. The next useful indicators would be long-term road use, maintenance access to the range extender, and any disclosed inspection or safety assessments. Until such details are available, the i3 pickup is best understood as Pick’s personal experiment, not a ready-made alternative for the broader market.
Key Questions
Who built the BMW i3 pickup?
Michael Pick, an engineer and YouTuber, built the one-off conversion, according to The Drive.
How much did the conversion cost?
Pick set a budget of under $10,000. The Drive reports that he finished several thousand dollars below it, but does not give the exact final cost.
Does the pickup still have its range extender?
The donor vehicle was an i3 REx, which has a gasoline range-extender engine. The bed was made removable to allow access for servicing, according to the report.
Is the converted i3 a production truck?
No production version is described. The report covers a single custom vehicle built for Pick’s personal use.
Has the modified truck’s safety been independently verified?
The source does not report independent crash testing or other safety certification for the conversion, so its safety status is unclear.
Source: rss
