The BMW i3 has returned to the spotlight in an unexpected way, with a YouTuber transforming the compact electric hatchback into a small pickup truck for less than $10,000, including the donor car. Michael Pick took on the project to create an affordable electric truck that could help him avoid high fuel prices, using a range-extended BMW i3 as the foundation.
BMW i3 Has a Different Story in the U.S.
The original BMW i3 represented the automaker’s first step toward mass-market electrification, but the small hatchback never became a major hit in the United States or many other markets.
The early all-electric version offered limited driving range, while the later range-extended model arrived too late to change the car’s broader reception. Despite its limited popularity, the i3 still has a dedicated following among owners and enthusiasts who appreciate its distinctive design and electric powertrain.
The BMW i3 name has also continued to be used in China for an electric version of the previous-generation 3 Series. The name now carries a different meaning as BMW advances its electrification efforts.
Why a YouTuber Turned a BMW i3 Into a Pickup
Michael Pick wanted a small electric pickup that could help him deal with high gasoline prices. Keeping an older Ford Ranger with a V6 engine running at current fuel prices was not an appealing option, strengthening his interest in an electric alternative.
Although the Slate pickup was another potential option, it was not yet widely available. Rather than wait, Pick decided to build his own compact electric truck using a BMW i3 hatchback as the donor vehicle.
The project used the range-extended version of the i3, which offers additional driving capability beyond the battery-powered system alone. With a circular saw, hacksaws and a budget of $10,000, including the car, Pick began reshaping the hatchback into a small pickup.
Turning the BMW i3 Into a Pickup Was No Easy Task
One of the biggest challenges was the BMW i3’s carbon-fiber body construction, which made the conversion more complicated than a typical vehicle modification.
The car’s platform has a body-on-frame-like structure that provides some stiffness, and the modified vehicle has also been partially reinforced with a cage. Questions remain about the finished truck’s structural rigidity, but the project demonstrates an unusual approach to creating a compact electric pickup.
A Custom Electric Truck Built for Under $10,000
Pick’s conversion takes the BMW i3 far beyond conventional modifications such as lowering the suspension, installing aftermarket wheels or changing the paint. Instead, the compact hatchback has been transformed into a completely different type of vehicle.
The entire project, including the donor car, cost less than $10,000. The result is a distinctive home-built electric pickup created as an alternative to spending more on a conventional vehicle or waiting for a more widely available electric truck.
Although questions about structural rigidity remain, the BMW i3 pickup stands out as an unconventional and budget-conscious attempt to turn an overlooked electric hatchback into a practical small-truck project.
