State of Charge 2025: Building the Future of the EV Conversion Community

Raising the Barn for EV Conversions

The State of Charge conference returned to Denver for its fourth year this August, filling the CSU Spur Hydro building with two days of workshops, presentations, and hallway conversations that pushed the EV conversion community forward. Organized by Terry Breheny, founder of Ohm on the Range, the event once again drew builders, educators, and suppliers from across the globe. It felt less like a trade show and more like a reunion of hands-on innovators who are shaping the aftermarket together.

The atmosphere was as important as the content. Between technical sessions, builders gathered for coffee in the morning, swapped stories during breaks, and closed Friday evening with a lively happy hour. These informal moments gave attendees the chance to trade practical advice, share mistakes, and make connections that will carry through to the next project.

RICHARD “Moggy” Morgan of Electric Classic Cars delivers the keynote, sharing his path from hobbyist to world-renowned shop owner

Attendee Favorites: Top Three Sessions

Attendees voted on their favorite sessions of the weekend, and three rose to the top.

Rocky Hernandez delivered a memorable talk on mechanical engineering fundamentals for EV conversions, reminding the crowd that electrical performance only matters if the chassis and driveline are designed to hold up. His session, “Strong by Design,” left many builders with a renewed respect for the basics and a clearer picture of how to avoid structural weak points.

A reunion of hands-on innovators who are shaping the aftermarket together.

Jerome André shifted the focus from the shop floor to the digital world, showing how builders can use social media to share projects, connect with customers, and grow their brands. His message was practical and encouraging, emphasizing that documenting the build process is a way to create credibility and opportunity in a fast-growing market.

Classic EV Conversions’ VW shop truck parked outside Hydro, representing builders who joined SOC25 in Denver.

Rounding out the top three was Baily Soto of High Voltage Hustle. She took the audience inside her ongoing project converting a classic Datsun pickup with a salvaged Nissan Leaf powertrain. Baily has been documenting the process online, and her presentation highlighted both the challenges and the breakthroughs that come with putting classroom theory into practice. Her story resonated with builders just starting out, showing that persistence and problem-solving are as critical as technical knowledge.

Ron Grosinger’s Kei truck doubles as a teaching tool, complete with a giant drill battery to help students visualize energy storage.

Knowledge Shared Across the Floor

The rest of the program was equally rich. Technical talks covered battery management systems, control strategies, CAN integration, and the role of AI in streamlining the design process. Gabrielle Williams of Peel 3D showed how scanning technology is transforming fabrication. Teams from Oregon unpacked late-model CAN and LIN networks for builders tackling modern platforms. Each session offered builders something to take back to their own projects.

Terry Breheny, founder of Ohm on the Range, closes out another successful year of State of Charge in Denver.

The “Behind-the-Build” series kept things tangible, letting attendees see real projects up close. Standouts included a Porsche 924S powered by Leaf components, a Datsun 620 built for endurance racing with a quick-swap battery, and a Lamborghini Aventador undergoing a dual Tesla motor swap with a full custom carbon-fiber rebuild. These projects showcased not just what is possible, but how builders are applying creativity and engineering discipline to make conversions safer, faster, and more reliable.

Stay curious, share what you learn, and keep building.

The shell of a Lamborghini Aventador, soon to become a dual-motor EV with Tesla drive units and a carbon fiber rebuild.

A Keynote with Global Perspective

Richard “Moggy” Morgan of Electric Classic Cars delivered the keynote, sharing the story of how he built one of the most recognized conversion shops in the world. His message was simple but powerful: stay curious, share what you learn, and keep building. It was a fitting theme for a community that thrives on collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

Between sessions, builders swapped lessons and ideas over coffee breaks and hallway conversations.

Under the hood of this Nissan pickup is a full Nissan Leaf powertrain, repurposed to give the truck a second life.

La Vida Volta: A Celebration of EV Culture

Saturday wrapped with La Vida Volta, the public car show hosted at the Forney Museum of Transportation. Attendees and the general public gathered among rows of electric classics, race cars, and teaching platforms. Even Colorado’s unpredictable weather could not dampen the energy. For many, it was the perfect capstone to the weekend, bridging the technical focus of the conference with the excitement of showing what is possible when old cars get new life.

Jimmy Underhill of EV SWAP listens intently. A four-time attendee, he credits SOC with mentorship and inspiration.

Ron Grosinger walks through the build of his converted Daihatsu Hijet Kei truck, designed for hands-on EV training.

Why State of Charge Matters

State of Charge has become more than an annual event. It is the central meeting ground for a young but fast-growing industry. For anyone with an interest in EV conversions, whether they are students, seasoned builders, or business owners, this is the place to be. It is where new technologies debut, where mistakes turn into lessons, and where community spirit continues to drive the industry forward.