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Tesla Drive Unit Comparison
Tesla Drive Unit Comparison
A Tesla drive unit puts the motor, inverter and gearbox in one housing that bolts to the axles. It is the most power per dollar we sell. It also asks more of the build than a Hyper 9: a high voltage battery, a cooling system and custom mounts. Here is how the four units we offer compare.
Prices checked: October 21, 2026
Comparison
| Small Drive Unit (SDU) | Model 3 Rear Drive Unit | Large Drive Unit (LDU) | Performance Large Drive Unit (PLDU) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter kit price | $9,900 | $9,900 | $11,900 | $13,900 |
| Peak power | up to 200 kW (264 hp) | up to 220 - 239 kW | up to 400 kW | 475 kW |
| Max current | up to 650 A | up to 650 A | up to 1,000 A | Ask us |
| Pack voltage | 277 to 408 V (84S to 96S) | 277 to 408 V (84S to 96S) | 275 to 400 V | Ask us |
| Size (L x W x H) | 25 x 26.5 x 13 in | 20 x 26 x 13 in | 25 x 34 x 12 in | 25 x 34 x 12 in |
| Weight | 194 lb | 176 lb | 295 lb | Ask us |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | Ask us |
The PLDU is not listed on our site yet. Email sales@evwest.com for availability and the specs not shown here.
What the starter kits include
The SDU, Model 3 and LDU starter kits come with the drive unit (motor, inverter and gearbox), the EV Controls T2-C controller, throttle pedal with plug and pins, brake switch with plug and pins, encoder and inverter plugs and pins, axle clips, two axles, and the pre-charge relay and resistor.
The T2-C controller ($2,699 on its own) runs the Tesla inverter outside a Tesla. It handles drive, neutral and reverse, brake and regen lights, reverse lights, contactors and the cooling fan, and connects by Bluetooth and WiFi to the EV Controls Dash app, where you change power and regen settings and read fault codes.
Which one should you choose
Small Drive Unit. The compact choice. Strong power to weight, slightly better efficiency than the large unit, and the easiest to fit where space is tight. Our Universal SDU package and the Tesla SDU Starter Kit are built on it. Uses our 950 axle flanges to 930 CVs.
Model 3 Rear Drive Unit. Shorter than the SDU and LDU at 20 inches, with a little more power than the SDU. Its IPM synchronous reluctance motor is the most efficient of the four, and it does not use stub axles. This is the unit in our Porsche 914 kit.
Large Drive Unit. Up to 400 kW. For builds where power is the point and there is room for a 34 inch wide unit.
Performance Large Drive Unit (PLDU). The rear drive unit from the Model S and Model X Performance, rated at 475 kW. The starter kit is $13,900. It is not listed on our site yet, so email sales@evwest.com for availability.
The battery you will need
All of these units need a high voltage pack. With Tesla Model S modules (22.8 V, 6 cells in series each), 84S to 96S means 14 to 16 modules: 74 to 85 kWh of energy and about $19,300 to $22,100 in modules at our current price. That is the largest cost in a Tesla swap, and the reason a Hyper 9 kit is the better fit for a light car on a budget.
Starter kit or universal package?
The starter kit is the drive unit and controller. The Universal SDU ($26,222.84) and Universal LDU ($28,222.84) packages add most of the rest of the system: Tesla to 930 stub axles, Elcon 3.3 kW charger with MCU, 1000 W DC-DC converter, Tesla J3400 (NACS) charge port, sealed contactor box, maintenance switch, 2/0 cable, Dilithium BMS and a CAN bus shunt. You build the motor mounts, axles and cooling for your car.
Talk to us first
A drive unit swap is a fabrication project. Send your car, weight and goals, or call 888-591-5830, before you order.
Email sales@evwest.com →
