Switching Gas Cylinders to Electric Ones for Tailgate Automation: Recommendations?

You can do it in principle, but it is difficult because electric actuators are usually much wider and larger than standard gas struts, so a truly slim replacement may be hard to find [#16577631][#16580225] Search for “12V electric actuator” and look at factory tailgate actuators used in cars such as the Volvo XC60 and BMW X6 E71 [#16577162][#16588754] The actuator is only one part of the system: you also need an automatic lock, preferably one that pulls the flap tight, plus control integrated with the alarm and an emergency-opening method [#16588958] If there is no room in the strut area, the actuator can be mounted elsewhere and its motion transferred with a Bowden cable/bicycle cable [#16588958] Another possible route mentioned was using hydraulic cylinders with an electric pump, as used in convertibles, but that is not a direct slim gas-strut substitute [#16577832]