EV Conversions For Classic Cars
A number of companies are in the EV conversion business, helping classic cars get a modern powertrain. From the larger outfits to smaller specialists, these companies are breathing new life into priceless automobiles.
Some offer a kit that can be installed by enthusiasts who are handy with a spanner. Others provide a one-stop shop, sourcing and installing the bespoke EV powertrain for you.
What is an Electric Classic Car?
As the world moves towards electric vehicles, classic car enthusiasts are finding ways to incorporate this new technology into their vintage cars. This is a practice known as “electromobilisation” or “restomod,” and it is becoming increasingly popular amongst vintage car owners. This process involves removing the traditional internal combustion engine and replacing it with an electric motor and battery pack, resulting in a car that is powered by electricity and produces no tailpipe emissions.
Although some enthusiasts might find this practice blasphemous, there are several benefits to electrifying classic cars. For one, it can future-proof the vehicle and improve its performance numbers. Additionally, it is easier to maintain an EV than a gasoline-powered car because there are less moving parts. Furthermore, an EV can drive further on a single charge than a conventional car, and it can offer brisk acceleration thanks to its electric motor.
However, while electromobilisation is a great way to enjoy your classic car in the modern world, it is not without its challenges. As a result, it is important to understand the process and its implications before attempting to re-engineer your classic car. This includes ensuring that the electric powertrain is integrated in a way that preserves the look and feel of the car, and working with a company that has experience and expertise in EV conversion.
RBW Electric
Staffordshire-based EV specialist, RBW Electric, is betting that the future of cars will be electric. The firm has long been in the business of converting classic cars to Electric Classic Car supplier run an electric powertrain, but it has now moved into bespoke carmaking, too, with its first MGB Roadster.
The Roadster takes a brand-new heritage body shell from British Motor Heritage, and tucks in a patented drive system designed by the team at RBW. Using lithium-ion battery packs from Hyperdrive Innovation (the same supplier as the Nissan Leaf) and a single 140kW motor, the electric roadster can do 0-60mph in around nine seconds. It has a top speed of 80mph and can travel 160 miles between charges.
RBW claims that it has crafted the electric Roadster to feel as close to its petrol-powered counterpart as possible, with instant torque and a balanced driving experience. Those classic car traits translate to a ride quality that has been praised by test drivers, too.
The RBW MG B re-creation is fully type approved and RBW customers can choose to have theirs insured through Sutton Winson, a privately owned Chartered Insurance Broker. Each bespoke model is crafted individually and pricing will reflect your specific requirements.
Swindon Powertrain
Swindon Powertrain is a British engineering firm that makes electric motors for low-volume manufacturers and EV conversion firms. It recently unveiled a compact electric motor package designed to replace the combustion engine in classic cars. The company plans to market the new motor as a complete system, including inverter and cooling packs. Pricing starts at $6,400 excluding VAT.
The company’s first product, dubbed the HPD E Powertrain, is a small electric drive motor and gearbox that can be installed in existing chassis. It’s also compatible with a range of battery systems.
Commercial director Gerry Hughes says the HPD is an important step in Swindon Powertrain’s journey into electrification of classic cars. Unlike companies that perform such conversions, Swindon Powertrain’s approach involves working with a classic car’s body shell. This allows the team to modify its shape to accommodate a larger battery pack and achieve greater performance.
The HPD is currently available in a Classic Mini Kit that mounts the electric motor on an original front Electric Classic Car supplier subframe. The kit includes brackets designed for this installation, and it has inner CV joints that mate with standard Mini driveshaft assemblies. It can be fitted with a standard differential or an optional limited-slip unit. Buyers can select from two inverters, depending on their chosen battery voltage, and a range of gear ratios to suit the size of their tyres and top speed requirements.
Electric Classic Cars for Sale
The classic car electric conversion trend has gathered pace in recent years, as owners of older vehicles realise they can future-proof their cars against emissions regulations that may one day render them obsolete. Those looking to take advantage of this option can turn to a number of specialist companies who offer complete, bespoke conversions that replace the combustion engine with an electric powertrain.
These companies tend to look at each project on a case-by-case basis, with varying degrees of restoration taking place before the EV powertrain is fitted. This means that the end result is a vehicle that looks like it did originally, but offers the acceleration and range of a brand-new zero-emissions model.
As you might expect, the prices for a bespoke electric conversion can be quite high. For example, British firm Lunaz Design sells low-volume runs of converted classics, including a Jaguar E-Type EV Roller that will set you back in the region of PS500,000.
However, the company also offers a kit that can be fitted by those with the time and skills to undertake the work themselves. This allows them to save money, and is especially attractive to those with a vintage car that isn’t particularly valuable. Kits are available for the VW Beetle, the MG TF, and the Yugoslavian Zastava 750. All of these vehicles are capable of reaching speeds that would have been unthinkable in their original incarnations, thanks to the instant torque offered by electric motors.
