Electric conversions are usually recommended for vehicles that are pre CANbus era, which IIRC is pre 1996. This is so they can deal with all the other electric/mechanical systems, eg power steering, brakes AC etc. In some cars, your headlights, tail lights, wipers and windows run via CANbus. 1996 is 30 years ago.
The definition of a ‘classic car’ is 20 years and older. That rusted out old EA Falcon sitting on blocks in your neighbours front yard is a classic car. The hanged up Toyota Corolla from the 70s without a straight panel that has 800K on it and won’t die is a classic car. The definition does not only apply to special or show cars.
So, the recommended car to convert by definition is a classic car.
I’ve looked (hoped?) for an electric conversion for my own car, and other cars, and from my perspective, it is functionally unregisterable, and financially stupid versus just buying an EV.
But, hey, if it’s your property, you do what you want with it.
A bloke I know loves his Land Rovers but also loves tinkering. Electrifying is a great project for him. Personally I wouldn’t waste the time or money but people have their passions.
As a long time car nut, this is like blasphemy. You basically destroy everything about the car that made it what it was by doing this. It’d be like putting a 4 cylinder engine in an RX-7 - sure it looks the same, but it’s not an RX-7 at that point.
It’d depend on whether you liked it for its engine or other aesthetics. I loved the look of late 90’s Celicas. Couldn’t care less about the engine in them, I just thought they looked cool. In some other life where I had the time and resources for such a project, I could see myself giving them such an upgrade.
I think I read that Arnie put an electric motor into one of his Hummers.
It’s not just the engine, it’s literally every single driving characteristic too.
British car owners with Lucas electrics would welcome the increase in reliability haha
I owned a Morris Major. Even with its ‘big’ 1620cc engine, you can be very sure that if I had the opportunity to make it electric at the time with what’s available now, I would have.
Probably would have ended up in a straight line into the nearest tree though, those things basically didn’t have any handling or brakes.
Yeah, but things are fluid, new things can get born too. I wouldn’t swap out the shitty Yamaha engine from that Celica, but I think I would overall prefer to drive an electric VW Bus.
The classic cars one loves to drive also get heavier with batteries so even with a better suspension (which is again different) it’s significantly different to drive.
I think there’s some cars that that wafting would make sense. A Citroen c5 with the fancy suspension, or a Rolls Royce silver spirit
Depends if the car was known for its engine or not. I can imagine a mini cooper or a Datsun / Subaru it would be great, old Citreon or something.
But something that had a v8 in it, it’s gonna be shocking.
I feel like you’d have be a philistine to do this to a functional proper classic. If the original drivetrain was beyond repair it’d be more acceptable though and an electric swap would be no worse than trying to shoehorn an LS in or something else similarly non-original.
Brilliant idea. Rebate for heritage vehicles would help
