Not my cup of tea, but if there's a market for it then obviously they are providing a service (some) people want. The joy of driving for me is the internal combustion engine, as flawed as it may be.
I think that's what many people are missing - it's flaws that make things interesting, this is especially relevant to vintage, well, anything. Perfection is dull. I hope everyone wakes up to this before the majority of classic cars are ruined.
Great interview, Ian. I really enjoyed listening to Richard talk about the projects going through the shop. It's amazing how they are setting up these chassis to run as electrics and the ingenuity behind the packaging. I still prefer petrol for my own fleet, but this work may be instrumental in keeping these vehicles on the road in the future.
Superb stuff. I have no problems with electric conversion of classic cars. It makes perfect sense to me for all the reasons discussed in the video. I really hope this company keeps getting bigger. Brilliant video Ian. Thanks to all those who made this possible.
Never seen that much controversy on HubNut before. As much as I love any engine noise, I do like electric conversions if they allow old beauties to keep being driven. I drive an electric forklift everyday, and that is incredibly nicer than the gas one.
@@peterriggall8409 Top speed slightly better, much better responsiveness at low speeds, no need for brakes with regen, hereby one foot control, no noise/smell, and no need to keep the revs to go up. Not to speak about all the electronic gizmos that make the job easier and safer.
Its a shame that somebody like Dyson did not see a potential in producing mass produced (ie. cheapish) retrofit crate motors instead of putting more flashing lights on vacuum cleaners LOL
He is the owner of a failed ev company. I like the idea of sticking ev motors in classic cars. But Britain should also be building new ev cars. Pace Jaguar Land Rover. And I am slightly ambivalent about Minis, lovely as they are. Are they British?
Amazing video Mr. Hubnut. Thanks to Miss. Hubnut for the camera work. This fellow deserves all his success. So exciting. You are a good interviewer as you let people talk without constant interruption. Mind blowing.
Things change over the years so it's really not fair to tune out on evs. After all, if we didn't change over time,we would still be driving Austin 7s or Model A Fords.( which would be great conversions btw) In the case of cars like the Maserati,if you are forced into a non numbers matching engine,the value is lower anyway.
There was an electric conversion kit for the Austin 7 available in the 1930s. Birmingham Transport Museum (I think it was) had a motor/gearbox assembly from an electric 7 (unfortunately not a complete car) on display at the last NEC show. It looked very neat, and very modern - hard to believe it was getting on for 100 years old. That's the paradox, of course. We think of electric cars as new technology, and the way some people harrumph over them you'd think they were an Unwarranted Assault On Our Traditional Way Of Life, or something. But EVs are older than internal combustion cars. London had electric taxis in 1897!
Brilliant video. I'm a big fan of Moggy and the work he and his team do. If something makes a classic car more usable, reliable, fun and future proofs it then I'm all for it. I love how much emphasis he puts on trying to match the weight of the original vehicle and getting the distribution if the batteries and motors right to ensure they are evenly weighted too. He's a great example of how we can innovate in the UK as well. I was lucky enough to meet him and the owner of the Tesla powered Mini at the Birmingham show too and that Mini is something else. An absolute stunner
Great interview! I have ridden in a few Teslas and they are simply amazing; quick, almost instantaneous acceleration. Quiet. Because of them I love electric vehicles! I'm sure to have this gentleman convert classics to EV is very expensive, but it does extend the life and use of said classic. Cannot wait to see a test drive!
You can buy a brand new EV for significantly less than the cost of converting a classic car. But if you buy new, it will not have the feel and looks of a classic car.
Although I'm not a fan of this sort of thing, it's fascinating to see a real enthusiast and extremely interesting to see what they go through to convert the cars.
Brilliant and facinating video, what a wonderful place. I love that some classic car owners are actually interested in making these cars more future proof and usable.
This it what you do best: mixing old and new no matter what.. ( glad watching this; great little moment of escape from all the madness elsewhere.. thanks!)
Once again amazing video Ian on what is a very current and delicate subject in the classic world. It's great to see companies thinking-out-of-the-box to produce some custom conversions but are also thinking long-term with some of their conversion infrastructure to standardise the conversions (ultimate helping a little on the price). I still can't help feeling that converted classics will be an extremely niche end of the market at best, considering the price of conversions, lack of infrastructure and most strongly the general feeling that ICE's make a classic what it is (regardless of its shortcomings - isn't that what classics represent/how much cars have changed?) On the other hand some really good points made about their usability, nobody is disputing that in terms of reliability, but we're talking about classics that don't enjoy the winters and harsh weather in general; so they will still rust and deteriorate in the usual way. Even with a converted classic the owner will still want to enjoy but protect their pride and joy/investment, so will still avoid driving in the winter months/bad weather where possible. So probably not as usable as intended. So a converted classic has less of a selling point to it. I'm pretty sure that the majority of classic car owners have a modern car to rely on, this either is or soon will be an EV. So why have a converted classic? Isn't that why such owners have a classic, a weekend drive, something different with a noise, a sound, a vibration that makes you feel alive and enjoying the moment. I've driven some Tesla's and although powerfully addictive, you can't really enjoy higher speeds with UK speed limits in which most pre-90s ICE cars are more suited to these speeds. As a modern daily I'm sold on EV's but my view on classics... like a man I passed at a show recently who was muttering when looking over a converted Beetle "I see enough of these electric things daily, I didn't come here to see this s**t".
I’ve been watching Vintage Voltage from the beginning so it was interesting to see “behind the scenes” so to speak. I can’t wait to see the next one where they convert a BMW Isetta
Fascinating stuff! I do watch vintage voltage and I can see everything good about EV but it's always just come down for me to range and lack of charging infrastructure in this country. Unfortunately I still don't see EV as a sound replacement to fossil fueled vehicles at this time. Plus there is the concern that they are just not as environmentally friendly as people say. The production of the batteries alone is horrifically damaging to the environment and their longevity is also very questionable
There are other uses for the battery packs once they have passed their peak in vehicles for use with solar panels in homes etc. And the increasing ability of recycling old batteries into new .
Every one of those arguments, except the infrastructure that varies by jurisdiction, has been examined and put to rest. Yes, sitting side-by-side on a showroom floor, the EV has a larger footprint than a comparable ICE, but its footprint in use is such an improvement over an ICE that the advantage fairly quickly turns in favour of the EV. Cradle to grave, there is no comparison. Engineering Explain, amongst others, has done excellent videos on this subject.
I must admit I wouldn't personally have an EV conversion on a classic car. However after hearing Richard put his explanation over I do get it. Unfortunately it does seem that only very rich people can afford to have it done. If you were to have a classic converted for £30000 would it not be better to just buy a MG EV for day to day use and just leave the classic for summer weekend use?
@@peterdashper2251 Richard certainly has a great sales pitch but I totally agree with you although from what I read, most of these brand new ev's are virtually on the scrap heap after 4 or 5 years when the batts wear out as it is not economically viable to replace the batts
@@CaptHollister by you using the word 'jurisdiction' I'll take a guess at you not living in the UK. Lack of infrastructure over the whole of the UK is a massive issue I'm afraid. Also not all the issues have been addressed. Buy a brand new ev and see how long it lasts. Within 4 or 5 years it will be on the scrap heap due to needing battery replacement which is currently not economically viable. I suggest you go look into the environmental damage caused by lithium battery production before you try telling me that issue has also been addressed. Also Richard uses the cheapest Chinese batts he can find and have a massive failure rate It's no wonder Richard has so many second hand tessla and Nissan motors. Tesslas are falling to bits rather than crashing an like Tessla, Nissan batteries are failing prematurely leading to the cars being written off. EV tech is just not there yet
Love the video some amazing conversions and the fact that some can be reversed it's brilliant. Although I have my worries about electric it is definitely a way forward although I think there needs to be other solutions as well but that is my personal view. I really would love to try the Land Rover it sounds so much fun and the 944. Just wish I could afford it. Thank you Hub Nut for the video.
I have been following Richard on his RUclips channel for a few weeks now. A very driven person and good at explaining in his tech videos. This was another fun HubNut video Ian and Carly.
I'm finding I'm having to chose my words very carefully with this one. Two things first, great vid as usual Ian, and these guys certainly know their stuff with some superb design and engineering. I was watching and listening intently, but when the cover came off that Maserati I nearly spat my tea out! And a Gordon Keeble in for having its heart ripped out! Some classic cars are suitable and some simply are not. Too many of these cars are most definitely not. Electrification removes so much of what a classic car is. Electric cars are great, I have an MG ZS ev which is a great way to transport the family around, but that's it. It's very nice comfortable and quiet white goods. If you rip the heart out of a classic your left with a pastiche of a car and not the real deal. Classic performance electric cars seem pointless as electric cars give you nothing in return for their performance . Classic performance cars give something back to you in vibration, noise, smell and the feeling you're in control of a man made machine built for fun. Sorry Ian, I found this vid rather depressing by the end. 😞
@@Tagora2664 To a lot of people they are, believe it or not. Some mostly like the look of them, and maybe the nostalgia of seeing them in traffic/in a magazine. This type of stuff is exactly the same as "resto mods", functionally.
@@GoldenCroc A car is a machine created with purpose, to be driven, to provide transport and to provide pleasure. Take those away and what are you left with. Some cars are truly beautiful in their creation, but all have a purpose other than that to simply be looked at.
This completely ruins the environmental argument, most classic cars do not pollute much due to the low number of miles they do. All the pollutants that went into building them are long gone. Now they’re polluting all over again with battery and component production that isn’t needed.
Now that gentleman really knows his stuff! He clearly is a natural, outstanding engineer. I was mesmerised by his knowledge. Being an old fellow I do not have a natural affinity with electric cars: however, the points he made about the advantages of electric motors were just convincing and certainly thought-provoking. His custom manufactured vehicles must be phenomenally expensive: no economies of scale. So I shall have to think more seriously about the "poor man's" versions, mass-produced electric cars.
I was a fuddy duddy skeptic for these conversions but the more I consider things it does make sense to keep these going regardless of environmental factors. If it keeps them accessible for more people to drive on a daily basis then I'm for it.
The sad thing is that although this is the future, for many classics its mostly about the engine. Not necessarily just the noise but IC give these old cars their character (etc MGB). On saying that, I would absolutely like to own an electric Chapman era Lotus Elan? Especially considering how Chapman only looked ahead and pushed the available technology as far as possible.
And that's why they are possibly the biggest and best converters in the world. They put so much into a conversion! A lot more to it than I expected. I just wonder with all the generic "cars" we now have using the same floor pans, components and designed using the same CAD systems will any become classics of the future?
Can't actually think of a classic I like that I would convert to electric, I tend to favour cars because of their engines so converting to electric would completely ruin its appeal to me
@@glennpowell3444 but the vast majority of my driving is my rather short commute. A short range EV would be all I need for that, and would keep the wear and tear of short travel off my other car.
Richards enthusiasm very nearly convinced me that I need electric ...... "nearly" ..... Great video real fascinating stuff. Some nice camera work too miss HubNut.
Richard puts across a very compelling argument for electrification of classics, however he doesn't account for classic car owners enjoying the challenges and foibles of their cars too. I'm sure the Testarossa's performance is blistering, and reliable to the point of boredom, but if you are buying a 1980's Ferrari, perhaps that's not what you were looking for from the car anyway? The Land Rovers and campers could be seen more as a 'tool' and any performance or modernisation upgrade could only be seen as an improvement. I remain uneasy about some of the conversions...
Great video Ian,electric is the way ahead and I’m sure we will miss our internal combustion engines but in time we will get over it.If I was 30 years younger I would convert my 69 D series Citroen to electric.
A great insight into electric conversion Ian, the importance of the edge weight was very well explained. The takeaway point very well made is that there is a generation who doesn't know a Haynes manual. The current younger generation wants cars that are like light bulbs because if they stop they're stumped. Much the same as many modern internal combustion powered cars for the rest of us. The ones that pop up a message saying "Take me to you dealer". I guess another reason to go electric is the simplicity and in theory at least easier and cheaper to service, no worries about water hoses etc. I'd guess hydraulics for the brakes and steering might still be needed. Hopefully when electric cars become more affordable (to me at least) with a decent range/charging infrastructure I would consider one.
@Alfred Wedmore Many thanks for educating me Alfred, I'm a novice om these electric cars so this is really appreciated. I'm sure others will find this information very useful as well. A very well made point about the reduced vibration for EV's.
This is going to be polarising for many people and indeed for me. I do like the idea of EV conversions on classics if the drivetrain was never that great to be begin with and weren't integral to the real heart and appeal of a car, the Flat-12 in the Testarossa for example. Something that doesn't appeal to me in the slightest however something like Delorean with its wheezy low powered V6 PSA engine is a great candidate as the engine was never really the heart and soul of the car. Each to their own - very interesting if a little (lot) expensive). Half the fun of owning and running a classic IS the upkeep and maintenance. I am not convinced the argument to make them zero maintenance is valid to be honest.
If the future of E V's is a lot of upper class twits children Bopping about in shells of classics , It's past the time I was out of it. Best wishes for the future, and leave me to the past. As Dickens wrote "I Retire to Bedlam"
Fantastic video. I hope to electrify a classic car one day and really don't see the issue. The least convincing argument against is the noise! I've had loads of bikes and cars and enjoyed the noise they made but it wasn't even in the top twenty list of things I enjoyed about them. Even in my youth I was aware of the anti-social side of this and found myself struggling to get away from home at 5 am without making too much racket, or had to curtail my exuberance through a village because of it. I always appreciated the quiet power of some cars and now that I drive electric, that sublime and spooky silence is more intoxicating than I ever remember a noisy old petrol engine being. I can go to a vintage car event if I ever miss it, but at the moment, I'm fine without thanks.
Certain cars do lend themselves to the conversion, I wouldn't be so sure with the GK, Ferraris or the Maserati. The Land Rover conversion looks the real deal. Interesting video
Electrifying classic cars is very interesting and i can think of many suitable cars, but it does sting in my heart thinking of electrifying a Testarossa.
Couldn't agree more. Get back to the IC cars Ian, ones that leak and smoke and make nice noises, imagine that Alfasud sprint you tested having no noise..... Horrid.
Agree 100%. People just see the bodywork. But without the engineering that went with the original car then that particular car is gone. The soul. The character. I find it funny when you see the expensive classic electric Porche and Ferrari. Waste of money. Porsche and Ferrari will disown them. Same with these Frankenstein builds. Don't care if it says Land Rover or MG on the bonnet. They are no longer either
Well, what a fascinating enterprise and interesting chap. Thanks for a great video Hubnut. On the philosophical side, I hope that the experience of a petrol engined classic will always be available, but equally, there is plenty of scope for many to be electrically powered. Now, there was an unasked and unanswered question. If all these conversions are to the car's original weight, there must be a ballpark figure for range under normal driving conditions. I presume it doesn't approach the range of a weighty Tesla, but it'd be nice to have a notion of what it is. Similar questions exist for charging time and battery life - do these conversions approach what is being achieved by big manufacturers, or is there a big gap? One more question I have never seen answered is by what percentage would range be decreased if driving in conditions requiring headlights, wipers and maximum heating? Cheers.
I'll give further info in the next video, but I think the Bluebird I drove lost 9 miles for every hour of heater use. LED bulbs help reduce the impact of lamp use.
I have a feeling that electric cars will be a fad that dies out in a few years. The charging infrastructure will be a major challenge especially in older housing areas where roadside parking is the norm. There will be an increased consumption on the grid. Also More battery manufacture creates ecological catastrophes elsewhere in the world. Hydrogen seems the logical long term solution. Hydrogen production will be increased as there are plans to start mixing this into natural gas supplies and gradually changing burners in domestic heating boilers.
@@davecullingworth3787 I fully agree. If I had an electric car and it needed charging I'd be lucky to find a space outside the house to do so. Then there would be the trip hazard cable to deal with and the possibility of someone randomly unplugging it.
What a really nice intelligent conversation between you both the enthusiasm for his electric cars is mind boggling and that last project is awesome can't wait until that's finished ev is the way to go now sadly we have to adapt and change our ways it's the future only us dinosaurs are still resisting but I'm sure that may well change thanks for giving us the opportunity to see more at close quarters
When you hear Richard talk you can tell he is a total petrol head, er, electric head? Anyway he clearly loves his cars and is all about the driving experience. What's not to love?
In the case of classics where the engine is destroyed or just plain gone, as appears to be the case for some of these, really don't see a problem with an electric conversion. Where I hum and hah a bit is if they're actually taking out a fully functional original engine and replacing it with electric. Of course, it does depend on the rarity of the car in question!
An interesting video. Sometimes I think I am one of what must be a tiny minority of people who are not the least bit interested in power, torque and doing 0 - 60 in nano seconds. The classics I have had have all been slow old plodders with a sound and gearbox whine that is musical to me and I loved them for it. An electric engine in an A60 Cambridge - just wouldn’t do it for me. Part of the joy of a Morris Minor is the characterful raspberry ‘parp’ from the exhaust on the overrun. Getting smooth gear changes and the skill to drive a classic is what makes the experience enjoyable. I guess those into EVs enjoy a different experience, each to his own. The only thing not mentioned in the vid is what happens to the batteries in the event of a major impact. In these days of Euro NCAP safety ratings, how do they stand up in the event of a major incident on the road and what do the emergency services have to do to neutralise any spillages? Perhaps somebody more knowledgable can answer. I get EVs in this day and age, but I wonder how the powers that be are going to continue to price us off the road - mind you the ever increasing cost of electricity will do that, I suppose. Keep up the videos Ian, love the variety of content.
I watch much of your output, enjoying the variety, the ups and downs, the successes and the blunders and so on. I think I have enjoyed this one most of all - a fascinating, engaging and articulate contributor, very interesting subject material, very good photography and sound and seamless editing. Most of all it was linked together quite artfully by yourself - I don't know if you had a script of some sort, or a "story book", but it all flowed really well I was kept totally engaged throughout. I don't think even the great Raymond Baxter could have done better!
exceptional video Ian, i absolutely think that resto modding the classic cars is a great way to keep them on the road, and by converting them to electric means the majority of them end up far better than they were originally. this was a fantastic insight to turning a great idea into a fantastic forward thinking and sustainable company that can only grow and grow, yes there is hope for the future. thanks for posting
Turning vintage/classic cars into Ev's are a pure feel good project with zero real world change to our enviroment. All serious surveys tell these cars are only a microscopic part of modern traffic. Enviroment friendly synthetic fuels are comming. It's known technology, the problem have been getting production cost down and also making the production of it enviroment friendly. Porsche/Siemens are building a big plant in Chile, were E fuel for classic combustion engines are basically made out of sea water and air from the sky. The plant are driven by wind mills.
Fascinating chap and always full of passion and energy, really interesting video. I totally agree with 'CaptHollister''s comment below, the sweet soundtrack of an early straight six BMW is a true delight and whilst the CSi conversion is gorgeous and I'd take it in a heartbeat even in electric variant, it's sad that the glorious soundtrack will be missing. Maybe a case for either/or hybrids, where you can either switch to all petrol or all electric or full hybrid mode depending on the mood or circumstances.
Interesting and enjoyable video, I know for a fact that one of my fleet will be EV in the next few years most likely the family car but I will still have a ICE engine in my other car so it will be the best of both world's, I can see the costs of converting to electric in say a classic coming down in the years to come as it becomes a more popular option to keep our classics on the road.
Seeing the shelf of pattern battery boxes I’m interested in the costs. Presumably if you were the first to convert a type of car you’re paying for prototyping which later owners of the same car would benefit from.
Great video very professional interview -I definitely think there is a place for both new and old technology I personally would struggle to electrify a classic but then again I feel a little faint knowing the GSA has a wrong spec interior but that’s just my weird it must be as it came out of the factory mind. Still awesome to see what other do to their cars though.
What a cracking place and a lovely owner, my admiration of electric cars has gone up a lot since watching this, to date I haven't been that convinced, especially after watching you drive that gorgeous Jag to Scotland some time back. I don't like the services in this country at the best of times! (Not as bad as the services in the US though, total sugar and calorie uploads)
Really interesting video Ian. I can't personally see a problem with EV conversions to classics and hope to do one myself one day. So many classics (and future classics) are lost as the engine wears out, they're complex to fix (Especially with modern engine electrics), require lots of maintenance, can be unreliable, expensive to run and damaging to the environment. My belief is EV conversions will save the classic car as they will be usable every day, so they will attract a whole new generation of enthusiasts.
With regards to the problem of the front motor on the fun cup chassis, couldn't you just rotate the motor around the axle? So it'll be upside-down, but will sit inside the axle?
That was a brilliant and very informative video. Your man there was a very interesting fella to listen to. Loved it! - And I'd sell my Kidneys for the BMW FYI :-)
gave up at "the new generation dont know what a haynes manual is". friendly reminder its this guys generation in power pushing for shiny ev's, not the zoomers. we just want to have fun like our parents (you lot) did.
To me it screams 'instant gratification' being able to drive a classic at the press of a button no maintaince, no knowledge needed (just need bags of money to buy the classic and have the ev conversion done in the first place). Todays 'instant' have money 'got to have it now' generation at its very worst. Glad I grew up with boomer values.
@@davidlivermore7481 don't think it's younguns that are converting classics to ev. We can barely afford insurance on our shit boxes :D I see classics as an idea stuck in time.. the solution to a problem as they saw it in history.. a moving time capsule etc. This imo is like "restoring" a famous painting. It may technically be better but you've just ruined all the history and pedigree.
Very interesting. I feel like obsolescence is being built into them with electric conversions. Old piston tech is interesting. Old electric components are a chore.
I should take delivery of my first electric car in a couple of weeks but one thing I don’t understand about the conversions done is how they retain the original number plate and don’t end up in a Q?
Simple. Enough of the original vehicle remains that a Q isn't appropriate. Replacing the engine (or even engine and gearbox) won't lead to losing historic status, even if you replaced them with more modern items (electric or not).
Really awesome visit and presentation! Eagerly looking forward to more on this subject from both channels. Wondering who is first with a SAAB 900 Turbo electro. Thank you.
A fascinating video, and your interview technique is spot-on. I now want an electric Mk. IV Zodiac :) One serious point though: as I understand it, the emergency services have special protocols for dealing with crashed EVs. Now, they'll know what all the production EVs are and how to deal with them appropriately but what if they encounter something unexpected, such as one of these conversions?
More to the point, what affect will a large steel box have on the vehicles structure and crumple zones? Especially in something like the 911 where the area in front of the fuel tank is a crumple zone now filled vertually front panel to bulkhead with a solid box full of battery's??
I'm a Beetle fan, and more specifically, a huge fan of original Beetles. However, if you are going to tamper with them, I see no reason why you can't go electric. I mean, lots of old cars get modified till they're almost unrecognizable. These cars, however, seem to retain a lot of the original looks and style. I see no fundamental issue with the change from internal combustion to electric.
Of course it's expensive, but if you sum up all the money I've thrown at my Beetle over the years... Uhm... No, let's not sum that up. I don't even want to know the total. Anyways, an awful lot of that money has been engine servicing and engine related work. Still, my point is... If you have the money and want to go electric, then go for it. You'll have to really, really, really like electric drivetrains to do it. But then again, you have to be a bit of a nutter to own and drive a classic car anyway.
Nice idea but no spares and at the moment reparability would be poor. The availability of electricity for charging is still a problem. Ok for one or two but on mass still not possible. I think i will stick with my 2-1/4 SWB series 2 LR. I built it and I can mend it. I would definitely not trust Elon.
It's great to electrify classis especially if you live in a city with caz charge and love classic cars although it's sad to unable to hear the noise of a straight 6 or v8 etc
Petrolheads look forward to Sundays and the posts from that part time farmer, and very interesting they can be but this week Ian you take the podium. Great content.
Diesel forklift? For shame, sir! My dad started working for Lansing Bagnall in 1959 as a serviceman. Even then, they were making electric forklifts and tractors (for factory and airports) in Basingstoke. Dad worked for them the rest of his life. Lansing became part of Linde, but there must be many Lansing Bagnall forklifts around, an ideal project for Electric Classic Cars.
I really like.the overall philosophy and creed shown at Vintage Voltage. The workmanship is absolutely stunning. My only question is, how proprietary/locked down is the programming/electronics that control the car. What I'm really asking is there any type of pairing of parts that would necessitate return to the shop to clear the code to make the car work properly again, such as in the way Apple, John Deere and others are doing? If you can just buy a part and install it yourself and get on with your life, then h311 yeah, I'd go for it.
@@HubNut I can see that, owing to his comments 1. about the tweakability, and 2. the bit about being able to buy "it" (whichever component you need) right of the the shelf.
Not my cup of tea, but if there's a market for it then obviously they are providing a service (some) people want. The joy of driving for me is the internal combustion engine, as flawed as it may be.
I think that's what many people are missing - it's flaws that make things interesting, this is especially relevant to vintage, well, anything. Perfection is dull. I hope everyone wakes up to this before the majority of classic cars are ruined.
Great interview, Ian. I really enjoyed listening to Richard talk about the projects going through the shop. It's amazing how they are setting up these chassis to run as electrics and the ingenuity behind the packaging.
I still prefer petrol for my own fleet, but this work may be instrumental in keeping these vehicles on the road in the future.
Superb stuff. I have no problems with electric conversion of classic cars. It makes perfect sense to me for all the reasons discussed in the video. I really hope this company keeps getting bigger. Brilliant video Ian. Thanks to all those who made this possible.
Never seen that much controversy on HubNut before. As much as I love any engine noise, I do like electric conversions if they allow old beauties to keep being driven. I drive an electric forklift everyday, and that is incredibly nicer than the gas one.
Great turning circle too I bet. Top speed similar? 😆
@@peterriggall8409 Top speed slightly better, much better responsiveness at low speeds, no need for brakes with regen, hereby one foot control, no noise/smell, and no need to keep the revs to go up. Not to speak about all the electronic gizmos that make the job easier and safer.
@@426baron 👍
Its a shame that somebody like Dyson did not see a potential in producing mass produced (ie. cheapish) retrofit crate motors instead of putting more flashing lights on vacuum cleaners LOL
He is the owner of a failed ev company.
I like the idea of sticking ev motors in classic cars.
But Britain should also be building new ev cars. Pace Jaguar Land Rover. And I am slightly ambivalent about Minis, lovely as they are. Are they British?
Amazing video Mr. Hubnut. Thanks to Miss. Hubnut for the camera work. This fellow deserves all his success. So exciting. You are a good interviewer as you let people talk without constant interruption. Mind blowing.
Things change over the years so it's really not fair to tune out on evs. After all, if we didn't change over time,we would still be driving Austin 7s or Model A Fords.( which would be great conversions btw) In the case of cars like the Maserati,if you are forced into a non numbers matching engine,the value is lower anyway.
There was an electric conversion kit for the Austin 7 available in the 1930s. Birmingham Transport Museum (I think it was) had a motor/gearbox assembly from an electric 7 (unfortunately not a complete car) on display at the last NEC show. It looked very neat, and very modern - hard to believe it was getting on for 100 years old.
That's the paradox, of course. We think of electric cars as new technology, and the way some people harrumph over them you'd think they were an Unwarranted Assault On Our Traditional Way Of Life, or something. But EVs are older than internal combustion cars. London had electric taxis in 1897!
Really enjoyed that. What a guy! Thanks for doing this and thank you to Electric Classics, brilliant stuff.
This is the future of classic cars!
Brilliant video. I'm a big fan of Moggy and the work he and his team do. If something makes a classic car more usable, reliable, fun and future proofs it then I'm all for it. I love how much emphasis he puts on trying to match the weight of the original vehicle and getting the distribution if the batteries and motors right to ensure they are evenly weighted too. He's a great example of how we can innovate in the UK as well.
I was lucky enough to meet him and the owner of the Tesla powered Mini at the Birmingham show too and that Mini is something else. An absolute stunner
Great interview!
I have ridden in a few Teslas and they are simply amazing; quick, almost instantaneous acceleration. Quiet. Because of them I love electric vehicles!
I'm sure to have this gentleman convert classics to EV is very expensive, but it does extend the life and use of said classic.
Cannot wait to see a test drive!
You can buy a brand new EV for significantly less than the cost of converting a classic car. But if you buy new, it will not have the feel and looks of a classic car.
@@RWBHere True. But will new EV'S become the future classics?
Although I'm not a fan of this sort of thing, it's fascinating to see a real enthusiast and extremely interesting to see what they go through to convert the cars.
Brilliant and facinating video, what a wonderful place. I love that some classic car owners are actually interested in making these cars more future proof and usable.
Nice video, Ian and Richard. And camera lady 🙂👍
This it what you do best: mixing old and new no matter what.. ( glad watching this; great little moment of escape from all the madness elsewhere.. thanks!)
A wonderfull, honest and simple report, thank you very much!
They do some amazing work and quality conversions .
Once again amazing video Ian on what is a very current and delicate subject in the classic world. It's great to see companies thinking-out-of-the-box to produce some custom conversions but are also thinking long-term with some of their conversion infrastructure to standardise the conversions (ultimate helping a little on the price). I still can't help feeling that converted classics will be an extremely niche end of the market at best, considering the price of conversions, lack of infrastructure and most strongly the general feeling that ICE's make a classic what it is (regardless of its shortcomings - isn't that what classics represent/how much cars have changed?)
On the other hand some really good points made about their usability, nobody is disputing that in terms of reliability, but we're talking about classics that don't enjoy the winters and harsh weather in general; so they will still rust and deteriorate in the usual way. Even with a converted classic the owner will still want to enjoy but protect their pride and joy/investment, so will still avoid driving in the winter months/bad weather where possible. So probably not as usable as intended. So a converted classic has less of a selling point to it.
I'm pretty sure that the majority of classic car owners have a modern car to rely on, this either is or soon will be an EV. So why have a converted classic? Isn't that why such owners have a classic, a weekend drive, something different with a noise, a sound, a vibration that makes you feel alive and enjoying the moment. I've driven some Tesla's and although powerfully addictive, you can't really enjoy higher speeds with UK speed limits in which most pre-90s ICE cars are more suited to these speeds.
As a modern daily I'm sold on EV's but my view on classics... like a man I passed at a show recently who was muttering when looking over a converted Beetle "I see enough of these electric things daily, I didn't come here to see this s**t".
I’ve been watching Vintage Voltage from the beginning so it was interesting to see “behind the scenes” so to speak. I can’t wait to see the next one where they convert a BMW Isetta
Fascinating stuff! I do watch vintage voltage and I can see everything good about EV but it's always just come down for me to range and lack of charging infrastructure in this country. Unfortunately I still don't see EV as a sound replacement to fossil fueled vehicles at this time. Plus there is the concern that they are just not as environmentally friendly as people say. The production of the batteries alone is horrifically damaging to the environment and their longevity is also very questionable
There are other uses for the battery packs once they have passed their peak in vehicles for use with solar panels in homes etc. And the increasing ability of recycling old batteries into new .
Every one of those arguments, except the infrastructure that varies by jurisdiction, has been examined and put to rest. Yes, sitting side-by-side on a showroom floor, the EV has a larger footprint than a comparable ICE, but its footprint in use is such an improvement over an ICE that the advantage fairly quickly turns in favour of the EV. Cradle to grave, there is no comparison. Engineering Explain, amongst others, has done excellent videos on this subject.
I must admit I wouldn't personally have an EV conversion on a classic car. However after hearing Richard put his explanation over I do get it. Unfortunately it does seem that only very rich people can afford to have it done. If you were to have a classic converted for £30000 would it not be better to just buy a MG EV for day to day use and just leave the classic for summer weekend use?
@@peterdashper2251 Richard certainly has a great sales pitch but I totally agree with you although from what I read, most of these brand new ev's are virtually on the scrap heap after 4 or 5 years when the batts wear out as it is not economically viable to replace the batts
@@CaptHollister by you using the word 'jurisdiction' I'll take a guess at you not living in the UK. Lack of infrastructure over the whole of the UK is a massive issue I'm afraid. Also not all the issues have been addressed. Buy a brand new ev and see how long it lasts. Within 4 or 5 years it will be on the scrap heap due to needing battery replacement which is currently not economically viable. I suggest you go look into the environmental damage caused by lithium battery production before you try telling me that issue has also been addressed. Also Richard uses the cheapest Chinese batts he can find and have a massive failure rate It's no wonder Richard has so many second hand tessla and Nissan motors. Tesslas are falling to bits rather than crashing an like Tessla, Nissan batteries are failing prematurely leading to the cars being written off. EV tech is just not there yet
Love the video some amazing conversions and the fact that some can be reversed it's brilliant. Although I have my worries about electric it is definitely a way forward although I think there needs to be other solutions as well but that is my personal view. I really would love to try the Land Rover it sounds so much fun and the 944. Just wish I could afford it. Thank you Hub Nut for the video.
I have been following Richard on his RUclips channel for a few weeks now. A very driven person and good at explaining in his tech videos.
This was another fun HubNut video Ian and Carly.
Can you post a link to his channel please.
Just search Electric Classic Cars.
@@user-ih7gc7dt9l ruclips.net/video/s75gJuMS1_M/видео.html
Marvellous! What a good story and camera work (complitment to Ms HubNut)! And what a nice workshop: clean, light, tidy, silent, coated floor... 🔆👍🔆
Doing this is like screwing an iPad onto the top of a Chippendale writing desk.
Nice two of my favourite YTers in one Vid!!!!
I'm finding I'm having to chose my words very carefully with this one. Two things first, great vid as usual Ian, and these guys certainly know their stuff with some superb design and engineering. I was watching and listening intently, but when the cover came off that Maserati I nearly spat my tea out! And a Gordon Keeble in for having its heart ripped out! Some classic cars are suitable and some simply are not. Too many of these cars are most definitely not. Electrification removes so much of what a classic car is. Electric cars are great, I have an MG ZS ev
which is a great way to transport the family around, but that's it. It's very nice comfortable and quiet white goods. If you rip the heart out of a classic your left with a pastiche of a car and not the real deal. Classic performance electric cars seem pointless as electric cars give you nothing in return for their performance . Classic performance cars give something back to you in vibration, noise, smell and the feeling you're in control of a man made machine built for fun. Sorry Ian, I found this vid rather depressing by the end. 😞
Totally agree. The main point to owning a Testarossa is the sound of the thing. Remove the flat-12, remove it's purpose.
I believe one should think of it as rolling artwork or some such. Then it makes a lot of sense.
@@GoldenCroc Sorry but cars are not pieces of art which ever angle you take.
@@Tagora2664 To a lot of people they are, believe it or not. Some mostly like the look of them, and maybe the nostalgia of seeing them in traffic/in a magazine. This type of stuff is exactly the same as "resto mods", functionally.
@@GoldenCroc A car is a machine created with purpose, to be driven, to provide transport and to provide pleasure. Take those away and what are you left with. Some cars are truly beautiful in their creation, but all have a purpose other than that to simply be looked at.
Thanks Ian. 🙂👍 Much more informative than the TV show. EV's are the reason why I subscribed to your channel.
Its good to see the people doing such a fine job!
This completely ruins the environmental argument, most classic cars do not pollute much due to the low number of miles they do. All the pollutants that went into building them are long gone. Now they’re polluting all over again with battery and component production that isn’t needed.
Now that gentleman really knows his stuff! He clearly is a natural, outstanding engineer.
I was mesmerised by his knowledge. Being an old fellow I do not have a natural affinity with electric cars: however, the points he made about the advantages of electric motors were just convincing and certainly thought-provoking.
His custom manufactured vehicles must be phenomenally expensive: no economies of scale. So I shall have to think more seriously about the "poor man's" versions, mass-produced electric cars.
This is the best video and explanations I had so far on converting cars into ev. Many thanks! 👍👍👍
I was a fuddy duddy skeptic for these conversions but the more I consider things it does make sense to keep these going regardless of environmental factors. If it keeps them accessible for more people to drive on a daily basis then I'm for it.
The sad thing is that although this is the future, for many classics its mostly about the engine. Not necessarily just the noise but IC give these old cars their character (etc MGB). On saying that, I would absolutely like to own an electric Chapman era Lotus Elan? Especially considering how Chapman only looked ahead and pushed the available technology as far as possible.
Thank you miss hubnut for the quality filming 👍
A Citroën DS with gentle re-gen would be like piloting a cloud.
And that's why they are possibly the biggest and best converters in the world. They put so much into a conversion! A lot more to it than I expected. I just wonder with all the generic "cars" we now have using the same floor pans, components and designed using the same CAD systems will any become classics of the future?
Can't actually think of a classic I like that I would convert to electric, I tend to favour cars because of their engines so converting to electric would completely ruin its appeal to me
I'm honestly thinking about resuming my plans to convert a Morris Minor to use as my short distance commuter car from this video.
@@glennpowell3444 but the vast majority of my driving is my rather short commute. A short range EV would be all I need for that, and would keep the wear and tear of short travel off my other car.
Richards enthusiasm very nearly convinced me that I need electric ...... "nearly" ..... Great video real fascinating stuff. Some nice camera work too miss HubNut.
Richard puts across a very compelling argument for electrification of classics, however he doesn't account for classic car owners enjoying the challenges and foibles of their cars too. I'm sure the Testarossa's performance is blistering, and reliable to the point of boredom, but if you are buying a 1980's Ferrari, perhaps that's not what you were looking for from the car anyway? The Land Rovers and campers could be seen more as a 'tool' and any performance or modernisation upgrade could only be seen as an improvement.
I remain uneasy about some of the conversions...
Brilliant video Ian, many thanks for sharing this. Cheers
I love watching Vintage Voltage.
Oh wow, two of my favourites. The Gordon Keeble and the Maserati Ghibi !
Great video Ian,electric is the way ahead and I’m sure we will miss our internal combustion engines but in time we will get over it.If I was 30 years younger I would convert my 69 D series Citroen to electric.
A great insight into electric conversion Ian, the importance of the edge weight was very well explained. The takeaway point very well made is that there is a generation who doesn't know a Haynes manual. The current younger generation wants cars that are like light bulbs because if they stop they're stumped. Much the same as many modern internal combustion powered cars for the rest of us. The ones that pop up a message saying "Take me to you dealer". I guess another reason to go electric is the simplicity and in theory at least easier and cheaper to service, no worries about water hoses etc. I'd guess hydraulics for the brakes and steering might still be needed. Hopefully when electric cars become more affordable (to me at least) with a decent range/charging infrastructure I would consider one.
@Alfred Wedmore Many thanks for educating me Alfred, I'm a novice om these electric cars so this is really appreciated. I'm sure others will find this information very useful as well. A very well made point about the reduced vibration for EV's.
This is going to be polarising for many people and indeed for me.
I do like the idea of EV conversions on classics if the drivetrain was never that great to be begin with and weren't integral to the real heart and appeal of a car, the Flat-12 in the Testarossa for example. Something that doesn't appeal to me in the slightest however something like Delorean with its wheezy low powered V6 PSA engine is a great candidate as the engine was never really the heart and soul of the car.
Each to their own - very interesting if a little (lot) expensive).
Half the fun of owning and running a classic IS the upkeep and maintenance. I am not convinced the argument to make them zero maintenance is valid to be honest.
Thanks for the vid
If the future of E V's is a lot of upper class twits children Bopping about in shells of classics , It's past the time I was out of it. Best wishes for the future, and leave me to the past.
As Dickens wrote "I Retire to Bedlam"
Fantastic video. I hope to electrify a classic car one day and really don't see the issue. The least convincing argument against is the noise! I've had loads of bikes and cars and enjoyed the noise they made but it wasn't even in the top twenty list of things I enjoyed about them. Even in my youth I was aware of the anti-social side of this and found myself struggling to get away from home at 5 am without making too much racket, or had to curtail my exuberance through a village because of it. I always appreciated the quiet power of some cars and now that I drive electric, that sublime and spooky silence is more intoxicating than I ever remember a noisy old petrol engine being. I can go to a vintage car event if I ever miss it, but at the moment, I'm fine without thanks.
Certain cars do lend themselves to the conversion, I wouldn't be so sure with the GK, Ferraris or the Maserati. The Land Rover conversion looks the real deal. Interesting video
I’m sorry, ripping out the 12 cylinder engine from a car like a Testarossa is sacrilege, now it’s just a soulless appliance.
Exactly. The car will be worth 10s of thousands of pounds less now. Absolute garbage
Electrifying classic cars is very interesting and i can think of many suitable cars, but it does sting in my heart thinking of electrifying a Testarossa.
Two very interesting blokes! Thanks
Fascinating video. I'm impressed by it all and some nice conversions there.
I'm sorry but this is really up setting the heart and soul has been ripped out and gone. Such a shame Ian.
Couldn't agree more. Get back to the IC cars Ian, ones that leak and smoke and make nice noises, imagine that Alfasud sprint you tested having no noise..... Horrid.
Agree 100%. People just see the bodywork. But without the engineering that went with the original car then that particular car is gone. The soul. The character. I find it funny when you see the expensive classic electric Porche and Ferrari. Waste of money. Porsche and Ferrari will disown them. Same with these Frankenstein builds. Don't care if it says Land Rover or MG on the bonnet. They are no longer either
Not for me but I can see why people would want to.
The old if it's your car it's your choice what you do with it. 👍👍👍
Well, what a fascinating enterprise and interesting chap. Thanks for a great video Hubnut. On the philosophical side, I hope that the experience of a petrol engined classic will always be available, but equally, there is plenty of scope for many to be electrically powered. Now, there was an unasked and unanswered question. If all these conversions are to the car's original weight, there must be a ballpark figure for range under normal driving conditions. I presume it doesn't approach the range of a weighty Tesla, but it'd be nice to have a notion of what it is. Similar questions exist for charging time and battery life - do these conversions approach what is being achieved by big manufacturers, or is there a big gap? One more question I have never seen answered is by what percentage would range be decreased if driving in conditions requiring headlights, wipers and maximum heating? Cheers.
I'll give further info in the next video, but I think the Bluebird I drove lost 9 miles for every hour of heater use. LED bulbs help reduce the impact of lamp use.
Very interesting but I would prefer hydrogen. What happens to all these batteries when they are dead?
I have a feeling that electric cars will be a fad that dies out in a few years. The charging infrastructure will be a major challenge especially in older housing areas where roadside parking is the norm. There will be an increased consumption on the grid. Also More battery manufacture creates ecological catastrophes elsewhere in the world.
Hydrogen seems the logical long term solution. Hydrogen production will be increased as there are plans to start mixing this into natural gas supplies and gradually changing burners in domestic heating boilers.
@@davecullingworth3787 I fully agree. If I had an electric car and it needed charging I'd be lucky to find a space outside the house to do so. Then there would be the trip hazard cable to deal with and the possibility of someone randomly unplugging it.
What a really nice intelligent conversation between you both the enthusiasm for his electric cars is mind boggling and that last project is awesome can't wait until that's finished ev is the way to go now sadly we have to adapt and change our ways it's the future only us dinosaurs are still resisting but I'm sure that may well change thanks for giving us the opportunity to see more at close quarters
really good. enjoyed that, thanks. did notice how clean the area is and the benches all organised.....hint hint, lol
When you hear Richard talk you can tell he is a total petrol head, er, electric head? Anyway he clearly loves his cars and is all about the driving experience. What's not to love?
In the case of classics where the engine is destroyed or just plain gone, as appears to be the case for some of these, really don't see a problem with an electric conversion. Where I hum and hah a bit is if they're actually taking out a fully functional original engine and replacing it with electric. Of course, it does depend on the rarity of the car in question!
Great video, hugely informative and from the perspective of a die hard petrol head classic enthusiast, eye opening and i can see the benefits.
An interesting video. Sometimes I think I am one of what must be a tiny minority of people who are not the least bit interested in power, torque and doing 0 - 60 in nano seconds. The classics I have had have all been slow old plodders with a sound and gearbox whine that is musical to me and I loved them for it. An electric engine in an A60 Cambridge - just wouldn’t do it for me.
Part of the joy of a Morris Minor is the characterful raspberry ‘parp’ from the exhaust on the overrun. Getting smooth gear changes and the skill to drive a classic is what makes the experience enjoyable. I guess those into EVs enjoy a different experience, each to his own.
The only thing not mentioned in the vid is what happens to the batteries in the event of a major impact. In these days of Euro NCAP safety ratings, how do they stand up in the event of a major incident on the road and what do the emergency services have to do to neutralise any spillages? Perhaps somebody more knowledgable can answer. I get EVs in this day and age, but I wonder how the powers that be are going to continue to price us off the road - mind you the ever increasing cost of electricity will do that, I suppose. Keep up the videos Ian, love the variety of content.
Very interesting video and some great cars 🚘🚙🚗👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
We like the land-rover 🤓👍
I watch much of your output, enjoying the variety, the ups and downs, the successes and the blunders and so on. I think I have enjoyed this one most of all - a fascinating, engaging and articulate contributor, very interesting subject material, very good photography and sound and seamless editing. Most of all it was linked together quite artfully by yourself - I don't know if you had a script of some sort, or a "story book", but it all flowed really well I was kept totally engaged throughout. I don't think even the great Raymond Baxter could have done better!
Thank you. No script whatsoever. Richard was a delight to talk to.
exceptional video Ian, i absolutely think that resto modding the classic cars is a great way to keep them on the road, and by converting them to electric means the majority of them end up far better than they were originally. this was a fantastic insight to turning a great idea into a fantastic forward thinking and sustainable company that can only grow and grow, yes there is hope for the future. thanks for posting
Very interesting Video, good camera work as well.
Great conversation Ian.Really interesting guy.
Very cool! Richard, congratulations on being the world's biggest converter. I would love to work at ECC but I don't live near you. Great video Ian
Turning vintage/classic cars into Ev's are a pure feel good project with zero real world change to our enviroment. All serious surveys tell these cars are only a microscopic part of modern traffic. Enviroment friendly synthetic fuels are comming. It's known technology, the problem have been getting production cost down and also making the production of it enviroment friendly. Porsche/Siemens are building a big plant in Chile, were E fuel for classic combustion engines are basically made out of sea water and air from the sky. The plant are driven by wind mills.
Fascinating chap and always full of passion and energy, really interesting video. I totally agree with 'CaptHollister''s comment below, the sweet soundtrack of an early straight six BMW is a true delight and whilst the CSi conversion is gorgeous and I'd take it in a heartbeat even in electric variant, it's sad that the glorious soundtrack will be missing. Maybe a case for either/or hybrids, where you can either switch to all petrol or all electric or full hybrid mode depending on the mood or circumstances.
Interesting and enjoyable video, I know for a fact that one of my fleet will be EV in the next few years most likely the family car but I will still have a ICE engine in my other car so it will be the best of both world's, I can see the costs of converting to electric in say a classic coming down in the years to come as it becomes a more popular option to keep our classics on the road.
Seeing the shelf of pattern battery boxes I’m interested in the costs. Presumably if you were the first to convert a type of car you’re paying for prototyping which later owners of the same car would benefit from.
Interesting stuff. 🏴
That's a tasty land rover he's got there 😍
Richard makes a very convincing argument for electric power.
Great video very professional interview -I definitely think there is a place for both new and old technology I personally would struggle to electrify a classic but then again I feel a little faint knowing the GSA has a wrong spec interior but that’s just my weird it must be as it came out of the factory mind. Still awesome to see what other do to their cars though.
He certainly has a lot of enthusiasm about his electric cars, only one thing though, I wish he'd change that fluoro tube!!! :P
What a cracking place and a lovely owner, my admiration of electric cars has gone up a lot since watching this, to date I haven't been that convinced, especially after watching you drive that gorgeous Jag to Scotland some time back. I don't like the services in this country at the best of times! (Not as bad as the services in the US though, total sugar and calorie uploads)
Very interesting Ian. Great explanations on how things work. Should suit the 3-Litre! 🤔😉😉
Very neat work on the landrover. Great video as always!
Really interesting video Ian. I can't personally see a problem with EV conversions to classics and hope to do one myself one day. So many classics (and future classics) are lost as the engine wears out, they're complex to fix (Especially with modern engine electrics), require lots of maintenance, can be unreliable, expensive to run and damaging to the environment. My belief is EV conversions will save the classic car as they will be usable every day, so they will attract a whole new generation of enthusiasts.
With regards to the problem of the front motor on the fun cup chassis, couldn't you just rotate the motor around the axle? So it'll be upside-down, but will sit inside the axle?
That was a brilliant and very informative video. Your man there was a very interesting fella to listen to. Loved it! - And I'd sell my Kidneys for the BMW FYI :-)
gave up at "the new generation dont know what a haynes manual is". friendly reminder its this guys generation in power pushing for shiny ev's, not the zoomers. we just want to have fun like our parents (you lot) did.
To me it screams 'instant gratification' being able to drive a classic at the press of a button no maintaince, no knowledge needed (just need bags of money to buy the classic and have the ev conversion done in the first place). Todays 'instant' have money 'got to have it now' generation at its very worst.
Glad I grew up with boomer values.
@@davidlivermore7481 don't think it's younguns that are converting classics to ev. We can barely afford insurance on our shit boxes :D
I see classics as an idea stuck in time.. the solution to a problem as they saw it in history.. a moving time capsule etc.
This imo is like "restoring" a famous painting. It may technically be better but you've just ruined all the history and pedigree.
Very interesting. I feel like obsolescence is being built into them with electric conversions. Old piston tech is interesting. Old electric components are a chore.
Another great video has always Ian and miss hubnut and hublets and hubmutts
Fantastic video Ian. Really interesting to see how things are moving forward. Still love ice but there is room for all drivetrains in my mind.
Wow two great channels, awesome content Ian thanks.
I should take delivery of my first electric car in a couple of weeks but one thing I don’t understand about the conversions done is how they retain the original number plate and don’t end up in a Q?
Simple. Enough of the original vehicle remains that a Q isn't appropriate. Replacing the engine (or even engine and gearbox) won't lead to losing historic status, even if you replaced them with more modern items (electric or not).
Really awesome visit and presentation! Eagerly looking forward to more on this subject from both channels. Wondering who is first with a SAAB 900 Turbo electro. Thank you.
A fascinating video, and your interview technique is spot-on. I now want an electric Mk. IV Zodiac :) One serious point though: as I understand it, the emergency services have special protocols for dealing with crashed EVs. Now, they'll know what all the production EVs are and how to deal with them appropriately but what if they encounter something unexpected, such as one of these conversions?
That's a good point. Probably worth having a sticker clarifying the situation, like if you have LPG.
@@HubNut That's what they are doing here in Australia.
More to the point, what affect will a large steel box have on the vehicles structure and crumple zones? Especially in something like the 911 where the area in front of the fuel tank is a crumple zone now filled vertually front panel to bulkhead with a solid box full of battery's??
I'm a Beetle fan, and more specifically, a huge fan of original Beetles. However, if you are going to tamper with them, I see no reason why you can't go electric. I mean, lots of old cars get modified till they're almost unrecognizable. These cars, however, seem to retain a lot of the original looks and style. I see no fundamental issue with the change from internal combustion to electric.
I hope you're not suggesting that car enthusiasts should spend their money wisely?
Of course it's expensive, but if you sum up all the money I've thrown at my Beetle over the years... Uhm... No, let's not sum that up. I don't even want to know the total. Anyways, an awful lot of that money has been engine servicing and engine related work.
Still, my point is... If you have the money and want to go electric, then go for it. You'll have to really, really, really like electric drivetrains to do it. But then again, you have to be a bit of a nutter to own and drive a classic car anyway.
Nice idea but no spares and at the moment reparability would be poor. The availability of electricity for charging is still a problem. Ok for one or two but on mass still not possible. I think i will stick with my 2-1/4 SWB series 2 LR. I built it and I can mend it. I would definitely not trust Elon.
It's great to electrify classis especially if you live in a city with caz charge and love classic cars although it's sad to unable to hear the noise of a straight 6 or v8 etc
I want to see the yard full of scrapped Teslas in various states of disassembly.
Petrolheads look forward to Sundays and the posts from that part time farmer, and very interesting they can be but this week Ian you take the podium. Great content.
Diesel forklift? For shame, sir! My dad started working for Lansing Bagnall in 1959 as a serviceman. Even then, they were making electric forklifts and tractors (for factory and airports) in Basingstoke. Dad worked for them the rest of his life. Lansing became part of Linde, but there must be many Lansing Bagnall forklifts around, an ideal project for Electric Classic Cars.
I really like.the overall philosophy and creed shown at Vintage Voltage. The workmanship is absolutely stunning. My only question is, how proprietary/locked down is the programming/electronics that control the car. What I'm really asking is there any type of pairing of parts that would necessitate return to the shop to clear the code to make the car work properly again, such as in the way Apple, John Deere and others are doing? If you can just buy a part and install it yourself and get on with your life, then h311 yeah, I'd go for it.
Good question. I'm not sure. I think the programming is very open, hence the ability to tweak settings - with the appropriate laptop.
@@HubNut I can see that, owing to his comments 1. about the tweakability, and 2. the bit about being able to buy "it" (whichever component you need) right of the the shelf.