EV Conversions: 6 Impressive Examples
Jun 17, 2022
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Manufacturers advertise electric cars as the perfect way to reduce your carbon footprint without interrupting your daily commute. While the technology is starting to gain momentum, there isn’t much variety unless you’re willing to shell out the big bucks.
For example, Porsche and Maserati are going electric, but with a luxury brand name comes a luxury-sized price tag. Your options are limited, even if you’re buying from Tesla, which specializes in EVs. This is why EV conversions have started becoming more popular.
Let’s look at some of the most impressive EV conversions and how to get your hands on one.
London Electric Cars
Mini Coopers are fun little cars, but currently, the manufacturer doesn’t offer an electric option. For U.K. electric fans, London Electric Cars offers EV conversions for the 1993 Rover Mini.
Their engineers figured out how to replace the motor and drivetrain in this iconic little car with one from a Nissan Leaf. It comes equipped with a 20 kWh battery pack in the trunk, which will carry you for 70 miles between charges. London Electric Cars offers a larger battery which will increase the range up to 250 miles if you’ve got a long commute.
Moment Motors Datsun
Let’s jump from London to Austin and introduce you to Moment Motors Datsun. This shop works almost exclusively with classic cars, creating a bespoke build system that works with different makes and models. Instead of utilizing the massive battery packs that you’ll find in an off-the-shelf EV, they use pieces from reclaimed Teslas and create a modular system they can place anywhere in the car they can find some free space.
Each EV they convert is entirely bespoke, so if they don’t have the vehicle you’re looking for on their website, consider contacting them for a custom order.
Zelectric Microbus
Who doesn’t love the VW Bus? These iconic vans aren’t electric, but Zelectric offers electric conversions for Volkswagen, Porsche, and other classic German car brands. The brand is most commonly associated with a Bus they built for an Omaze giveaway, but you can easily order one for yourself if the mood strikes.
Zelectric has also converted Porsches and even a 1958 Ragtop Beetle. The company builds each conversion to order, so if you have a favorite German car you’d love to see converted to an EV, consider giving them a call!
ECD Electric Defender
We don’t generally think of electric cars when we picture a Land Rover Defender, but with a good EV conversion, you can get just that. ECD makes Defender customs and has recently branched out into EV conversions. This model utilizes an electric drive train pulled directly from a Tesla and offers a 220-mile range on a single charge.
You also get all the off-road benefits of the Defender, so if you’re dead set on taking your EV offroad, consider something like this Defender conversion.
Hemmels 280SL Electric
EV manufacturers are just starting to understand the demand for electric supercars. Electric cars can generate a massive amount of power. Because it’s possible to assign a motor to each wheel and offer instant torque, these motors can provide horsepower that exceeds what you can find in gasoline supercars.
Hemmels is another EV conversion company, but instead of making them better, Hemmels tries its best to stick to the base specifications of each vehicle they convert. The only significant difference you’ll notice with one of these EV conversions is the sound.
Charge Cars Fastback Mustang
Ford is getting into the EV game with a Mustang, but it’s not the pony car we know and love. The Mustang Mach-E is a fully electric SUV. But if that isn’t your cup of tea, Charge Cars might have what you’re looking for.
This shop has an officially licensed Mustang Fastback shell and a powerful electric motor that generates 536 horsepower and more than 1,100 lb-ft of torque. You’ll have to get your hands on one of these unique Mustangs soon – Charge Cars is only planning to make 499 of them!
EV Conversions on the Rise
The EV industry is gaining momentum, but there will always be a need for EV conversions. They may become more popular as countries begin to ban gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles in the coming decades.
Today, though, if you want to get your hands on a gorgeous piece of bespoke automotive engineering, an EV conversion could be just the thing to tick all the boxes.
