Restoring amazing classic cars has long been a dream of many car enthusiasts, but in recent years, with the advancement of electric vehicles, more have been looking to EV conversions as a serious alternative to simply refurbishing the old motor.
Some die hard petrol heads may think this is sacrilege, however, adding modern improvements to classic cars has often been part of the restoration scene, from brakes to interior and improved performance.
In recent years, the EV conversion trend has been growing quickly in the US and Europe, with amazing restorations getting a whole new life with an electric drivetrain offering a step up in performance whilst also being reliable, smooth, quiet and clean.
Australian EVS was watching these trends with excitement and formed back in 2021 to bring the best EV conversion kits to Australia, and to advice commercial fleets on how they can transition to zero emissions.
‘When we saw some of the amazing electric classic car conversions in the UK and the US, we were excited by how they transformed underpowered, unreliable, noisy and smelly classic cars into everyday cool classics.’ explains Ed Higginson, the founder of Australian EVS.
‘Then we saw the excitement being generated via social media, YouTubers and mainstream car shows like Top Gear and Wheel Dealer, who were all starting to show classic EV conversions. We knew we were just seeing the beginning.”
Any vehicle can be converted from an internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric, but certain cars are perfect donor vehicles, such as VW Beetles, Kombis, MGs, classic Mercedes, Land Rovers, Toyota FJ40s, and many more.
‘Our first electric vehicle conversion was for our stunning 1965 VW Beetle that we have on display at this year’s Everything Electric show. We worked with our US supplier for the first e-kit to see what works, were we can adapt and then improve the e-kits for the Australian market.’ Ed adds.
Australian EVS has spent the past 6 months developing a range of electric vehicle conversion kits for a wide range of Australian classic cars starting from as little as $46,000, using the latest electric motors from the US and combining them with quality electric components in a simple bolt in e-kit for installation by specialist workshops Nationally.
‘Our e-kit 4 is a 4-cylinder replacement system ideal for cars up to around 1600kg such as the Beetles, Kombis, MGs, Fiat spiders, and Subaru Brumby utes to name a few. It comes with the well-known NetGain Hyper-9D electric motor which offers 120eHp (equivalent to 200 Hp petrol engine) and 235 Nm of torque.’
‘In terms of batteries, the e-kit 4 comes with 5 Tesla Lithium battery modules with a 26 kWh capacity, then if you need more range, you can also opt for the e-kit4 Long Range, which goes up to 52 kWh.”
With a small footprint, the e-kit 4 is a compact system and available in several configurations for easy installation by restorers or through Australian EVS. There are also a wide range of options available, such as Direct Drive, high voltage power steering, aircon, digital displays and more.
For those with larger vehicles or looking for more power, the e-kit 6 is the Australian EVS 6-cylinder replacement, using the BorgWarner iM-225 oil cooled motor from the US, with peak horsepower of 302 eHp and 500 Nm of torque.
‘Our e-kit 6 is ideal for classic sports cars such as Mercedes, Nissan Zs, Ford Mustangs, Holdens, or for those looking to cruise along in their 4x4s, such as the classic Land Rover, Toyota Fj40 or Jeeps.’
Batteries for the e-kit 6 are the latest LiFePO4, rated at 400 Volts and with a 43 kWh capacity. For the larger vehicles, our e-kit 6 Long Range doubles the battery capacity to 86 kWh to deal with heavier weights and longer distances.
‘For those looking for serious performance, our e-kit 8 Performance is amazing. It uses the BorgWarner iM-375 oil cooled motor from the US, which jumps up to 536 eHp of peak power and 580 Nm of torque.
For Porsche enthusiasts, we also import the premium eGT913 System from Electric GT in the US which has been engineered to fit and power Porsche 911, 912, & 964 cars and designed for non-destructive Plug & Play Installation, offering 435 eHp with a 47 kWh battery pack.
From the UK, there is also a classic Mini conversion kit too.
‘We are seeing a lot of interest in electric conversion kits at the moment as people shift quickly to EVs and experience how amazing they are to drive, both in new cars and old. With these latest developments, we have also made them more affordable for a larger group of enthusiasts.’ Ed explains.
‘Classic car owners and Restoration workshops come to us with a specific car, so once we have finalised all of the specifications and added their required optional extras, we assembly everything that is required for the project before installing the e-kit in our workshop or shipping the e-kit to our customers anywhere in Australia.’
‘In terms of a budget, our e-kit 4 starts around $40k for the entire system, then allow 50 – 70 hours for installation. It might be slightly higher than simply throwing a reconditioned petrol engine back into your car, but EVs are worth every dollar when you get the enjoyment of electric performance, quiet ride and from watching bystanders see you plug it in next to the line of Teslas.’
For more information, go along to stand F16 at this year’s Everything Electric show in Sydney. You can also contact Edwin Higginson, Director of Australian Electric Vehicle Specialists on 1300 923 996, or visit their website at www.AustralianEVS.com.au
