Installing performance upgrades into amazing classic cars and 4x4s 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 your pride and joy has often been part of the restoration and 4×4 scene, from brakes to interior and performance tunes.
Australian EVS formed back in 2021 to bring the latest EV technology to Australia and now develop bolt in kits for any vehicle across the country, as well as providing practical advice to commercial fleets on how they can transition to zero emissions.
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 Landcruisers, and many more.
‘Our first electric vehicle conversion was for our stunning 1965 VW Beetle that we showed at last year’s Everything Electric show. We have converted a range of cars since but are really excited by our latest project, this cool 2024 Toyota Landcruiser 79 series. Australians love their V8 Landcruisers, which have sadly been discontinued, but now we can offer a genuine alternative that provides three times more power than a V8 with a quarter of the running costs.’ Comments Edwin Higginson, Director of Australian EVS
Australian EVS has spent the past three years developing a range of electric vehicle conversion kits for a wide range of Australian vehicles using the latest electric motors and battery technology, starting from as little as $40,000 for their simple bolt in e-kit 4 for installation by automotive workshops.
‘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 Series 1 Land Rovers to name a few. It comes with the well-known NetGain Hyper-9D electric motor which offers 115 eHp and 235 Nm of torque.’ Ed adds.
For those with larger vehicles or looking for more power, the e-kit 6 is the 6-cylinder replacement, using the BorgWarner iM-275 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 Land Rovers, Fords, Jeeps and Toyotas.’
‘For those looking for serious performance, our e-kit 8 Performance is amazing as seen in our 2024 Toyota Landcruiser 79 series ute. It uses the BorgWarner iM-375 oil cooled motor from the US, which jumps up to 536 eHp of peak power and 1,740 Nm of peak torque through its direct drive transmission.’
Next month, work will begin on a bus conversion project which will be another Australian first and might mean their stand at the Everything Electric show will need to double in size again for 2026.
‘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 in our e-kits, we have also made them more affordable for a larger group of enthusiasts.’ Ed explains.
