During the time of the advancement of the EV, it is often a pressing question for classic enthusiasts: how long will it take before governments will ban the driving of fuel cars? A number of brands and smaller companies are responding to this possible future scenario by giving classics an electric powertrain.
The projects below are probably quite polarizing. One person thinks it is great, the other turns up his nose. An electric classic has both advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is that reliability improves in most cases and an electric powertrain is less maintenance-intensive, but at the same time it also takes away a good part of the charm of driving a classic for some. Whether driving on fossil fuels will be banned in the future is uncertain. It would be obvious that the legislator in any case makes an exception for classics. Either way, these are five classic cars that now derive their power from a battery.
Jaguar E-type Zero
The Jaguar E-type is one of the most iconic cars ever built. Jaguar took an E-type Series 1.5 in 2017 and chipped out the straight-six engine. In its place was an electric motor with a power of 300 hp, fed by a battery pack with a capacity of 40 kWh. That combination, according to Jaguar, weighs as much as the original combustion engine, so the balance of the car remained unchanged. The theoretical range is 275 kilometers and, according to information from Jaguar, the new electro muscles of the old predatory cat should enable it to sprint to 100 km / h in 5.5 seconds. At the end of last year, however, Jaguar pulled the plug on the project. Fun fact: The Brite Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle drove around in an E-type Zero during their wedding.
Aston Martin Heritage EV Concept
Aston Martin took a similar approach to Jaguar and in 2018 spooned an electric powertrain into a 1970 DB6 MkII Volante. Aston Martin Works, the branch also responsible for the continuation cars, was responsible for the conversion. No detailed specifications are known of the Heritage EV Concept, other than that the electric powertrain is bolted to the original mounting points for the engine and gearbox. This means that Aston Martin can possibly restore the original powertrain, should the owner regret it. At Aston Martin, order books for the electrical conversion opened in 2019.
Chevrolet Blazer-E
The Chevrolet Blazer-E is a show car that serves as a test rig for Chevrolet’s eCrate package. Under this name, the brand offers a turnkey conversion package for owners who want to power their classic Chevy. In the case of the Blazer, the original 177 horsepower 6.5-liter V8 has been replaced by the Chevrolet Bolt’s 200 horsepower and 360 Nm electric motor. A 60 kWh battery pack was placed in the cargo area. Furthermore, the Blazer still looks like it did in 1977. The original gauges even work together with its new electro-heart, so that the fuel gauge now shows the battery percentage.
Morgan Plus E
This electrical conversion goes back a bit further. In 2012 Morgan brought a converted Plus 8 to the Geneva Salon to gauge whether there would be interest in a power-powered Morgan. Strictly speaking, the Plus 8 is of course not a classic, but it is built according to a traditional recipe. The Plus E has an electric motor with 95 hp and 300 Nm under its double bonnet. The power is far from impressive, but it is unique that Morgan uses a manual five-speed gearbox in the Plus E! However, it did not get to the production stage. Now, 8 years later, Morgan still has no EV in its offer. However, the traditional brand is breeding something.
Porsche 912 Blitz (Schmidt)
Porsche has not yet launched an electric version of the 911 itself. Porsche specialist Schmidt from Oss took matters into his own hands and built the 912 Blitz. Schmidt’s goal was to apply new technology without compromising on the driving experience of a classic Porsche. They took a 912 E as a starting point and the four-cylinder boxer engine gave way to an electric motor with 138 hp and 235 Nm of torque. According to Schmidt, a Tesla battery pack with a capacity of 52 kWh ensures that you should be able to travel 250 kilometers on one battery charge. A fun homegrown project!