While there are a lot of exciting electric vehicles finally coming to market, many of us feel nostalgic for the fossil cars of our youth. [Mihir Vardhan] restored his grandfather’s car with an unusual gas-to-EV conversion.
While this conversion starts in the usual fashion by pulling out the gas engine, [Vardhan] takes a different tack than most by not just bolting an electric motor up to the transmission. Instead, he and his crew removed the head and pistons from the petrol burner and bolted the electric motor to the top on an L-shaped bracket. Using the timing belt to transfer power to the crankshaft, there is no need to figure out additional motors for the A/C compressor or power steering pump, greatly simplifying implementation.
nostalgia can be a hell of a drug and I’m surprised at how unwilling car companies are to take advantage of that – classic shell on top of a modern chassis, electric motor, and all the modern safety features
Not like it’s a classic or anything, but I drive a Ford Fusion hybrid and it’s just…a regular car for the most part. I love that about it. So yeah, I definitely feel there’s an untapped market so long as the any engineering challenges aren’t dealbreakers.
along that line – 1960 Ford Falcon shell, modern chassis and safety features, electric motor, modern navigation and stereo controlled by retro styled buttons …
Ford Mustang, the new VW Bully and Fiat500 come to mind. All of them have electric versions.